View source for Harry Mitchell

{{Short description|American politician (born 1940)}}
{{other people|Harry Mitchell}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name             = Harry Mitchell
|image name       = Harry_Mitchell,_official_110th_Congress_photo_portrait,_color.JPG
|caption          = Official portrait, 2007
|state            = [[Arizona]]
|district         = [[Arizona's 5th congressional district|5th]]
|party            = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|term_start       = January 3, 2007
|term_end         = January 3, 2011
|predecessor      = [[J. D. Hayworth]]
|successor        = [[David Schweikert]]
|office1          = Chair of the [[Arizona Democratic Party]]
|term_start1      = 2005
|term_end1        = 2006
|preceded1        = [[Jim Pederson (businessman and politician)|Jim Pederson]]
|succeeded1       = David Waid
|state_senate2    = Arizona
|district2        = [[Arizona's 17th legislative district|17th]]
|term_start2      = January 1, 2003
|term_end2        = March 29, 2006
|preceded2        = [[Brenda Burns]]
|succeeded2       = [[Ed Ableser]]
|state_senate3    = Arizona
|district3        = [[Arizona's 27th legislative district|27th]]
|term_start3      = January 1, 1999
|term_end3        = January 1, 2003
|preceded3        = [[Gary Richardson (Arizona politician)|Gary Richardson]]
|succeeded3       = [[Jorge Luis Garcia]]
|office4          = 30th [[Tempe, Arizona|Mayor of Tempe, Arizona]]
|term_start4      = July 6, 1978
|term_end4        = July 14, 1994
|preceded4        = William J. LoPiano
|succeeded4       = [[Neil Giuliano]]
|birth_name       = Harry Everett Mitchell
|birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1940|07|18}}
|birth_place      = [[Phoenix, Arizona]], U.S.
|alma_mater       = [[Arizona State University]]
|spouse           = {{Marriage|Marianne Prevratil|1962}}
|occupation       = High school teacher
}}

'''Harry Everett Mitchell''' (born July 18, 1940) is an American politician and educator who served as a [[U.S. House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] representing {{ushr|Arizona|5|}} from 2007 until 2011. He is a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]].

==Early life, education and career==
Born and raised in [[Tempe, Arizona]], Mitchell earned a bachelor's degree in [[political science]] from [[Arizona State University]] in 1962. He later earned a [[Master of Public Administration]] degree from ASU in 1980.

He was a teacher at [[Tempe High School (Tempe, Arizona)|Tempe High School]], his high school [[alma mater]], 1964–1992. He was also a professor.<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M001167 Mitchell, Harry E.] Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved July 5, 2013.</ref>{{where|date=March 2018}}

== Early political career ==
In 1970, Harry Mitchell sought and won a seat on the elected-at-large [[Tempe, Arizona|Tempe]] City Council. Re-elected in 1974, Mitchell ran for [[Tempe, Arizona#Government|Mayor of Tempe]] in 1978, gaining a majority of votes cast in the primary and avoiding a runoff. He went on to win every subsequent election for mayor in landslides until his retirement in 1994. A large [https://web.archive.org/web/20070214053425/http://www.tempe.gov/arts/publicart/images/downtown/mitchell.htm statue] of Mitchell stands just off [[Mill Avenue]], next to City Hall and the other buildings comprising the Harry E. Mitchell Municipal Complex.

After retiring in 1994, Mitchell sought the Arizona Democratic Party's nomination for [[Arizona#State executive branch|Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction]], a constitutionally mandated statewide-elected official charged with the management of Arizona's public schools. Mitchell narrowly lost in the primary – he attributes his election loss to his inexperience in partisan races – and his opponent went on to lose the general election.

Four years later, however, Mitchell sought and won a seat in the [[Arizona Senate]], representing Tempe and parts of southern [[Scottsdale, Arizona|Scottsdale]]. Even though his district was considered a "swing" district, Mitchell managed to win with clear majorities in each successive election. He ran under Arizona's [[Clean Elections]] law in each legislative race, which provides public financing to statewide and legislative candidates as long as the candidates abide by certain restrictions and qualifications.

Facing term limits, Mitchell ran his last campaign for Arizona Senate in 2004. One year later, with the [[United States midterm elections, 2006|2006 midterm elections]] approaching, Mitchell ran unopposed for chair of the Arizona Democratic Party after chairman [[Jim Pederson (businessman and politician)|Jim Pederson]] stepped down to run for the United States Senate. He was elected on August 20, 2005.

Mitchell oversaw much of the early ground work as the [[Arizona Democratic Party]] prepared for statewide elections on November 7, 2006. The Democrats recaptured the [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]] city council from years of Republican control on February 1, 2006.

