Bill Orton
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Orton was an American
Democratic
Congressman. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives
from Utah
from 1991 to 1997.
, Orton was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He attended Brigham Young University
, from which he earned his undergraduate degree and his Juris Doctor
. In 1966, he was hired by the Internal Revenue Service
, and in 1979, he returned to Utah to set up a private law practice.
Karl Snow by 22 points in one of the biggest upsets in Utah political history. The 3rd, then as now, was one of the most Republican districts in the nation, and was thought to be all but unwinnable even for a conservative Democrat like Orton. He was easily re-elected in 1992 and 1994. While in the House, Orton served at various times on the Banking
, Budget
, Small Business
, and Foreign Affairs
Committees.
Orton was one of the few bright spots for the Democrats when the Republicans took control of the House in the 1994 elections. In a year when many districts far less Republican than Orton's reverted to form (including the Salt Lake City-based 2nd District, traditionally the most Democratic district in the state), Orton won by just over 19 points. The 1994 election left Orton as the only Democrat representing Utah at the federal level. However, in 1996, Orton was narrowly defeated by Republican businessman Chris Cannon
during his bid for a fourth term. He left Congress as his third term expired in January 1997, and no Democrat would be elected to Congress from Utah again until Jim Matheson
's victory in 2000. Utah and national political pundits blame Orton's loss on the creation of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
without local input.
During his last term, he was injured at the U.S. Capitol:
was ruled unconstitutional. He also joined Advantage Associates, a consulting firm made up of former politicians. In 2000, Orton unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Michael Leavitt for the governorship.
accident on April 18, 2009, at Little Sahara Recreation Area
in Juab County, Utah
. Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr.
ordered flags flown at half-staff on 24 April, the day of Orton's funeral.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Congressman. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
from 1991 to 1997.
Early life and education
Born in North Ogden, UtahNorth Ogden, Utah
North Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. The population was 15,027 at the 2000 census. North Ogden is on SR-235, three miles north of Ogden. It is a suburb of that city and is part of the Ogden –Clearfield, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:North Ogden was...
, Orton was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He attended Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, from which he earned his undergraduate degree and his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
. In 1966, he was hired by the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
, and in 1979, he returned to Utah to set up a private law practice.
Politics
In 1990, Orton ran for the open 3rd District seat, his first bid for public office. He defeated RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Karl Snow by 22 points in one of the biggest upsets in Utah political history. The 3rd, then as now, was one of the most Republican districts in the nation, and was thought to be all but unwinnable even for a conservative Democrat like Orton. He was easily re-elected in 1992 and 1994. While in the House, Orton served at various times on the Banking
United States House Committee on Financial Services
The United States House Committee on Financial Services is the committee of the United States House of Representatives that oversees the entire financial services industry, including the securities, insurance, banking, and housing industries...
, Budget
United States House Committee on the Budget
The U.S. House Committee on the Budget, commonly known as the House Budget Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress...
, Small Business
United States House Committee on Small Business
The United States House Committee on Small Business is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives.-History:On December 4, 1941, the U. S...
, and Foreign Affairs
United States House Committee on International Relations
The Committee on Foreign Affairs of the U.S. House of Representatives, also known as the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives which has jurisdiction over bills and investigations related to the foreign affairs of the United States...
Committees.
Orton was one of the few bright spots for the Democrats when the Republicans took control of the House in the 1994 elections. In a year when many districts far less Republican than Orton's reverted to form (including the Salt Lake City-based 2nd District, traditionally the most Democratic district in the state), Orton won by just over 19 points. The 1994 election left Orton as the only Democrat representing Utah at the federal level. However, in 1996, Orton was narrowly defeated by Republican businessman Chris Cannon
Chris Cannon
Christopher Black "Chris" Cannon was a member of the United States House of Representatives, for the Republican Party, representing the third district of Utah from 1997 - 2009....
during his bid for a fourth term. He left Congress as his third term expired in January 1997, and no Democrat would be elected to Congress from Utah again until Jim Matheson
Jim Matheson
James David "Jim" Matheson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes eastern Salt Lake City....
's victory in 2000. Utah and national political pundits blame Orton's loss on the creation of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument contains 1.9 million acres of land in southern Utah, the United States. There are three main regions: the Grand Staircase, the Kaiparowits Plateau, and the Canyons of the Escalante. President Bill Clinton designated the area as a U.S. National...
without local input.
During his last term, he was injured at the U.S. Capitol:
In the spring of 1996, as he was preparing for his re-election that year, Orton was injured in a freak accident. As he was walking down a tunnel to make a House vote, he was struck from behind by a deranged federal employee who was running behind him.
After politics
Following his departure from Congress, Orton resumed the practice of law and was a member of the legal counsel of the plaintiff in Idaho Potato Growers v. Ruben, the case in which the line-item vetoLine-item veto
In United States government, the line-item veto, or partial veto, is the power of an executive authority to nullify or cancel specific provisions of a bill, usually a budget appropriations bill, without vetoing the entire legislative package...
was ruled unconstitutional. He also joined Advantage Associates, a consulting firm made up of former politicians. In 2000, Orton unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Michael Leavitt for the governorship.
Death
Orton died in an ATVAll-terrain vehicle
An all-terrain vehicle , also known as a quad, quad bike, three wheeler, or four wheeler, is defined by the American National Standards Institute as a vehicle that travels on low pressure tires, with a seat that is straddled by the operator, along with handlebars for steering control...
accident on April 18, 2009, at Little Sahara Recreation Area
Little Sahara Recreation Area
The Little Sahara Recreation Area in Utah is a large area of sand dunes, hills and sagebrush flats located in the west central part of the state approximately north of Delta, Utah. It is managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management...
in Juab County, Utah
Juab County, Utah
Juab County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. As of 2000 the population was 8,238, and by 2005 had been estimated at 9,113. It was named from an Indian word meaning thirsty valley, or possibly only valley. Its county seat and largest city is Nephi.Juab County is part of the...
. Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr.
Jon Huntsman, Jr.
Jon Meade Huntsman, Jr. is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 16th Governor of Utah. He also served in the administrations of four United States presidents and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.Huntsman worked as a White House staff assistant for...
ordered flags flown at half-staff on 24 April, the day of Orton's funeral.
External links
- Obituary in the Salt Lake Tribune