| Dina Titus | |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Jon Porter |
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Member of the Nevada Senate
from the Clark 7th district |
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| In office 1989 – 2009 |
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| Born | May 23, 1950 Thomasville, Georgia |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Thomas Clayton Wright, Ph.D. |
| Residence | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Alma mater | The College of William & Mary, University of Georgia, Florida State University |
| Profession | professor of political science |
| Religion | Greek Orthodox Christian |
| Website | www.dinatitus.com |
Alice Costandina "Dina" Titus (born May 23, 1950) is the current United States Representative from Nevada's 3rd congressional district. A Democrat, Titus previously served in the Nevada Senate. She was that body's minority leader from 1993 to 2009.
Prior to her election to Congress, Titus was an active professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). She taught American and Nevada government at UNLV for 30 years. Prior to her congressional run she was considered a likely opponent against Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons in 2010. Gibbons defeated Titus in the 2006 gubernatorial campaign. [1]
On November 4, 2008, Titus defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Jon Porter 47% to 42% to become the first Democrat to represent the Clark County-based Nevada 3rd Congressional District, accumulating nearly 18,000 more votes than Porter.
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Biography
Youth
Titus was born in Thomasville, Georgia. She grew up in the rural Georgia town of Tifton, which she describes as very similar to areas of rural Nevada, but with cotton and peanuts as key agricultural exports instead of the alfalfa, vegetable, and fruit crops of the Silver State. Titus's first exposure to politics came at an early age, when her father, Joe Titus, ran for the Tifton City Council. Her uncle, Theo Titus, served in the Georgia House of Representatives for many years.[2]
Dina Titus's high school years included cheerleading and dancing lessons, in addition to her studies. She attended a summer program at The College of William & Mary and was admitted full time for the fall - without a high school diploma. There, she studied political science. [2]
After earning her bachelor's degree from William and Mary, Titus went on to earn a master's degree from the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. from Florida State University.[2]
Career
After a year teaching at North Texas State University, Titus moved to Nevada and a faculty position in the Political Science Department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Over the past 30 years, her students have included a virtual who's-who list in Nevada government, public service and legal circles, and the popularity of her classes is reflected in the teaching-related awards she has received.[2]
Titus is considered by friends and close acquaintances to be an expert in Nevada politics, state politics, atomic policy (weapons & waste), legislative process, and women in politics. [3]
Public service
In 1988, Titus decided to run for elected office.[2]
Titus also created and continues to coordinate the Legislative Internship Program at UNLV, which each session affords the opportunity for a group of students to work at the Legislature.
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Marriage and family
Titus has been married to Professor Thomas C. Wright for 27 years. Wright's studies in his field of expertise - Latin American history - have taken the couple on extended journeys to Mexico, Central America, several South American countries, and Spain. Wright is a professor of history at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.[4] He is the son of former UNLV historian John S. Wright, for whom a building is named at UNLV.[5]
Titus's family has often volunteered on her political campaigns. [2]
Run for Congress
In the 2008 U.S. House elections, Democrats were heavily targeting 3rd district Republican incumbent Jon Porter. Their top candidate was Clark County prosecutor Robert Daskas, but in April Daskas dropped out for family reasons. Democrats then quickly recruited Titus, who had won the district in her unsuccessful 2006 run for Governor. Titus defeated Porter in November, 47% to 42%. She was a major beneficiary of the over-all anti-Bush sentiment in the Las Vegas area. Titus was elected Regional Whip in the 111th Congress [6]
Committee assignments
- Committee on Education and Labor
- Committee on Homeland Security
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Awards and honors
- Nevada Arts and Humanities Award for Public Service, 2004
- Nevada Women’s Lobby, “Outstanding Nevada Women,” 2003
- Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center, Legislative Advocate Award, 2003
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas, President's Medal, 2002
- Nevada Attorneys for Criminal Justice, Profiles in Courage Award, 2001
- Mediators of Southern Nevada, Peacemaker of the Year, 2001
- Las Vegas Review-Journal, Favorite Female Las Vegan, 1997, 1999
- Las Vegas Review-Journal, Outstanding Legislator of the Year, 1999
- Nevada Arts Advocate of the Year, 1999
- Spanos Outstanding Teacher, UNLV, 1985
- Chair, Nevada Humanities Committee, 1984-1986
Legislative successes and advocacy
2007 Nevada State Legislative Session
Access to vaccines
Titus authored a bill that requires health insurance companies to cover the costs of the HPV vaccine, Gardasil. Gardasil protects women and girls from 70% of cervical cancers. The bill passed both the Nevada Senate and the Nevada Assembly and was signed by Governor Jim Gibbons.
