Jim Matheson
Jim Matheson, full name: James David Matheson, ( born March 21, 1960 in Salt Lake City, Utah) is an American politician of the Democratic Party. Between 2001 and 2013 he represented the constituency 2 of the State of Utah in the U.S. House of Representatives. Since January 3, 2013, represents the fourth electoral district of his state. He is the only Democrat from Utah in Congress.
Life
Jim Matheson is a son of Scott M. Matheson, who was from 1977 to 1985 governor of Utah. He studied at Harvard University until 1982 and from then until 1987 at the University of California at Los Angeles. He then worked for various companies in the energy sector. He later founded his own consulting firm, which dealt with energy issues. In addition, Matheson dealt with the environmental policy.
He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints and is married to Amy Matheson.
Political career
The Democratic Party nominated him in 2000 to its candidate in the second electoral district of Utah for the U.S. House of Representatives. The then- incumbent, Republican Merrill Cook was, because of his moodiness very unpopular, so Matheson's election chances increased. The Republicans then replaced by Cook Derek Smith. Nevertheless, Matheson won the elections with 56 % of votes. This is all the more remarkable because at the same time the Republican George W. Bush came to 57 % of the votes in the presidential election in this constituency. Despite a restructuring of the constituency, which actually favored the Republicans managed to be Jim Matheson re-elected in the following years, respectively. Since January 3, 2001, he is a member of Congress. His last re-election he won in 2012 against the mayor of Saratoga Springs (Utah ), Mia Love; Matheson is therefore likely to represent newly created 4th District from 2013 Utah.
Positions
In Congress, Matheson was against raising the limit on the debt of the federal budget. He voted against budget bills that are not helped to reduce the budget deficit. In March 2007 he was one of 14 Democratic Congressman who voted against a bill that the American troops should be brought home until September 1, 2008 from Iraq. Jim Matheson is a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Committee on Science and Technology and in some sub-committees.