Brad Ellsworth
| Brad Ellsworth | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 4 2007 |
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| Preceded by | John Hostettler |
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| Succeeded by | Incumbent |
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| Born | September 11 1958 Jasper, Indiana |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Beth Ellsworth |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
John Bradley "Brad" Ellsworth[1] is the Democratic congressman for Indiana's 8th congressional district (map). The district is located in the southwestern portion of the state, and includes Evansville and Terre Haute.
In 2006, he defeated the Republican incumbent, John Hostettler.[2] He previously served as the sheriff of Vanderburgh County, Indiana.
He is one of the rising stars of the Democratic Party's more conservative, pro-gun rights wing, along with Joe Donnelly, Heath Shuler, and Kirsten Gillibrand.
Early life
Ellsworth was born in Jasper, Indiana and spent his early years in Huntingburg, Indiana. When he was still in grade school, his family moved to Evansville, where his father took a job as a crane operator in Warrick County's Alcoa plant.
After graduation from William Henry Harrison High School in 1976, he attended Indiana State University-Evansville (now the University of Southern Indiana) where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology. Ellsworth worked in the paint and hardware department at Sears while in school to pay for his education. He later received a Masters Degree in Criminology from Indiana State University.
Law enforcement
In 1982, Ellsworth began a career in the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's office. Over the next 23 years, he held every merit rank, and was twice decorated for heroism in the line of duty. While serving in the Department, Brad Ellsworth instituted the first Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program in the Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation. He later attended and graduated from the FBI National Academy.
In 1998, Ellsworth ran for sheriff and won by a large margin. He was unopposed running for a second term. In 2005 he announced his intention to seek the Democratic Party's nomination for Indiana's 8th Congressional District, which was held by six-term incumbent John Hostettler.
U.S. House of Representatives campaign
As of June 30 2006, Hostettler had raised $287,000 and had $195,000 on hand, compared to Ellsworth's $1,036,000 raised and $676,000 on hand. However, Hostettler had won campaigns in the past against opponents with more funding. In addition, the National Republican Congressional Committee had spent $163,000 in his district as of mid-July 2006. (The DCCC, its counterpart, had spent $166,000 for Ellsworth as of that date.)[3][4]
The Cook Political Report, an independent non-partisan newsletter, listed the race as a toss-up as of mid-August.[5] As of early September, the Rothenberg Political Report called Hostettler one of the three most endangered House incumbents in the country; Chris Cillizza, political analyst for The Washington Post, ranked Hostettler as the most vulnerable House incumbent in the nation; and Robert D. Novak, a syndicated columnist and editor of the Evans-Novak Political Report, also rated Hostettler's seat a likely win for Ellsworth.[6]
In mid-October, an opinion poll commissioned by the Evansville Courier & Press showed Ellsworth leading Hostettler, 55% to 32%.[7]
Hostettler debated Ellsworth on October 23, 2006. The debate was at public television station WVUT at Vincennes University, and involved the League of Women Voters.[8]
Ellsworth scored a landslide victory over Hostettler on November 7 2006. He took 61% of the vote to Hostettler's 39% – by far the most lopsided defeat for an incumbent in the 2006 election.[2] Ellsworth's victory was the first of 30 seats that the Democrats took from the Republicans in the cycle.
Ellsworth has been named to the House Armed Services Committee as well as the Agriculture Committee, and Small Business Committee for the 110th Congress.
Issues and positions
Ellsworth is generally a conservative Democrat with a populist streak. He opposes abortion and gun control. After his election to Congress, he joined the Blue Dog Coalition.
He was one of 16 Democrats who voted against providing federal funds for stem cell research.[9]
Congressman Ellsworth had been named the Most Beautiful Person on Capitol Hill by
Earmarking
Openly supporting and aggressively pusuing earmarks, in July 2007, Ellsworth designated $2 million to extend the John T. Myers lock chamber on the Ohio River and $750,000 for manufacturing and engineering equipment for the University of Southern Indiana. He also nabbed two projects: the construction of a campus perimeter road system at USI for $350,000 and a portion of University Parkway construction also at $350,000.
Smaller projects for which Ellsworth gained House approval include $200,000 to restore Evansville's Alhambra Theater, $135,000 for emergency warning sirens in Vanderburgh County and $75,000 to train utility workers at Ivy Tech Community College. [10]
References
- ^ 2007 Financial Disclosure Statement. The Washington Post (May 7, 2007).
- ^ a b Democrats pick up key House seat in Indiana. CNN (November 7, 2006).
- ^ Thomas B. Langhorne, "Hostettler 'war chest' a little light, pundit says", Evansville Courier & Press, July 17, 2006
- ^ Maureen Groppe, "Indiana candidates raise big bucks for tight races: $1 million or more in war chest isn't unusual this competitive year, finance reports show", Indianapolis Star, July 18, 2006
- ^ Competitive Race Chart, Cook Political Report, August 16, 2006
- ^ Thomas B. Langhorne, "Hostettler inactivity curious", Evansville Courier & Press", September 3, 2006
- ^ Thomas B. Langhorne, "Ellsworth widens lead in poll: ISU questions likely voters in 8th District follow-up survey", Evansville Courier & Press", October 15, 2006
- ^ "Hostettler agrees to debate date", Evansville Courier & Press", August 30, 2006
- ^ Final Vote Results for Roll Call 20. Office of the Clerk. U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved on 2007-02-20.
- ^ Langhorne, Thomas B., "Is pork Protecting Ellsworth?" Evansville Courier and Press, July 29. 2007.
External links
- U.S. Congressman Brad Ellsworth official House site
- Brad Ellsworth at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Federal Election Commission — Congressman Brad Ellsworth campaign finance reports and data
- On the Issues — Brad Ellsworth issue positions and quotes
- OpenSecrets.org — Brad Ellsworth campaign contributions
- Project Vote Smart — Representative Brad Ellsworth (IN) profile
- Washington Post — Congress Votes Database: Brad Ellsworth voting record
- Brad Ellsworth for Congress official campaign site
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by John Hostettler |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 8th congressional district 2007–Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| Indiana's delegation to the 110th United States Congress |
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| Senators: Representative(s): Pete Visclosky (D), Joe Donnelly (D), Mark Souder (R), Steve Buyer (R), Dan Burton (R), Mike Pence (R), Julia Carson (D), Brad Ellsworth (D), Baron Hill (D) All delegations: Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming — American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands |
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