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Ray LaHood
	Ray LaHood
	;
16th United States Secretary of Transportation
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; January 22, 2009
President	Barack Obama
Deputy	John Porcari
Preceded by	Mary Peters
	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives; from Illinois's 18th district
	In office; January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2009
Preceded by	Bob Michel
Succeeded by	Aaron Schock
	Member of the; Illinois House of Representatives
	In office; 1982 – 1983
Born	December 6, 1945 (age 64); Peoria, Illinois
Ethnicity	Lebanese
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Kathy LaHood
Alma mater	Bradley University
Profession	Politician, Teacher
Religion	Maronite Catholic

Raymond H. "Ray" LaHood (born December 6, 1945) is the current United States Secretary of Transportation and a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives.

During his service in Congress, he became well-known among C-SPAN viewers, as the presiding officer of more debates than any other member.^[2] Most notably, he presided over the impeachment vote against President Bill Clinton.

[edit] Biography

LaHood was born in Peoria, Illinois, the son of Mary A. (née Vogel), who was of German ancestry, and Edward M. LaHood, a Lebanese American.^[3]^[4]^[5] He was educated at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, from which he earned a degree in education. He was a school teacher,^[1] director of the Rock Island County Youth Services Bureau, and an aide to Representatives Tom Railsback and Robert Michel before entering politics. He served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives for one term between 1982 and 1983. LaHood is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership.

LaHood succeeded his boss, Bob Michel, after the latter's retirement. Elected as part of the Republican Revolution of 1994, he was one of only three Republican candidates who did not sign on to the Contract with America, Newt Gingrich's manifesto for a Republican majority.^[6]

LaHood was said to be considering a challenge to Governor Rod Blagojevich's re-election bid in 2006, but on August 18, 2005 he ruled out a run, saying few outside his district knew him.

In 2006, LaHood won against Steve Waterworth^[7] by a margin of 147,108 (67%) to 71,106 (33%).^[8]

A strong advocate for advancing the legacy of Abraham Lincoln, LaHood authored a law that established the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, which laid the groundwork for celebrating the 16th President's 200th birthday in 2009. He has also been a lead Capitol Hill supporter for the Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois, and is one of 15 members on the ALBC.

In 2007 LaHood was considered for candidacy to become the president of his alma mater, Bradley University, following the departure of David Broski.^[9] However, he decided against applying for the position.^[10]

LaHood received a 0% rating from the conservative and anti-earmark Club for Growth 2007 RePORK Card.^[11] He received an 11% rating from the conservative lobbying group Citizens Against Government Waste for 2007 and holds a lifetime 49% rating from the group.^[12]

On July 26, 2007, LaHood stated he would not seek re-election in 2008 and would retire when his current term expired in January 2009.^[13]

[edit] Secretary of Transportation

LaHood works on a Habitat for Humanity project in Brooklyn, New York June 22, 2009

LaHood during an Obama press conference.

On December 19, 2008, President-elect Barack Obama announced that he would nominate Ray LaHood to be the next Transportation Secretary.

LaHood's nomination was viewed with alarm among those concerned with climate change and suburban sprawl.^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17] His résumé on transport matters is seen as thin by many critics. He did not serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee at the time his selection was announced, although he had in the past. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee he did not work on transportation funding.^[18]

His nomination was confirmed by the Senate by acclamation on January 21, 2009.^[19]

[edit] Electoral history

Illinois's 18th congressional district: Results 1994–2006^[20]
Year	Democrat	Votes	Pct	Republican	Votes	Pct
1994	G. Douglas Stephens	78,332	39%	Ray LaHood	119,838	60%	*
1996	Mike Curran	98,413	41%	Ray LaHood	143,110	59%
1998	(no candidate)			Ray LaHood	158,175	100%	*
2000	Joyce Harant	85,317	33%	Ray LaHood	173,706	67%
2002	(no candidate)			Ray LaHood	192,567	100%
2004	Steve Waterworth	91,548	30%	Ray LaHood	216,047	70%
2006	Steve Waterworth	73,052	33%	Ray LaHood	150,194	67%