==U.S. House of Representatives==

=== Committee assignments ===
* '''[[United States House Committee on Science and Technology|Committee on Science and Technology]]'''
** [[United States House Science Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation|Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation]]
* '''[[United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure|Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure]]'''
** [[United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Aviation|Subcommittee on Aviation]]
** [[United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Highways and Transit|Subcommittee on Highways and Transit]]
** [[United States House Transportation Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment|Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment]]
* '''[[United States House Committee on Veterans' Affairs|Committee on Veterans' Affairs]]'''
** [[United States House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations|Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations]]

Mitchell was a member of the [[Blue Dog Coalition]] who emphasize bipartisanship and cooperation with members of other parties. His voting record has been described as blue dog<ref>{{cite web| title = Democratic 'Centrists' Want All Rich-People Tax Cuts Extended | url = http://gawker.com/5634211/democratic-centrists-want-all-rich+people-tax-cuts-extended | access-date = 23 Sep 2010}}</ref> and centrist.<ref>{{cite web |title = Harry Mitchell |url = http://www.whorunsgov.com/Profiles/Harry_Mitchell |access-date = 23 Sep 2010 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100628133007/http://www.whorunsgov.com/Profiles/Harry_Mitchell |archive-date = 2010-06-28 }}</ref> He has voted for legislation largely supported by Democrats in Congress, such as the [[State Children's Health Insurance Program]]. Although he expressed reservations about many of the provisions of the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]],<ref name = 'azhealth'/> he ultimately voted for it.  Stating it was a "matter of principle," he declined coverage under the [[Federal Employees Health Benefits Program]] in favor of [[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]].<ref name = 'azhealth'>{{cite news | title = You asked, so Mitchell gives his health views | date = September 2009 | url = https://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/SREditorials/61970 | access-date = 23 Sep 2010}}</ref>  He voted for the 2009 stimulus plan<ref>{{cite news | last = Lightman | first = David | title = The biggest obstacle in Obama's path: Congress (who else?) | url = http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2009/02/27/62984/the-biggest-obstacle-in-obamas.html | access-date = 23 Sep 2010}}</ref> and has also stated he supports extending the [[Bush tax cuts]].<ref>{{cite news | last = Sargent | first = Greg | date = 9 Sep 2010 | title = More House Dems balking at ending Bush tax cuts for rich | url = http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/09/more_house_dems_balking_at_end.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110630150607/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/09/more_house_dems_balking_at_end.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 30, 2011 | newspaper = Washington Post | access-date = 23 Sep 2010}}</ref>

==Political campaigns==

===2006===
{{See also|2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 5}}
In the spring of 2006, a poll commissioned by the Arizona Democratic Party and the [[Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee|DCCC]], was leaked; the poll showed Republican [[J.D. Hayworth]] would be in a tight race against any of a handful of Democratic opponents; the district was rated "Toss-Up" by the ''Cook Political Report''. Mitchell was pressured by several Arizona politicians and Rep. [[Rahm Emanuel]], then head of the DCCC, to enter the race against Hayworth.

Mitchell stepped down as state party chairman on April 7. He entered the race on April 10 and raised a total of $213,209 for his campaign in less than two weeks.

By of the end of June 2006, Mitchell had nearly $700,000 on hand. An October 16 [[SurveyUSA]] poll showed Hayworth leading Mitchell by only 48% to 45%. On October 27, 2006, the ''[[Arizona Republic]]'' departed from its past endorsements of Hayworth and instead endorsed Mitchell. The polls demonstrated a slow, but deliberate, growth in the strength of Mitchell's popularity over the next few weeks.

On the evening of November 7, election day, most national and state news media outlets declared Mitchell the winner. However, Hayworth refused to concede, citing the significant number of outstanding absentee and early-voting ballots. As the results were updated each day, Hayworth never demonstrated the significant gains he anticipated. Hayworth conceded on November 14, though Mitchell did not acknowledge his victory until November 22. Mitchell ended up winning by more than 8,000 votes.

When he took office on January 3, 2007, Mitchell became the first Anglo Democrat to represent a significant portion of Phoenix since [[Sam Coppersmith]] and [[Karan English]] left office in 1995.

===2008===
{{See also|2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 5}}
Mitchell was reelected in 2008 with 53% of the popular vote over his Republican challenger, former Maricopa County treasurer [[David Schweikert]].

===2010===
{{See also|2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 5}}
Mitchell lost his bid for reelection to Republican nominee [[David Schweikert]].

