Rob Andrews

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Rob Andrews

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office November 6, 1990–
Preceded by	Jim Florio
Succeeded by	Incumbent

Born	August 04, 1957 (age 49) Camden, New Jersey
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Camille Andrews

Robert Ernest "Rob" Andrews (born August 4, 1957) is an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who is currently serving as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New Jersey's 1st congressional district (map).

[edit] Biography

Andrews was born in Camden, New Jersey and currently lives in Haddon Heights, just outside Camden. He attended Bucknell University, graduating in 1979 with a B.A. in political science. Andrews later attended Cornell University Law School, earning his J.D. degree in 1982. For several years, Andrews was involved in legal education as a member of Cornell Law Review's board of editors; he also was an adjunct professor at the Rutgers University School of Law.

Andrews is married to Camille Spinello Andrews, an Associate Dean of Enrollment and Projects at Rutgers School of Law - Camden. They have two daughters, Jackie and Josie.^[1]

From 1983 onward, Andrews had a private law practice. He harbored high political ambitions even while attending Triton Regional High School in Runnemede. In 1987, he was elected as a member of the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders. In 1990, after 15-year incumbent James Florio resigned to take office as Governor of New Jersey, Andrews won a special election to succeed him. He won a full term later that year and has been reelected seven times without serious opposition.

In 1997 and 2001, Andrews unsuccessfully campaigned for the Democratic nomination for Governor of New Jersey. Before the resignation of incumbent Jim McGreevey, Congressman Andrews was reportedly considering a primary challenge against him in 2005.

Andrews is generally considered a moderate by New Jersey Democratic standards, with a pro-defense and fiscally conservative platform. Rob Andrews is one of the very few South Jersey Democratic politicians who are independent of party boss George Norcross III. Andrews' independence of the Democratic political machine and poor name recognition outside of South Jersey hampered his efforts to obtain the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1997 and 2001.

The Philadelphia Inquirer said that Congressman Andrews "is properly focused on fixing the looming fiscal disaster in Washington."[1] The New York Times has characterized Congressman Andrews as "fiscally conservative...and socially moderate."[2]

Rep. Andrews has served for his entire Congressional career on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. He is the Democratic leader and Ranking Member on the Education Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations, which has responsibility for the health insurance, pension and labor laws of the nation. Rep. Andrews also serves on the House Armed Services Committee, which maintains jurisdiction over funding for the military forces.

Using Amtrak to commute from his Haddon Heights home while Congress is in session so that he can be closer to his family and constituents, Andrews does not maintain a residence in Washington, D.C.. Andrews is an ardent supporter of Amtrak subsidies.

While Andrews had been frequently mentioned as a possible replacement for Jon Corzine's United States Senate seat after Corzine's November 2005 gubernatorial victory, (The Philadelphia Inquirer said: "Corzine's best option is Andrews." The Courier Post called Rob Andrews "one of the best elected officials in a state where there are not enough good politicians.") Bob Menendez was eventually chosen by Corzine to fill the vacancy. Andrews had informally announced his plan to run in the 2006 Democratic primary against Menendez, but in January 2006 announced that he would run for a ninth full term in the House and seek the Senate seat in 2008 if Senator Frank Lautenberg retires.

Congressman Andrews faced no GOP opponent in the 2006 Congressional race.

Andrews received a "B" on the Drum Major Institute's 2005 Congressional Scorecard on middle-class issues^[2].

Andrews crossed party lines to vote for the Secure Fence Act of 2006, authorizing the erection of a 700-mile fence across the US-Mexico border, as an alternative to the more comprehensive immigration reform measures pushed by Democrats and many moderate Republicans.

[edit] References

^ Profile of Camille Spinello Andrews from Rutgers School of Law - Camden, accessed December 23, 2006
^ Congress at the Midterm: Their 2005 Middle-Class Record, accessed June 28, 2006

[edit] External links

U.S. Congressman Rob Andrews official House site
Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Federal Election Commission - Robert E Andrews campaign finance reports and data
On the Issues - Rob Andrews issue positions and quotes
OpenSecrets.org - Robert E. Andrews campaign contributions
Project Vote Smart - Representative Robert E. 'Rob' Andrews (NJ) profile
SourceWatch Congresspedia - Rob Andrews profile
Washington Post - Congress Votes Database: Rob Andrews voting record

Political offices
Preceded by James Florio	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 1st congressional district 1990-Present	Succeeded by Incumbent