*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 1994, write-ins received 955 votes. In 1998, write-ins received 2 votes.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b "Rep. LaHood Talks History at Holy Family School". Peoria, Illinois: WEEK-TV. 2008-10-08. http://www.week.com/news/local/30629004.html. Retrieved 2009-01-27. "Before he entered politics, LaHood was a social studies teacher at Holy Family. "To come back here is really to come back full circle. My interest in politics really was sparked by what I was doing in terms of teaching kids here at Holy Family about the constitution and about government," said LaHood."
^ U.S. Congressman Ray LaHood (Archived version from 2003)
^ Brownson, Charles Bruce (1978). Congressional Staff Directory. Congressional Staff Directory. pp. 765. ISBN.
^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/celeb/lahood.htm
^ Arab Americans
^ Obama to Add GOP's LaHood to Cabinet
^ Waterworth for Congress
^ Elections 2006 CNN
^ LaHood Ponders Post The Peoria Star, June 2, 2007
^ LaHood stays put The Hill, July 10, 2007
^ The 2007 Club for Growth RePORK Card "The Club For Growth", August 9, 2007
^ Citizens Against Government Waste 2007 House Scorecard "Citizens Against Government Waste", August 27, 2008
^ LaHood will not seek re-election The Swamp, July 26, 2007
^ http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/009299.html
^ http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/01/congressman-from-caterpillar-transport.php
^ http://www.alternet.org/environment/114080/ray_lahood_at_transportation,_what_is_obama_thinking/
^ http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/12/17/102613/31
^ JONATHAN WEISMAN and CHRISTOPHER CONKEY (2008-12-18). "LaHood to Get Transportation Post". Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122955244259215675.html. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
^ Matthew L. Wald (January 22, 2009). "Panel Approves Transportation Nominee". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/us/politics/22lahood.html.
^ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html. Retrieved 2008-01-10.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ray LaHood

Secretary Ray LaHood official website

Congressional career

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
Current Bills Sponsored at StateSurge.com
Congressional profile at GovTrack.us
Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia

Articles

A Setback for Civility David S. Broder, Washington Post, August 2, 2007, on Ray LaHood's retirement announcement
LaHood tapped for Obama Cabinet Karen McDonald, Peoria Journal Star, December 17, 2008
The GOP Goes South David S. Broder, "Washington Post," December 28, 2008, on Ray LaHood's selection for the Obama cabinet and what that means for the Republican Party
Ray LaHood: The Obama Appointment You Should Be Really Worried About Alternet article about reasons for opposition to LaHood's appointment.

Political offices
Preceded by Mary Peters	United States Secretary of Transportation Served under: Barack Obama 2009 – present	Incumbent
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Robert Michel	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 18th congressional district 1995 – 2009	Succeeded by Aaron Schock
United States order of precedence
Preceded by Shaun Donovan Secretary of Housing and Urban Development	United States order of precedence Secretary of Transportation	Succeeded by Steven Chu Secretary of Energy
United States presidential line of succession
Preceded by Shaun Donovan Secretary of Housing and Urban Development	14th in line Secretary of Transportation	Succeeded by Steven Chu Secretary of Energy

[week-30629004-0] "Rep. LaHood Talks History at Holy Family School". Peoria, Illinois: WEEK-TV. 2008-10-08. http://www.week.com/news/local/30629004.html. Retrieved 2009-01-27. "Before he entered politics, LaHood was a social studies teacher at Holy Family. "To come back here is really to come back full circle. My interest in politics really was sparked by what I was doing in terms of teaching kids here at Holy Family about the constitution and about government," said LaHood."

[1] U.S. Congressman Ray LaHood (Archived version from 2003)

[ref2-2] Brownson, Charles Bruce (1978). Congressional Staff Directory. Congressional Staff Directory. pp. 765. ISBN.

[3] ttp://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/celeb/lahood.htm

[4] Arab Americans

[5] Obama to Add GOP's LaHood to Cabinet

[6] Waterworth for Congress

[7] Elections 2006 CNN

[8] LaHood Ponders Post The Peoria Star, June 2, 2007

[9] LaHood stays put The Hill, July 10, 2007

[10] The 2007 Club for Growth RePORK Card "The Club For Growth", August 9, 2007

[11] Citizens Against Government Waste 2007 House Scorecard "Citizens Against Government Waste", August 27, 2008

[12] LaHood will not seek re-election The Swamp, July 26, 2007

[13] ttp://www.worldchanging.com/archives/009299.html

[14] ttp://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/01/congressman-from-caterpillar-transport.php

[15] ttp://www.alternet.org/environment/114080/ray_lahood_at_transportation,_what_is_obama_thinking/

[16] ttp://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/12/17/102613/31

[WSJ1-17] JONATHAN WEISMAN and CHRISTOPHER CONKEY (2008-12-18). "LaHood to Get Transportation Post". Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122955244259215675.html. Retrieved 2008-12-18.

[18] Matthew L. Wald (January 22, 2009). "Panel Approves Transportation Nominee". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/us/politics/22lahood.html.

[clerkresults-19] "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html. Retrieved 2008-01-10.

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