David Schweikert

David Schweikert
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 6th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2013
Preceded by Jeff Flake
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 5th district
In office
January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by Harry Mitchell
Succeeded by Matt Salmon
Treasurer of Maricopa County
In office
2004–2007
Preceded by Doug Todd
Succeeded by Hos Hoskins
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 28th district
In office
January 1991 – January 1995
Served with Lisa Graham Keegan
Preceded by Heinz Hink
Jim Skelly
Succeeded by Wes Marsh
Carolyn Allen
Personal details
Born (1962-03-03) March 3, 1962
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Joyce Schweikert (2006–present)
Alma mater Arizona State University
Religion Roman Catholicism
Website Campaign website

David Schweikert (born March 3, 1962) is a member of the United States House of Representatives from Arizona, serving since 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. He currently represents Arizona's 6th congressional district, which includes most of northern Phoenix as well as Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Cave Creek. He previously represented the 5th District from 2011 to 2013.

He previously served two terms in the Arizona State House of Representatives (1991–1994), was chairman of the state Board of Equalization (1995–2004), and was the elected Maricopa County Treasurer (2004–2007). He ran for the U.S. House of Representatives three times: losing a primary to J.D. Hayworth in 1994, losing the general election to incumbent Harry Mitchell in 2008, and then defeating Mitchell in 2010.

Early life, education, and business career

Schweikert was born in Los Angeles, California, to an unwed mother who, according to Schweikert, almost aborted him but chose instead to put him up for adoption.[1][2] He grew up in Scottsdale with his adoptive parents and two adoptive siblings. He graduated from Saguaro High School there (1980), then earned a B.A. (finance and real estate, 1985) and MBA (2005) from the Arizona State University's W. P. Carey School of Business.

Schweikert and his wife Joyce live in Fountain Hills.

Arizona House of Representatives (1991–1995)

Schweikert was elected to the Arizona State House of Representatives for District 28 in 1990, and re-elected in 1992.[3][4][5] He represented Fountain Hills and part of Scottsdale. He arrived in the wake of the AzScam scandal, and was a committee chairman as a freshman and majority whip in his second term.[6] His consistently conservative record led Republican colleagues to elevate him to Majority Whip.

Local politics (1995–2007)

As chair of the State Board of Equalization, Schweikert was also responsible for overseeing billions of dollars in valuations and tax protests from Arizona citizens and businesses.[7] There was speculation in 1999 that Arizona Governor Jane Dee Hull might appoint Schweikert to the Arizona State Corporation Commission.[8] He was appointed chairman of the Arizona State Board of Equalization, a full-time job, where he served from 1995–2003.[9]

He was appointed Chief Deputy Treasurer of Maricopa County in 2004, and was elected Treasurer the same year. He resigned in 2007 to run for Congress again.[6][10][11] In 2008 he lost by 10 percentage points, 53%–43%, to Democrat Harry Mitchell in congressional district 5. In 2010 he defeated the two-term incumbent.

U.S. House of Representatives (2011–present)

Elections

1994

He ran for the September 1994 Republican primary in Arizona's 6th congressional district. It resembled the 5th district formed after the 2000 census, but also included most of the northeastern part of the state, including Flagstaff and the Navajo reservation. J.D. Hayworth defeated him 45%–22%.[12][13] After that defeat, he took time to reconsider and left for a lengthy vacation, which included travel to Calcutta, the Philippines, Myanmar, Nepal, Vietnam and Serbia.[14]

2008

Schweikert won a six way Republican primary election September 2, 2008 with 30% of the vote, compared to 27% for his nearest rival, Susan Bitter-Smith.[15]

Several organizations endorsed Schweikert in the 2008 election, including the primary election: Club for Growth, the Arizona Police Association, Arizona Right to Life, and the Arizona Medical Association. Schweikert later blamed his defeat on the very bitter primary fight that preceded it.[16] He received more than a half-million dollars from the Club for Growth.[17][18] He was endorsed by the Arizona Police Association, which includes Chandler, Mesa, and Tempe law enforcement agencies,[19] the Arizona Right to Life,[19] the Arizona Medical Association and the Citizens Against Government Waste's political action committee.[5][20]

He lost the general election to freshman incumbent Democrat Harry Mitchell, 53%–44%.[21]

2010

Schweikert sought a rematch with Mitchell in 2010, with Libertarian Nick Coons also running. Schweikert won the Republican primary on August 24 with 37% of the vote. Early polling showed the race a dead heat. The Club for Growth decided to again endorse Schweikert after having sat out the competitive primary election.[22]

On November 2, 2010 Schweikert defeated two-term incumbent Congressman Harry Mitchell 52%–43%.

