Baron Hill (politician)

For other uses, see Baron Hill (politician) (disambiguation).

Baron Hill
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 9th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 6, 1999–January 3, 2005 January 4,2007
Preceded by	Lee Hamilton (1965–1999) Mike Sodrel (2005–2007)
Succeeded by	Mike Sodrel (2005–2007) Incumbent
Personal details
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Betty Schepman Hill
Residence	Seymour, Indiana
Alma mater	Furman University
Occupation	financial analyst

Baron Paul Hill (born June 23, 1953) is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives for Indiana's 9th congressional district, located in the southern portion of the state. He previously represented the district from 1999 until 2005. Hill belongs to the Blue Dog Democrats.

Early life, education and career

Hill was a three-sport star at Seymour High School, where he was all-state in football and basketball. He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.

Hill accepted an athletic scholarship to Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina; where he earned a bachelor's degree in history in 1975. After graduation, he moved back to Seymour and joined his family's insurance and real estate business.

Hill is married to Betty Schepman, a math teacher in the public schools. They have three adult daughters.

Hill was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1982 to 1990. He served as chairman of the Caucus Campaign Committee, where he played a prominent role in building a Democratic majority in the House.

In 1990, Hill ran against Senator Dan Coats to fill the last three years of Dan Quayle's term; Quayle had been elected Vice President. He lost, 54-46 percent. Hill made a name for himself during that campaign by walking the length of the state, from the Ohio River to Lake Michigan, to meet with voters.

U.S. House of Representatives

Hill was elected to the House in November 1998. He defeated Republican Jean Leising, 51%-48%, winning the seat vacated by retiring 30-year incumbent Lee Hamilton. He was reelected in 2000, with 54 percent of the vote.

In 2001, Hill voted for a version of the "No Child Left Behind Act", which passed the House 384-45. [1]. In 2006, he said he was in favor of scrapping the version that passed, calling it a "more or less of a federal takeover of our system". [2]

Hill and Sodrel traded close victories. In 2002, Hill managed to narrowly defeat Republican Mike Sodrel with 51 percent of the vote in 2002. Sodrel, a New Albany trucking company owner had 46 percent.

In December 2003, Hill was named communication co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition, also known as Blue Dog Democrats.

2004 election

In November 2004, in a rematch, Hill lost to Sodrel by a margin of about 1,500 votes. There was a recount, but the scope was limited because of the use of DRE voting machines in Indiana.

2006 election

Hill won the Democratic nomination in the 9th District in 2006. He was included in the "First Wave" of the Democratic Party's "Red-to-Blue" program. [3]

Texas millionaire Bob J. Perry gave more than $5 million to the Economic Freedom Fund, a 527 group, which included Hill as one of its targets for removal. The group paid for automated "push poll" calls attacking Hill. Such calls were stopped after action by the Indiana Attorney General [4].

Cook Political Report rated the race as a toss-up. [5]

Baron Hill won the 2006 election with a preliminary 50% of the vote; Sodrel with 46% percent and Libertarian Eric Schansberg with roughly 4 percent.

As is the custom for returning members of Congress, the Democrats gave Hill back his seniority. He was named to the Energy and Commerce and Science and Technology committees.

Committee Assignments

• Energy and Commerce Committee
  • Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection
  • Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials
  • Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
• Science and Technology Committee
  • Subcommittee on Research and Science Education

Electoral history

Indiana's 9th congressional district: Results 1998–2006

Year		Democrat	Votes	Pct		Republican	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct
1998		Baron P. Hill	92,973	51%		Jean Leising	87,797	48%		Diane L. Feeney	Libertarian	2,406	1%
2000		Baron P. Hill	126,420	54%		Michael Bailey	102,219	44%		Sara Chambers	Libertarian	4,644	2%
2002		Baron P. Hill	96,654	51%		Mike Sodrel	87,169	46%		Jeff Melton	Green	2,745	1%		Al Cox	Libertarian	2,389	1%
2004		Baron P. Hill	140,772	49%		Mike Sodrel	142,197	49%		Al Cox	Libertarian	4,541	2%
2006		Baron P. Hill	110,454	50%		Mike Sodrel	100,469	45%		D. Eric Schansberg	Libertarian	9,893	4%	*

*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 2006, Donald W. Mantooth received 33 votes.

External links

• U.S. Congressman Baron Hill Official House site
• Baron Hill for Congress Official campaign site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile at Vote Smart