Brian Bilbray
Brian Phillip Bilbray (January 28, 1951–) is a U.S. Republican politician, who was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001.
Early life
Bilbray was born in Coronado, California, and grew up in Imperial Beach, California. He graduated from Mar Vista High School and attended Southwestern College, a community college in Chula Vista, California. He worked as a tax consultant before entering politics.
He and his wife, the former Karen Walker, have five children.
Mayor and Supervisor
He became interested in politics during an attempt by Mayor Bert Stites to carry out an extensive program of eminent domain. He ran successfully for the Imperial Beach city council as a populist, serving during 1976–1987, and was mayor during 1978–1985. Bilbray's tenure as Mayor was marked by his attempt to build a yacht marina in the Tijuana Estuary and build a 1.5 mile breakwater off of the beach of Imperial Beach. [1] Both projects were stopped by the opposition of local environmentalists and surfers. The Tijuana River Estuary is now a National Estuarine Research Reserve and California State Park. The breakwater project was halted with the help of the then fledgling Surfrider Foundation.
Bilbray was a member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors during 1985–1995.
Member of Congress
In 1994, he won the Republican nomination for the 49th District, which included most of San Diego, and defeated freshman Democrat Lynn Schenk in the Republican landslide of that year. The 49th was one of several marginal districts to go Republican in that cycle; Schenk had been the only Democrat to represent the district since its creation in 1953. He was reelected twice largely due to a moderate voting record that served him well as San Diego became increasingly Democratic. However, he was defeated by State Assemblywoman Susan Davis in 2000. Bilbray's support of a proposed airport at Brown Field in Otay Mesa cost him heavy local support in his hometown of Imperial Beach and he tearfully conceded the election to Davis.
While in Congress Bilbray wrote letters on behalf of pill-maker Metabolife, whose dietary supplement pill with ephedrine was banned after causing over 150 deaths. Metabolife was a contributor to Bilbray's campaign.[2]
Bilbray is a cousin of Democrat James Bilbray, another former member of Congress.
Lobbyist
After his defeat, Bilbray registered as a federal lobbyist in 2001. His clients included the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians and Federation for American Immigration Reform, the San Diego Regional Airport Authority, Conquer Cancer and Alzheimer's Now, Los Angeles County, San Diego Gas and Electric Company, and the Bajagua sewage treatment project.
Bilbray received $35,000 from the Bajagua Project LLC for lobbying. Bilbray lobbied to help the company obtain a sole-source contract to treat sewage in Mexico with the International Boundary and Water Commission.[3] Bilbray had been involved with the project while in office, and had received campaign contributions from the project (earlier known as Agua Clara) while in office. In 1999, he and another lawmaker crafted a bill that forced the State Department to renegotiate with Mexico to allow for the project. [4]
The Hill, a D.C. political newspaper, reported that several sources, including a Republican lawmaker, complained Bilbray used his "floor privileges" as a former congressman to lobby members of Congress on the House floor. Bilbray denied the charge.[5]
2006 Congressional election
Bilbray is running in the special election to fill the vacancy in California's 50th Congressional District caused by the resignation of Duke Cunningham, who pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and tax evasion. In preparation for the election, Bilbray moved from Alexandria, Virginia to back to Imperial Beach, California. Because Imperial Beach is outside the 50th Congressional District, Bilbray listed his mother's address in Carlsbad, California when filing his candidacy papers, as Carlsbad is in the 50th Congressional District [6].
With 15.26% of the total vote, Bilbray was the top Republican votegetter, and will go on to face the top votegetters of all the other parties in a runoff election to be held on June 6, 2006. His opponents in the runoff include: Democrat Francine Busby, Libertarian Paul King, and William Griffith, who is an independent.
References
- ^ "Terminal With Extreme Prejudice", Grist Magazine, 2004-10-15 and "Fights Break Out Over River Damming" by Lori Shein, reprinted in Language Arts High School Curriculum for the Tijuana Estuary (California State Parks)
- ^ Dodge, Dani. "Conservative group takes responsibility". San Diego Union-Tribune url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20060325-9999-7m25hit.html.
{{cite news}}: Missing pipe in:|publisher=(help) - ^ The Politics of Contracting: Bajagua's No-Bid Deal, March 31, 2006
- ^ Bilbray's Bajagua Boondoggle, TPMMuckracker.com, April 12, 2006
- ^ Wilkie, Dana (2006-03-06). "Ex-congressman Bilbray burdened by lobbyist label". San Diego Union-Tribune.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Where does Brian Bilbray Really Live?"2006-05-17
External links
- Bioguide (U.S. Congress)
- Official campaign website
- Website critical of Bilbray while in Congress
- Surfing Congressmen Gut Environmental Laws Swing magazine, 1996
This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress