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Melissa Bean

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Melissa Bean
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 8th district
In office
January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byPhil Crane
Succeeded byJoe Walsh
Personal details
Born
Melissa Luburich

(1962-01-22) January 22, 1962 (age 62)
Chicago, Illinois
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseAlan Bean
ResidenceBarrington, Illinois
Alma materOakton Community College, A.A., 1982 Roosevelt University, B.A., 2002
OccupationBusiness consultant, marketing

Melissa Luburich Bean (born January 22, 1962) is an American politician who was the U.S. Representative for Illinois's 8th congressional district from 2005 to 2011. Bean is a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life, education, and business career

Bean attended Maine East High School before graduating from Oakton Community College with an Associate degree in 1982 and from Roosevelt University in 2002 with a Bachelor's degree. Prior to her election to Congress, she was president of a home-based business, Sales Resources Inc., which counted many Fortune 1000 companies as clients.[1]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2002

In 2002, Bean ran against 73-year-old 8th District Republican incumbent Phil Crane, a 33-year incumbent. Bean attacked Crane for taking numerous lobbyist-funded trips. She lost, but gained 43% of the vote. This was unexpected since she had received very little funding from the national party. The 8th had historically been the most Republican district in the Chicago area, and by some accounts was the most Republican district in all of Illinois. Bean's performance was even more notable since the 8th had reportedly been redrawn to protect Crane.

2004

Bean sought a rematch against Crane in 2004. During the campaign, Bean raised almost as much money as Crane, mostly from individual donors, whereas Crane's money came mostly from political action committees. Her strong showing in 2002 led the national party to pump a large amount of money into her campaign. Bean was endorsed by the Daily Herald, the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times—the three major newspapers in her district.

Faced with having to campaign for what was previously thought to be a safe seat, the Republicans tried their best to keep Crane in office. However, on November 2, 2004, Bean defeated Crane with 52% of the vote. Although George W. Bush won the district with 56% of the vote, Bean was helped by US Senate candidate Barack Obama, who carried the district. She is the first Democrat to represent the district since its formation in 1935. (The district was numbered the 10th District from 1935 to 1949, the 13th from 1949 to 1973, the 12th from 1973 to 1993 and has been the 8th since 1993.)[2]

2006
Main article: Illinois 8th congressional district election, 2006

In 2006, Bean's seat was seen by Republicans as vulnerable to takeover due to her freshman status and the 8th district's historical Republican tilt. As mentioned above, George W. Bush carried the district fairly easily in 2004. Most of the district's state representatives and state senators were Republicans. In much of the district, Bean was the only elected Democrat above the county level. Bean's reelection was also a top priority of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).

Bean faced the winner of a competitive six-candidate Republican primary, David McSweeney, in the 2006 general election. As in 2004, Bean was endorsed by all three of the major newspapers in her district. She defeated McSweeney, 51% to 44%.

2008
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2008 § District 8

Bean decisively defeated her 2008 opponent, businessman Steve Greenberg.[3] Although she was one of forty-four Democrats in the House who voted to condemn the MoveOn.org group for their controversial "General Betray-us" ad in 2007, he criticized her for accepting over $80,000 in campaign donations from them three years earlier.[4][5][6] Bean defeated Greenberg, 60% to 40%.

2010
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Illinois, 2010 § District 8*

Bean was challenged by Republican nominee Joe Walsh and Green Party nominee Bill Scheurer.[7] Although Bean was heavily favored, she lost to Walsh by only 291 votes.[8] It appeared that Scheurer had siphoned off many votes that would have otherwise gone to Dean; Scheurer's 6,400 votes far exceeded Walsh's margin of victory.

Bean was endorsed by the Chicago Tribune,[9] the Chicago Sun-Times,[10] The Daily Herald,[11] and the Lake County News-Sun.[12]

Tenure

Bean was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition and the New Democrat Coalition.

Bean was a member of the Small Business and Financial Services committees for her entire House tenure. Normally, House Democrats who serve on the Financial Services Committee can't serve on any other committee. However, Bean was granted a waiver by the Democratic leadership.[13]

Bean's business and financial record includes opposing a bill that would have allowed for drilling for oil in Lake Michigan which is a large source of drinking water for her district.[14] She has departed from the Democrats in voting in May 2006 to extend about $70 billion in tax cuts (she was one of just 15 Democrats to back the legislation), voting to permanently reduce the estate tax, and voting in favor of a presidential line-item veto. Similarly, she is one of only 15 Democrats to vote in favor of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA).[15] In 2009, she voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the American Clean Energy and Security Act. She was a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act.[16]

On other issues, Bean opposed President Bush's troop "surge" in Iraq. In a February 2006 speech given before the surge had been fully implemented, Bean said, "regrettably, this surge does not constitute a new course."[17] On social issues, Bean is pro-choice and voted in support of Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, health care reform. Bean was one of four Democrats to vote against the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, joining 155 of 159 Republicans, blocking the vote (which needed a 2/3 majority to pass, as it was brought to vote under a motion to suspend rules.)[18]

Committee assignments

Electoral history

Illinois's 8th congressional district: Results 2002–2008[19][20][21][22][23]
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct
2002 Melissa L. Bean 70,626 43% Philip M. Crane 95,275 57% *
2004 Melissa L. Bean 139,792 52% Philip M. Crane 130,601 48%
2006 Melissa L. Bean 93,355 51% David McSweeney 80,720 44% Bill Scheurer Moderate 8,502 5% *
2008 Melissa L. Bean 146,563 60% Steve Greenberg 97,931 40%
2010 Melissa L. Bean 97,824 48.3% Joe Walsh 98,115 48.5% Bill Scheurer Green 6,494 3.2%
*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 2002, Chuck Kelecic received 25 votes. In 2006, minor candidates received 817 votes.

After Congress

In 2011, Bean became President and CEO of the Executives Club of Chicago.[24][25] She now serves as chair of Midwest operations for JPMorgan Chase.[26]

Personal life

Bean lives in unincorporated Palatine Township with her husband and two children. Their residence was in the 8th District when they moved there, but became part of the 10th District because of redistricting. They lived in an adjoining district for her entire time in Congress.[27]

References

  1. ^ "Melissa Bean CV". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  2. ^ Lawrence Kestenbaum. "Illinois: U.S. Representatives". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
  3. ^ "IL - District 08 Race - Nov 04, 2008". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
  4. ^ "Dems who condemned MoveOn took its cash - Kenneth P. Vogel". Politico.com. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  5. ^ "Committees and Candidates Supported/Opposed". Query.nictusa.com. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  6. ^ "MoveOn dust-up hits Bean race: The Swamp". Weblogs.baltimoresun.com. 2007-10-02. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  7. ^ "GOP congressional candidate asked to drop out - News - Rockford Register Star - Rockford, IL". Rrstar.com. 2010-05-03. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  8. ^ "Chicago | Chicago : News : Politics : Things To Do : Sports". Suntimes.com. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  9. ^ "For the U.S. House". Chicago Tribune. 2010-10-07. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
  10. ^ "Bean right for her district". Chicago Sun-Times. 2010-10-05. Retrieved 2010-10-09.
  11. ^ "Congress, 8th District: Bean". Daily Herald. 2010-10-16. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
  12. ^ "Our View: Bean, Seals for Congress". Lake County News-Sun. 2010-10-14. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
  13. ^ "Melissa Bean". Washington Post. 2012-07-25. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
  14. ^ "GOP Sees Opportunity to Pick Up Seat in Chicago Suburbs". Foxnews.com. 2006-08-20. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  15. ^ "Politics Home Page : Roll Call". Retrieved 2014-10-28.
  16. ^ "H.R.1409: Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 - U.S. Congress". OpenCongress. 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
  17. ^ [1] Archived February 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ "H.R.847: James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 - U.S. Congress". 2010-07-29. Retrieved 2010-08-18.
  19. ^ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  20. ^ "The 2010 Results Maps". Politico.Com. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  21. ^ "Illinois State Board of Elections". Elections.state.il.us. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  22. ^ http://elections.chicagotribune.com/results/ Archived November 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ "Ballots Cast: General Primary, 8th Congress - 2/2/2010". Illinois State Board of Elections. 2010-02-02. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
  24. ^ Yerak, Becky (2011-03-01). "Melissa Bean to lead Executives' Club of Chicago". Chicago Tribune.
  25. ^ [2] Archived June 25, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  26. ^ "Former Congresswoman Now Officially Working For Wall Street". Huffingtonpost.com. 2014-06-20. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  27. ^ "Illinois Redistricting Hearing | Video | C-SPAN.org". C-spanvideo.org. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 8th congressional district
2005–2011 		Succeeded by
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