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Niki Tsongas

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Niki Tsongas
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 3rd district
Assumed office
January 3, 2013
Preceded byJim McGovern
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 5th district
In office
October 16, 2007 – January 3, 2013
Preceded byMarty Meehan
Succeeded byEd Markey
Personal details
Born
Nicola Dickson Sauvage

(1946-04-26) April 26, 1946 (age 78)
Chico, California
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Paul Tsongas
(1969–1997; his death)
ResidenceLowell, Massachusetts
Alma materMichigan State University
Smith College (B.A.)
Boston University (J.D.)
Websitetsongas.house.gov

Nicola Dickson "Niki" Sauvage Tsongas (/[invalid input: 'icon']ˈsɒŋɡəs/; born April 26, 1946) is an American politician and the U.S. Representative for Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district. She previously represented Massachusetts's 5th congressional district from 2007 to 2013, the district her late husband Paul Tsongas served from prior to being elected to the United States Senate. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

She is currently only female Representative from Massachusetts and the fourth in state history. Following John Kerry's appointment as Secretary of State, she was widely expected to run for the Senate seat once held by her husband in the 2013 special election. However she put all speculations to rest when she announced she wouldn't run and endorsed fellow Representative Ed Markey.

Family, education, and career

Tsongas was born Nicola Dickson Sauvage on April 26, 1946 in Chico, California. She was born to Marian Susan (née Wyman), an artist and copywriter, and Colonel Russell Elmer Sauvage, an engineer in the United States Army Air Forces who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor.[1] Tsongas graduated in 1964 from Narimasu American High School in Japan, when her father was stationed at Fuchu Air Force Base. Tsongas went on to spend one year at Michigan State University, then transferred to Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she graduated from in 1968 with a Bachelor of Arts in religion.[2][3] After college she moved to New York City, where she took a job as a social worker for the Department of Welfare.[4] Tsongas earned her Juris Doctor from Boston University and started Lowell's first all-female law practice.[5]

In 1967 while spending a summer in Arlington, Virginia interning for presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy, she met Paul Tsongas, then an aide to Republican Congressman Brad Morse, at a party. In 1969, she married Paul and they had three daughters: Ashley, Katina, and Molly.[6][7] A politician, Paul served in the House from Massachusetts's 5th congressional district from 1975 to 1979, and the United States Senate from 1979 to 1985. After being diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma Paul announced his retirement from and eventually resigned from Congress. After Paul's resignation she moved their family from Washington, D.C. back to Massachusetts to care for Paul as he was undergoing treatments.[8] After seemingly being cured of his disease, in 1992 Paul ran for the Democratic Party nomination for President, coming in third behind former California Governor Jerry Brown and eventual winner Bill Clinton. Years later Paul's cancer returned and he died of pneumonia and liver failure on January 18, 1997.

Prior to being elected to the House, Tsongas worked as the Dean of External Affairs at Middlesex Community College,[4] as a Board Member of Fallon Community Health Plan[9] and served on the Lowell Civic Stadium and Arena Commission (which oversees several sites including the Tsongas Arena).[4] In 2001, she was appointed by Representative Marty Meehan to head a foundation to provide education funding for the children of the victims of the September 11 attacks.[10]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

After Marty Meehan resigned in 2007 in order to serve as Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Tsongas chose to run in the special election. Tsongas won the Democratic primary with 36% of the vote, defeating four other candidates.[11] During her initial campaign Tsongas received endorsements from the Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, and the Lowell Sun.[12][13] During the general election, former President Bill Clinton, who defeated her husband for the Democratic nomination in 1992, campaigned for her. At an event in Lowell Clinton remarked: "Congress will be a better place because she is there."[14] Tsongas won the special election against Republican Jim Ogonowski with 51% of the vote on October 17,[15] becoming the only female Representative from Massachusetts, and fourth in state history.[16]

After running unopposed in 2008, in 2010 Tsongas faced Republican Jon Golnik, a small businessman and former Wall Street currency trader. During the campaign Tsongas attacked Golnik's history as a Vice President of AIG,[17] while Golnik called her attacks hypocritical, as she had stock in AIG and other large corporations.[18] Tsongas defeated Golnik with 52% of the vote.[19] Following redistricting after the 2010 census, Tsongas ran for re-election in the reconfigured Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district in 2012. In a rematch, she again faced and defeated Golnick.[20]

Tenure

Template:U.S. Congress committee assignments A major issue in her initial election was whether the two candidates would vote to override President George W. Bush's veto of an expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. While Tsongas said she would vote to override, it was reported Ogonowski would uphold the veto.[21] Hours after being sworn into office on October 18, Tsongas voted to override, but it failed to achieve the two-thirds necessary.[22]

As a candidate in 2007, Tsongas promised withdrawing troops and ending the Iraq War:[23] which her first bill introduced aimed to do by implementing a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, however it died in committee.[24] In 2010, Tsongas along with other women in Congress, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, visited Afghanistan to oversee the war effort. Upon returning, Tsongas spoke of the need for the involvement of women in the rebuilding of the government.[25]

Tsongas is an advocate for universal health care and supports a public health insurance option.[26][27] In 2010 Tsongas voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act.[28] In 2012 Tsongas joined a Republican-led effort to repeal a 2.3% sales tax on medical-device manufacturers, which passed the House 270-146 with 36 other Democrats voting for it.[29] Tsongas is pro-choice and received a 100% approval rating from Planned Parenthood in 2008.[30] A supporter of LGBT rights, Tsongas cosponsored the Respect for Marriage Act, which would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act;[31] and voted for the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010, which allows homosexuals to serve openly in the armed forces.