2012

After redistricting, the bulk of Schweikert's former territory became the 9th district,[23] while his home in Fountain Hills was drawn into the newly created 4th district.[24] However, as soon as the maps were released, Schweikert announced he would run in the 6th district. That district had previously been the 3rd, represented by fellow Republican freshman Ben Quayle. However, in a statement announcing his re-election plans, Schweikert pointed out that he'd grown up in Scottsdale—most of which had been drawn into the 6th as well—had represented it in both the state house and in Congress, and owned a second home there.[25] A revised map, however, placed Schweikert's home in Fountain Hills into the reconfigured 6th.[26][27]

Quayle, whose home in Phoenix had been drawn into the 9th but was just outside the boundaries of the 6th, opted to seek re-election in the 6th as well. During the bitter primary campaign, Schweikert was widely criticised for a mailer that accused Quayle of "going both ways", suggesting that he was bisexual. On the reverse, the mailer listed issues on which it claimed Quayle had taken both liberal and conservative positions. Senator Jon Kyl said that "such campaign tactics insult the voters, degrade politics and expose those who stoop to them as unworthy of high office" and Senator John McCain said the mailer was one of the "worst that I have seen" and that it "crosses the boundary of decent political dialogue and discourse." Quayle's spokeswoman called the mailer "utterly false" and "a sleazy smear tactic." Schweikert's spokesman responded that people "should get their minds out of the gutter" because the mailer was "obviously" referring to "'both ways'—as in liberal and conservative." The Arizona Republic asked two political scientists to review the mailer, who both said that they had "never seen anybody accuse someone of flip-flopping [on political issues] that way" and said that it was "difficult to believe" that the sexual suggestion was unintentional.[28][29][30][31]

Although the 6th contained almost two-thirds of Quayle's constituents, Schweikert defeated Quayle in the Republican primary—the real contest in this heavily Republican district—by 53 percent to Quayle's 47 percent.[32] He won re-election to a second term with 62% of the vote.[33]

Tenure

Congressman Schweikert speaking at a rally in August 2014.
Immigration

Schweikert argues that the state's immediate objective must be to secure the border against smuggling and illegal immigration. After it is "truly secure," lawmakers can proceed to establish a "common sense temporary guest worker program to enable businesses to obtain the employees they need." Additionally, Schweikert firmly opposes amnesty and "sanctuary cities." [34]

Defense

Schweikert has said the government should make providing resources to national intelligence, the military and law enforcement a high priority.[34]

Firearms

Schweikert opposes restrictions on gun ownership. He has received an "A" rating from both the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America. He was endorsed by the NRA in his 2010 election.[35] Schweikert voted in favor of the National Right-To-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011. This act requires all states, regardless of their own laws, to honor concealed carry permits from other states.[36]

Spending

In November 2011, Schweikert wrote a letter to President Obama objecting to $70,000 spent by the State Department on books authored by Obama, asking the President return the royalties.[37] Embassies used the books as gratuity gifts and also to stock libraries in various countries.

Schweikert believes that economic prosperity hinges on balancing the federal budget and making "hard choices" on entitlement programs like Medicare and Social Security.[38]

Abortion

Schweikert is strongly pro-life as proven by his vote for the Title X Abortion Provider Act, an Act that would deny all federal funding to Planned Parenthood. In addition, he voted yes for the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act in which the Act would ban any taxpayer from funding abortions.[39] After his birth mother decided against an abortion, she gave birth to him at an unwed mother’s home where he was adopted.[40]

When asked about his stance on abortion, Schwiekert said "In a still struggling economy, when our top priority should be creating jobs and paying down our debt, taxpayers need not be asked to open their checkbooks for such a controversial cause. Especially if that cause is taking the life of an innocent unborn child."[39]

Balancing the budget

Schweikert is against an income tax increase on any tax bracket: he signed Americans for Americans for Tax Reform: The Taxpayer Protection Pledge. The Taxpayer Protection Pledge is a pledge that many GOP candidates signed stating that they will oppose any and all efforts to increase the income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses, and oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.[39] FreedomWorks, a "lower taxes, less taxes, more freedom" interest group, endorsed Schweikert in the 2012 general election.[39]

Environment and energy policy

Schweikert voted yes on Opening the Continental shelf to oil drilling and voted yes for drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, in pursuit of coal. He voted to bar the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases.[41][42]

Schweikert signed the American's For Prosperity "No Climate Tax Pledge" in which he will "oppose any legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue".[41]

Committee assignments

For the 114th United States Congress, Schweikert is now serving on the following committees:[43]

The House Republican Steering Committee removed Schweikert from the Committee on Financial Services in late 2012 as part of a larger party leadership-caucus shift.[44][45] He joined Justin Amash of Michigan and Tim Huelskamp of Kansas in a letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner, demanding to know why they had lost their "plum" committee posts.[46]

