Jim Nussle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Jim Nussle | |
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| In office 1991-2007 |
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| Preceded by | Jim Leach |
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| Succeeded by | Bruce Braley |
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| Born | June 27, 1960 Des Moines, Iowa |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Karen Nussle |
| Religion | Lutheran |
James Allen "Jim" Nussle (born June 27, 1960, Des Moines, Iowa) is an American politician. Nussle was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1991 to 2007. Nussle was the Republican nominee for the November 2006 election for Governor of Iowa, and was defeated by Chet Culver.
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[edit] Background
In high school, Nussle studied in Denmark (his political action committee (PAC) was at one time called "Great Dane PAC" and he is of Danish descent). He received a B.A. in international studies, political science, and economics from Luther College, and a J.D. degree from Drake University in Des Moines. While at Luther he was a member of the Zeta Rho Tau fraternity. Also, he was a lead singer in a band called ZIP blues band. He was elected to serve as the Delaware County, Iowa attorney after settling in Manchester. While in Manchester, Nussle also volunteered as a first responder with the Manchester Volunteer Fire Department. When Tom Tauke made an unsuccessful run against Senator Tom Harkin during the 1990 election, Nussle ran as the Republican candidate for Tauke's House seat.
[edit] Congressional career
Nussle's first election to the House, in what was then the 2nd District, was the closest election for him during his entire tenure in the House. He and challenger Eric Tabor had been in a virtual dead heat in the time leading up to the election. Just before the election, Tabor became embroiled in a controversy regarding absentee ballots that family members had cast. This controversy caused some votes to not be counted at the end, and also cost Tabor other votes as well. Tabor did not concede the election to Nussle until the day after the election.
In 1992, Nussle ran against fellow House member David "Dave" Nagle for what was the 2nd district of Iowa. This was because Iowa's House delegation was being reduced from six down to five Representatives. The areas that Nussle and Nagle had represented in Congress were combined for the 1992 election. Nussle won, even though he had only one term under his belt to Nagle's three.
Nussle's first exposure to national attention came when he made a speech from the well of the House while wearing a paper bag over his head to protest the "shameful" ethical behavior involved in the House banking scandal.
He became Chairman of the House Budget Committee in 2001, the first such Iowa politician to serve as chair of this committee. His position brought national and international interest to his district, including the ONE Campaign, the lobbying group formed by Bono of the rock band U2. The group has targeted Nussle's district with billboard and radio ads. On March 23, 2006 they placed a statement in Nussle's article on Wikipedia, regarding poverty in Africa and Nussle's budget influence, hoping to influence Nussle. (The statement was quickly removed by editors as it violated Wikipedia policies on maintaining a neutral point of view). On March 24, 2006 the Des Moines Register contained a story about this revision in which ONE confirmed that they had placed the statement.
Nussle's voting record was relatively conservative, despite representing a district with a slight Democratic lean. His district has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in every election since 1988. Typical conservative positions Nussle embraced are supporting restrictions on abortion and supporting President Bush's tax cuts. His district was renumbered as the 1st District as a result of the 2000s round of redistricting, and became even more Democratic with the addition of much of Iowa's share of the Quad Cities. However, Nussle was reelected handilly in 2002 and 2004.
[edit] 2006 Gubernatorial bid
- Main article: Iowa gubernatorial election, 2006
When Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack announced that he would not seek a third term as Governor in 2006, a number of people from both parties began exploring running for Governor. That included Nussle, who began considering a run shortly after Vilsack made his announcement. On June 2, 2005; Nussle announced he would run for governor. His only serious primary challenger, Bob Vander Plaats, withdrew from the race to endorse Nussle and become his running mate.
On February 21, 2006, the Iowa Democratic Party filed an ethics complaint against Nussle for not reporting any in-kind donations from the federal “Nussle for Congress Committee”. On July 12, 2006, the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board unanimously voted to close the investigation with a finding of no probable cause to believe that a violation of a statute or rule under the Board's jurisdiction occurred.
On June 6, 2006, Nussle won the Republican primary, but lost the general election to Chet Culver on November 7.
Three Republicans and four Democrats announced their intentions to seek the House seat Nussle will be vacating in January, 2007. The primaries pared the candidates down to Democrat Bruce Braley and Republican Mike Whalen. Braley won Nussle's former seat.
[edit] World Almanac "Notable Quote in 2005"
A March 9, 2005 quote of Nussle's was included in the 2006 World Almanac and Book of Facts' list of notable quotes in 2005 (p.39): "Everyone wants to get to heaven, but no one wants to die." According to the almanac, the quote refers to opposition to his proposed budget, which included cuts to several social programs; the statement was made during Nussle's tenure as House Budget Committee chairman.
[edit] Family and personal life
Nussle has two children with his first wife, Leslie Jeanne (Harbison) Nussle: Sarah (b. November 2, 1988) and Mark (b. February 25, 1991).
Nussle and Leslie Harbison divorced in July 2, 1996 (July 3, 1996 Telegraph Herald of Dubuque, IA "Rep. Nussle and his wife to divorce", Telegraph Herald staff). In an official joint statement, the two gave no reason for the divorce at the time, only saying: "This decision is the most difficult and painful of our lives."
Nussle remarried five years later in 2001 to Karen Chiccehitto, who worked on the communications staff for Speaker Newt Gingrich, then later for the lobbying firm of Black, Kelly, Scruggs & Healey, a subsidiary of the international WPP Group. In 2002, she was a communications professor at the University of Dubuque and is a regular fixture in his gubernatorial campaign.
Nussle said he met Chiccehitto when she worked as a staff member for Rep. Jim Kolbe, before she was a Gingrich aide, and began dating her one-and-a-half years after his divorce (October 5, 2001; Des Moines Register "Nussle will wed lobbyist; Karen Chiccehitto, the bride, once worked for Newt Gingrich." by Norman Jane).
Nussle's oldest child has Down's Syndrome, which he said has "cemented" his faith in Christianity.
[edit] 2008 Presidential Election
Former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani named Nussle as an advisor for his potential 2008 Presidential election campaign.
[edit] Election history
- 1990: Defeated Eric Tabor 50%-49.8%
- 1992: Defeated David Nagle 51%-49%
- 1994: Defeated David Nagle 56%-43%
- 1996: Defeated Donna Smith 51%-48%
- 1998: Defeated Rob Tully 55%-44%
- 2000: Defeated Donna Smith 55%-44%
- 2002: Defeated Ann Hutchinson 57%-43%
- 2004: Defeated Bill Gluba 55%-44%
- 2006: Lost to Chet Culver 44-53%
[edit] Congressional committees
| Preceded by Tom Tauke |
U.S. House of Representatives, 2nd Iowa District 1991-2003 |
Succeeded by Jim Leach |
| Preceded by Jim Leach |
U.S. House of Representatives, 1st Iowa District 2003-2007 |
Succeeded by Bruce Braley |