This district has traditionally leaned Republican (R+5 according to analyst Charlie Cook). Thus, according to many analysts, Mitchell faced a difficult reelection campaign. Considering that his district was won by Bush in '04, but not Obama in '08, CQ Politics rated his district as tossup. Sarah Palin had also set a goal of replacing Mitchell with a "common sense conservative."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/03/24/2010-03-24_sarah_palin_aims_to_take_back_the_20_in_wake_of_health_care_reform.html |title=Sarah Palin aims to 'Take Back the 20!' in wake of Dems' health care victory |publisher=Nydailynews.com |date=2010-03-24 |access-date=2010-07-11 | location=New York | first=Michael | last=Sheridan}}</ref>

===2012===
{{see also|2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona#District 9}}
Mitchell was considered a possible candidate for the U.S. House in 2012 in his former district, which had been renumbered as the [[Arizona's 9th congressional district|9th district]] and made slightly more competitive.  However, he decided against running.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/10/house-democrats.php|title=House Democrats Gain With New Arizona Map|date=October 5, 2011|access-date=October 7, 2011|work=[[National Journal]]|first=Jessica|last=Taylor|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006163330/http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/10/house-democrats.php|archive-date=October 6, 2011}}</ref>

== Electoral history ==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ {{ushr|Arizona|5|}}: 2006–2010 results<ref name="clerkresults">{{cite web |url=http://recorder.maricopa.gov/electionresults/ |title=Election Statistics |access-date=2010-11-17 |publisher=Office of the Maricopa County Recorder }}</ref>
! Year
!
! Democratic
! Votes
! Pct
!
! Republican
! Votes
! Pct
!
! 3rd Party
! Party
! Votes
! Pct
!
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2006|2006]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Harry Mitchell'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |101,838
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |50.41%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |J.D. Hayworth*
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |93,815
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |46.44%
|
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Warren Severin
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |6,357
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |3.15%
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2008|2008]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''Harry Mitchell*'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |149,033
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |53.16%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |David Schweikert
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |122,165
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |43.57%
|
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Warren Severin
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |9,158
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |3.27%
|
|-
|[[U.S. House election, 2010|2010]]
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Harry Mitchell*
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |91,749
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |43.23%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''David Schweikert'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |110,374
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |52.00%
|
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Nick Coons
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |10,127
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |4.77%
|
|-
|}

==Personal life==
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=October 2020}}
Mitchell and his wife, Marianne, have two children. Their son, Mark Mitchell, is a former mayor of Tempe. Other politically active members of his family have included his brother, Robert Mitchell, who served as mayor and council member of [[Casa Grande, Arizona|Casa Grande]], and his grandfather, [[William W. Mitchell Sr.]], who served as a state legislator. Mitchell is a Catholic. Marianne Mitchell died on May 27, 2019, after a years-long battle with Alzheimer's disease, the city of Tempe announced on May 29. She was 78.

== References ==
<references />

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.harrymitchellforcongress.com Harry Mitchell for Congress] ''official campaign site''
* {{C-SPAN|1021101}}
* {{CongLinks | congbio=M001167 | votesmart= | fec=H6AZ05067 | congress= }}<!--
Links formerly displayed via the CongLinks template:
* [http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/412187 Congressional profile] at [[GovTrack]]
* [http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/412187_Harry_Mitchell Congressional profile] at [[Participatory Politics Foundation|OpenCongress]]
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00028162 Financial information (federal office)] at [[Center for Responsive Politics|OpenSecrets.org]]
* [http://www.legistorm.com/member/854/Rep_Harry_E_Mitchell.html Staff salaries, trips and personal finance] at LegiStorm.com
* [http://www.ontheissues.org/House/Harry_Mitchell.htm Issue positions and quotes] at [[On the Issues]]
* [http://www.c-spanvideo.org/person/1021101 Appearances] on [[C-SPAN]] programs
* -->
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Harry_Mitchell Profile] at [[SourceWatch]]

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{{s-bef|before=[[Gary Richardson (Arizona politician)|Gary Richardson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[Arizona Senate]]<br>from the [[Arizona's 27th legislative district|27th]] district|years=1999–2003}}
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{{s-prec|usa}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br>''{{small|as Former US Representative}}''|years=}}
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{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 110th–111th [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[Arizona]]}}
{{USCongRep/AZ/110}}
{{USCongRep/AZ/111}}
{{USCongRep-end}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Harry}}
[[Category:Mayors of Tempe, Arizona]]
[[Category:Democratic Party Arizona state senators]]
[[Category:Arizona Democratic Party chairs]]
[[Category:Arizona State University alumni]]
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Arizona city council members]]
[[Category:Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Arizona]]
[[Category:ASU College of Public Service & Community Solutions alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century mayors of places in Arizona]]
[[Category:21st-century American legislators]]
[[Category:21st-century Arizona politicians]]