Politico quoted a spokesperson for Republican Congressman Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia as explaining that Schweikert, Amash and Huelskamp were removed for "their inability to work with other members." The spokesperson clarified that Westmoreland "said that it had nothing to do with their voting record, a scorecard, or their actions across the street [meaning fundraising]." The three were described by Politico and its sourcing of Huelskamp's other colleagues as "jerks" who "made life harder for other Republicans by taking whacks at them in public for supporting the team".[47][48]:p.2

References

  1. ↑ "Congressman: I Was Almost an Abortion Victim, Adoption Saved Me". LifeNews.com. 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  2. ↑ Abortion, except to save the life of the mother, was a crime in California in 1962, see Penal Code s. 274 (prior to 1967 amendment). The article fails to explain how the existence of the criminal statute prevented anyone determined to obtain an abortion, and able to travel to Mexico, from obtaining one.
  3. ↑ Shumway, Jim (November 26, 1990). "State of Arizona Official Canvass – General Election – November 6, 1990" (PDF). Secretary of State of Arizona. p. 7. Retrieved 2009-04-21. District 28 (Maricopa county) State Representative
    Lisa Graham (R) 20,051
    David Schweikert (R) 40,925
    Bill Searle (D) 20,051
  4. ↑ 1992 "State of Arizona Official Canvass – General Election – November 3, 1992" Check |url= value (help) (PDF). Secretary of State of Arizona. November 23, 1992. p. 7. Retrieved 2009-04-21. District 28 (Maricopa & Yavapai counties) State Representative
    Lisa Graham (R) 47,936
    David Schweikert (R) 33,285
  5. 1 2 Benson, Matthew; Pitzl, Mary Jo; Wingett, Yvonne (September 3, 2008). "Arizona primary results yield few surprises". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  6. 1 2 "Description of the 2nd Presentation on July 25, 2007 by David Schweikert Maricopa County Treasurer" (PDF). PRECISION NEWS: The Newsletter of the Arizona Tooling & Machining Association (Arizona Tooling & Machining Association). 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 25, 2011. Retrieved 2009-04-20. In December 2004, David Schweikert was sworn in as Maricopa County Treasurer. He has a B.S. degree in Finance/Real Estate and [an] MBA from W.P. Carey/Arizona State University. Before becoming Treasurer, David served as Chief Deputy Treasurer. Prior to that, he served as chairman of the Arizona State Board of Equalization. David has worked as an investment analyst and has been involved in the Real Estate industry and property tax issues for 25 years. In 1990, David was elected to represent Northeast Maricopa County in the Arizona House of Representatives. In 1992 he was selected to the position of Majority Whip. line feed character in |quote= at position 325 (help) Issue 2, 2007
  7. ↑ "AZ Fact Check". Azcentral.com. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  8. ↑ Davenport, Paul (June 11, 1999). "Hull anxious to pick West substitute". Lake Havasu City, Arizona: Today's News-Herald. Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-04-20. The fractious Arizona Corporation Commission ... has been mired in controversy thanks to politics and personalities. Now, with Tony West's removal from ttwohe three-member commission, the need to wait for a replacement to be named by Gov. Jane Hull creates new uncertainty ... Names figuring in public speculation about the appointment include ... former state Rep. David Schweikert .... Vol 34, No 116
  9. ↑ "State Board of Equalization" (PDF). Maricopa County government. 2005-06-24. Retrieved 2009-04-20. ...additional member designated as Chairperson by the Governor who shall serve in a full time capacity.
  10. ↑ "David Schweikert – SHARP Network". SHARP (Science, Health and Related Policies) Network. Scientists and Engineers for America. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  11. ↑ Wingett, Yvonne (November 14, 2007). "Maricopa County has new tax collector". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2009-04-20. Board of Supervisors appointed Charles "Hos" Hoskins the new county's treasurer. He replaces David Schweikert, who resigned on Oct. 22 to feel out a run for Congress.
  12. ↑ Barone, Michael; Ujifusa, Grant (1998) [1997]. "Arizona 6th District". The Almanac of American Politics. Richard E. Cohen. Washington, D.C.: National Journal. pp. 87, 106. ISBN 0-89234-080-0.
  13. ↑ "State of Arizona Official Canvass – Primary Election – September 13, 1994" (PDF). Phoenix, Arizona: Secretary of State of Arizona. September 26, 1994. Retrieved 2009-04-20. Karan English (D) 32,261
    J.D. Hayworth (R) 21,109
    Gary Husk (R) 6,500
    Ramona Liston (R) 4,376
    David Schweikert (R) 9,565
    David Smith (R) 5,093
    Sequoia R. Fuller (L) (write in) 37
  14. ↑ Giblin, Paul (November 4, 2007). "Ex-county treasurer to run again for Congress". East Valley Tribune (Mesa, Arizona: Freedom Communications Inc). Retrieved 2009-04-20. In a real sense, losing improved his life, Schweikert said. Until then, he ran a real estate business, but threw most of his time and energy into politics. Suddenly, at 32, politics were out.
  15. ↑ "2008 primary election – September 2, 2008" (PDF). State of Arizona Official Canvas. Arizona Secretary of State. September 15, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
