Curt Clawson
Curt Clawson | |
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Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 19th district | |
Assumed office June 25, 2014 | |
Preceded by | Trey Radel |
Succeeded by | Francis Rooney (elect) |
Personal details | |
Born |
Curtis Jay Clawson September 28, 1959 Tacoma, Washington, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Residence | Bonita Springs, Florida |
Alma mater |
Purdue University Harvard Business School |
Religion | Mormonism |
Website | House website |
Curtis Jay Clawson (born September 28, 1959) is an American politician who has been the United States Representative for Florida's 19th congressional district since 2014. He is the former chief executive of Hayes Lemmerz, a Michigan-based automobile wheel and brakes supplier.[1][2]
Education and career
Clawson attended Batesville High School in Batesville, Indiana. A high school basketball star, he was recruited by Gene Keady for Purdue University.[3] At Purdue, he was a 2x All-Academic Big Ten selection (1982–83 and 1983–84). He was a team captain for the 1983–84 Big Ten Champions, was a member of 2x NCAA teams (1982–83 and 1983–84) and an NIT Finalist team (1981–82).[4] He graduated in 1984 with a BA in Spanish and a BS from the Krannert School of Management.[3] He was named a "Purdue Old Master" in 2010 and received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2014[3]
In 1990, he earned an MBA from Harvard University.[3]
Before his election to Congress, Clawson spent a quarter-century as an executive with several industrial firms, working at AlliedSignal, American National Can and Hayes Lemmerz.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2014
Special
Clawson was the Republican Party nominee in a special election to fill the seat being vacated by Trey Radel.[5] and won the election on June 24, 2014. In the April 22, 2014 Republican primary--the real contest in this heavily Republican district--Clawson defeated State Senate Majority Leader Lizbeth Benacquisto and former State Representative Paige Kreegel with 38% of the vote to Benacquisto's 26% and Kreegel's 25%.[5] Clawson was endorsed in the primary by the Tea Party Express.[4] He spent $2 million on advertising and in one of his ads he challenged U.S. President Barack Obama to a game of one on one basketball.[4]
General
Clawson won a full term in November 2014 with 64 percent of the vote.
Tenure
Clawson delivered the Tea Party response to President Obama's State of the Union Address in 2015.[6]
In May 2016, Clawson announced that he would not seek re-election that year, citing the death of his mother in the summer of 2015 and how it "affected him and his father more deeply than he had thought it would." "With the passing of my mom, it’s a good time to show support for my dad and be close to (him),” Clawson said.[7]
Electoral history
2014 (Special)
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Curt Clawson | 26,857 | 38 | |
Republican | Lizbeth Benacquisto | 18,032 | 26 | |
Republican | Paige Kreegel | 17,762 | 25 | |
Republican | Michael Dreikorn | 7,560 | 11 | |
Total votes | 70,211 | 100 | ||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Curt Clawson | 66,922 | 66.9 | |
Democratic | April Freeman | 29,314 | 29.3 | |
Libertarian | Ray Netherwood | 3,729 | 3.7 | |
Write-in | Timothy J. Rossano | 24 | 0.0 | |
Total votes | 99,989 | 100.0 | ||
2014
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Curt Clawson* | 159,354 | 64.6 | |
Democratic | April Freeman | 80,824 | 32.7 | |
Libertarian | Ray Netherwood | 6,671 | 2.7 | |
Write-in | Timothy J. Rossano | 12 | 0.0 | |
Total votes | 246,861 | 100.0 | ||
References
- ↑ "NDN exclusive: Curt Clawson touts business acumen, but record is marred". Naples Daily News. 12 March 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
- ↑ "Ex-C.E.O. Wins Florida Primary for House Seat". New York Times. New York City: New York Times Company. April 22, 2014. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 Curtis J. Clawson : College of Liberal Arts : Purdue University
- 1 2 3 Leary, Alex (April 22, 2014). "Tea party candidate Curt Clawson wins Republican primary to replace former Rep. Trey Radel". Tampa Bay Times. Tampa: Times Publishing Company. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
- 1 2 Sullivan, Sean. Curt Clawson wins Republican nomination in Florida special election, Washington Post, April 23, 2014.
- ↑ Topaz, Jonathan (January 20, 2015) – "Tea Party Response to Obama Hits Soft Tones". POLITICO. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
- ↑ King, Ledyard (May 20, 2016). "U.S. Rep. Curt Clawson won't seek re-election". The News-Press. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
- ↑ "Florida - County Vote Results". Associated Press. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
- ↑ "Florida Department of State - Election Results: June 24, 2014 Special General Congressional 19". Florida Department of State Department of Elections. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
- ↑ "Florida Department of State - Election Results: November 4, 2014 General Election". Florida Department of State Department of Elections. Retrieved June 18, 2016.
External links
- Congressman Curt Clawson official U.S. House website
- Curt Clawson for Congress official campaign website
- Curt Clawson at DMOZ
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Profile at Project Vote Smart
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress
United States House of Representatives | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Trey Radel |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 19th congressional district 2014–present |
Succeeded by Francis Rooney Elect |
United States order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
Preceded by David Jolly |
United States Representatives by seniority 369th |
Succeeded by Alma Adams |