Following Anthony Weiner's sexting scandal, Tsongas was the only Representative from Massachusetts to call for his resignation, saying "it would be appropriate for [him] to step down."[32] In the 2012 Massachusetts Senate election, Tsongas was the first major Democratic politician to endorse the eventual winner, Elizabeth Warren, whom she called "a fighter for middle class families."[33] Following President Barack Obama's designation of John Kerry as United States Secretary of State, there was much speculation that she would run for his seat, previously held by her husband.[34] Though Tsongas briefly considered a run, she responded she would best be able to serve the people of Massachusetts by continuing to serve in the House, and instead endorsed fellow Representative, Ed Markey.[35][36]

References

  1. ^ Elina Troshina (August 24, 2010). "MA Congresswoman Niki Tsongas ('88) Running for Re-election". Boston University School of Law. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  2. ^ "Women Profiles: Niki Tsongas". Iowa State University. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  3. ^ "The Honorable Niki Tsongas". United States Air Force Academy. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Tsongas 2009.
  5. ^ Ken Cleveland (November 2, 2012). "Tsongas, Golnik compete in rematch". The Item. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  6. ^ Sridhar Pappu (November 24, 2007). "Mrs. Tsongas Comes to Washington". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  7. ^ Karen De Witt (February 21, 1992). "THE 1992 CAMPAIGN Man in the News: Paul Ethemios Tsongas; A Politician Who Thought He Could". The New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  8. ^ Carol Stocker (June 4, 1991). "NIKI TSONGAS STANDS BY HER MAN Paul Tsongas' wife says his cancer's the past, presidency is his future". The Boston Globe. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  9. ^ "Niki Tsongas, Board Member of Fallon Community Health Plan, Elected to Congress". Alliance of Community Health Plans. October 24, 2007. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  10. ^ Negri, Gloria (August 26, 2002). "Scholarship fund helps 9/11 families". The Boston Globe. p. B3. Retrieved September 26, 2010.
  11. ^ Matt Viser and Eric Moskowitz (September 5, 2007). "Tsongas wins primary for 5th". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  12. ^ "Niki Tsongas Endorsed by Boston Globe and Boston Herald" (PDF). Niki Tsongas for Congress. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 13, 2007. Retrieved October 15, 2007.
  13. ^ "Sun backs Tsongas". Blue Mass. Group. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
  14. ^ Josh Kurtz (September 20, 2007). "President Clinton Will Stump for Niki Tsongas". Roll Call. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  15. ^ Eric Moskowitz (October 17, 2007). "Tsongas wins in Fifth District". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  16. ^ "Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.)". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  17. ^ Lyle Moran (October 26, 2010). "Tsongas targets Golnik's work". The Sun (Lowell). Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  18. ^ Lyle Moran (October 25, 2013). "Golnik: Tsongas' former investments make her attacks 'hypocritical'". The Sun (Lowell). Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  19. ^ Ross Marrinson (November 4, 2010). "Tsongas defeats Golnik, will return to D.C. for second full term". The Haverhill Gazette. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  20. ^ Brian Messenger (November 6, 2012). "Tsongas wins over Golnik for Congress". Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  21. ^ Edward Mason (October 5, 2007). "5th District race: Ogonowski, Tsongas tangle over Bush veto". Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  22. ^ "After taking oath, Tsongas votes to override veto". The Boston Globe. October 18, 2007. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  23. ^ Finucane, Martin (January 8, 2008). "Tsongas to visit troops in the Middle East". The Boston Globe. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  24. ^ McCutcheon & Lyons 2009
  25. ^ Matt Viser (May 11, 2010). "Tsongas returns from Afghanistan trip". Retrieved January 13, 2013.
  26. ^ Niki Tsongas (April 25, 2007). "On Universal Health Care". Blue Mass Group. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  27. ^ Jesse Floyd (November 5, 2009). "Rep. Tsongas reports to district". Wicked Local - Littleton. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  28. ^ Brian Messenger (October 28, 2012). "Rematch: Tsongas vs. Golnik in new 3rd District". The Eagle-Tribune. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  29. ^ Chris Camire (June 9, 2012). "Tsongas backs repeal tax on medical devices". SentinelandEnterprise.com. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
  30. ^ Erin Gloria Ryan (January 5, 2013). "101 Facts About 100 Women of the House and Senate". Jezebel (website).
  31. ^ "Respect for Marriage Act Co-Sponsors". Freedom to Marry. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  32. ^ Joanne Rathe (June 16, 2011). "Weinergate: Only Tsongas speaks out". Boston Globe. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  33. ^ "Rep. Niki Tsongas endorses Elizabeth Warren for Senate". The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts). October 4, 2011. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  34. ^ Ed Henry and Chad Pergram (December 15, 2012). "Obama purportedly to nominate Kerry, sparking speculation about his Senate seat". Fox News Channel. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  35. ^ "Tsongas Will Not Run For Senate; Kerry Supports Markey". WBUR. December 28, 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2013.
  36. ^ Josh Collins (December 29, 2012). "Tsongas rules out run for Kerry's seat as Markey's support grows". The Sun (Lowell). Retrieved March 19, 2013.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 5th congressional district
October 16, 2007–January 3, 2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district
January 3, 2013–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Member of the House of Representatives from Georgia's 10th district Order of Precedence of the United States Succeeded byas Member of the House of Representatives from Ohio's 5th district

Template:Persondata

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