Jim Slattery

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James Charles Slattery, born in Atchison, Kansas in 1948, is an American politician. Slattery earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Washburn University School of Law in 1974. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983–1995 in the Kansas delegation. Prior to his election to the Congress, Slattery served in the Kansas House of Representatives, as a reserve Army officer and founded a successful real estate company.

Slattery served on the Energy & Commerce, Veterans' Affairs, Budget, and Banking Committees. He was a central player on many key issues, including environmental protection, health care, telecommunications, and budget cutting efforts. He worked to limit production of the B-2 bomber, and was the chief sponsor of the successful amendment to terminate spending on the Superconducting Super Collider in 1993.

Slattery gained success as Democrat in a relatively conservative congressional district, Kansas's 2nd congressional district. He considered running for governor in 1990 against incumbent Gov. Mike Hayden, a unpopular governor following changes in property tax law. Slattery decided not to run in 1990, however, and Joan Finney became the first female governor of Kansas.

Finney served one term as governor and Slattery decided to run for the open governorship in 1994, stepping down from Congress. However, he faced a popular Republican, Bill Graves. He lost, and his political career in Kansas effectively ended.

He currently resides in Virginia and is a partner in a Washington, D.C. law firm, Wiley Rein & Fielding LLP.