Regulation of credit card rates
Titus authored a bill banning "universal default clauses" that have enabled some credit card issuers to boost interest rates by 30 percent or more. The bill passed the Nevada Senate and Assembly, but was vetoed by Jim Gibbons. Credit Card providers Citibank and Chase rolled back or eliminated universal default clauses due to political pressure in the U.S. Congress.[7]
Measure to care for pets in emergencies
Titus authored the bill that provides for the rescue of pets in a natural disaster emergency. The bill was co-sponsored by Senators Randolph Townsend (R) and Valerie Wiener (D). She told Las Vegas television station Channel 3 KVBC, "We all remember heartbreaking scenes and stories from Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida... When lives are turned upside down by disaster, people seek comfort and normalcy. To exacerbate problems by forcing a disaster victim to leave behind a beloved pet - a member of their family - is both unconscionable and entirely unnecessary. Emergency responders can and should take into account pets and service animals in disaster rescue and recovery plans. Planning could save disaster victims from needless additional pain at a most difficult time."[8] The bill was signed into law in June, 2007.
Affiliations
2008 Member: Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation; Nevada-California Super Speed Ground Transportation Commission; Clark County Women’s Democratic Club; Nevada Commission on Participatory Democracy; Education Commission of the States.[9]
Titus is also a member of the Tortoise Group of Clark County, Nevada Test Site Historical Foundation, PEO International, National League of American Pen Women, Nevada Women's Lobby, Women’s Research Institute of Nevada, Nevada Commission on Participatory Democracy, Clark County Neighborhood Justice Center, Las Vegas Little Theater, the Educational Commission of the States, National Wildlife Federation, and the Nature Conservancy.
Personal and professional achievements
Titus received the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), President’s Medal in 2002. She is the Author of Bombs in the Backyard: Atomic Testing and American Politics, University of Nevada Press, Revised Edition 2001, and Battle Born: Federal-State Relations in Nevada During the Twentieth Century, Kendall-Hunt, 1989. She has also published numerous scholarly articles.
As a result of her publications, Titus is internationally known for her expertise in the history of nuclear power, weaponry and waste and in policies relating to those areas. She appeared in the 2006 PBS documentary "The American Experience: Las Vegas – an Unconventional History" by acclaimed director Steven Ives, where she discussed nuclear issues and Las Vegas history.
Today, the Atomic Testing Museum on the Las Vegas campus of the Desert Research Institute features the Dina Titus Reading Room, in recognition of her scholarly achievement in the field.
On April 13, 2009, Titus was named Outstanding Democrat of the Year by the Paradise Democratic Club of Las Vegas for the second time. President Barack Obama sent her a letter congratulating her.
See also
References
- Erin Neff, "Titus shows punch", Las Vegas Review-Journal, October 3, 2005
- ^ Dina Titus - Home
- ^ a b c d e f Dina Titus - About Dina
- ^ Directory
- ^ History Department at UNLV
- ^ John S. Wright
- ^ Titus Elected Regional Whip Press Release. November 19, 2008. Dina Titus for Congress.
- ^ Bill targeting high credit card rates goes to governor | Nevada Appeal | Serving Carson City, Nevada
- ^ Dina Titus introduces measure to care for pets
- ^ Senate Member Information
External links
- U.S. Congresswoman Dina Titus official U.S. House website
- Dina Titus for U.S. Congress official campaign website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
- Congressional profile at GovTrack.us
- Follow the Money - Dina Titus
- KVBC - Nevada State Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus
- Dina Titus NV Senate website
- Dina Titus at the Open Directory Project
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jon Porter |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nevada's 3rd congressional district 2009 – present |
Incumbent |
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