  16. ↑ McArdle, John (April 2, 2009). "Too Enticing a Target?". Roll Call (Washington, D.C.). Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  17. ↑ "Club for Growth PAC Endorses David Schweikert in Arizona-5". Washington, D.C.: Club for Growth. November 16, 2007. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  18. ↑ "Club for Growth PAC-Endorsed Candidate Wins in AZ-05". Washington, D.C.: Club for Growth. September 3, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-20. The former Maricopa County Treasurer topped a highly competitive field of six candidates to win the right to face freshman Harry Mitchell in the general election in November. The Club for Growth PAC bundled $337,000 in campaign contributions for Schweikert and spent over $200,000 in independent expenditures on his behalf.
  19. 1 2 "David Schweikert 08 – Why David?". david08.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2008.
  20. ↑ "CCAGW PAC Endorses David Schweikert for Arizona's 5th District". Business Wire (findarticles.com). October 15, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-20. The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste Political Action Committee (CCAGW PAC) today announced its endorsement of David Schweikert for Congress in Arizona's fifth Congressional District. Mr. Schweikert is running against Rep. Harry Mitchell.
  21. ↑ "2008 General Election – November 4, 2008" (PDF). State of Arizona Official Canvass. Arizona Secretary of State. December 1, 2008. Retrieved 2009-04-21.
  22. ↑ "Club for Growth Backs Schweikert". CQ Politics. US News & World Report. September 7, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Arizona Redistricting: Commission releases draft map". Dailykos.com. 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  24. ↑ Livingston, Abby (October 5, 2011). "New Arizona Lines Mean Battle Between GOP Freshmen". Roll Call. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  25. ↑ Taylor, Jessica (October 5, 2011). "House Democrats Gain With New Arizona Map". National Journal. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  26. ↑ Livingston, Abby (February 6, 2012). "Arizona: Quayle Opts to Run Against Schweikert". Roll Call. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  27. ↑ Sullivan, Sean (2012-08-29). "Schweikert defeats Quayle in Arizona". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  28. ↑ "Kyl faults Schweikert after mailer says Quayle 'goes both ways' – Phoenix Business Journal". Bizjournals.com. 2012-08-06. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  29. ↑ Nowicki, Dan (2012-08-03). "District 6 race: David Schweikert says 'I like the fight' in D.C". Azcentral.com. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  30. ↑ "azcentral.com staff blogs – AZ/DC Blog – azdc – McCain endorses Quayle, scolds Schweikert for mailer". Archive.azcentral.com. 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  31. ↑ "McCain blasts Arizona Republican who accused Quayle of ‘going both ways’". TheHill.com. 2012-08-16. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  32. ↑ Zapler, Mike; Isenstadt, Alex (August 29, 2012). "Arizona House primary results: Ben Quayle booted from Congress". Politico.com. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  33. ↑ "2014 Election Results Senate: Map by State, Live Midterm Voting Updates". Politico.com. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  34. 1 2 "2008 campaign website". Archived from the original on 2008-02-10.
  35. ↑ "Summary: Representative David Schweikert". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  36. ↑ "H.R.822 – 112th Congress (2011-2012)". THOMAS (Library of Congress). Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  37. ↑ Cohn, Alicia M. (November 1, 2011). "Rep. Schweikert asks Obama to return book royalties". The Hill. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  38. ↑ Schweikert, David (February 15, 2011). "What happened to the calculator?". The Hill. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  39. 1 2 3 4 "David Schweikert". Vote Smart. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  40. ↑ Schweikert, David (2012-01-21). "Why I am pro-life". Daily Caller. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  41. 1 2 "David Schweikert". Jesse Gordon- OntheIssues.org. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  42. ↑ "U.S. House Candidate David Schweikert Applauded for Signing No Climate Tax Pledge" (PDF). Americansforprosperity.org. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  43. ↑ "Congressman David Schweikert : Committee Assignments". Schweikert.house.gov. 2015-03-23. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  44. ↑ "Tim Huelskamp: John Boehner Guilty Of 'Petty, Vindictive Politics' In Committee Ousters". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  45. ↑ Weiner, Rachel (2012-12-05). "Conservatives bite back over House GOP purge". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  46. ↑ Wallace, Gregory (December 8, 2012). "Booted from plum committee seats, three GOP reps want answers". Political Ticker (blog). CNN. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
  47. ↑ Allen, Jonathan (December 13, 2012). "'The a—hole factor'". Politico. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
  48. ↑ "'Obstinate' Factor Continues to Roil GOP". Roll Call. December 12, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2014.

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