Bob Etheridge
Encyclopedia
Bobby Ray "Bob" Etheridge (born August 7, 1941) is the former U.S. Representative
for , serving from 1997 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was defeated in the 2010 election by Renee Ellmers
.
, Etheridge attended the Cleveland School and was a high school basketball standout. He attended Campbell University
on an athletic scholarship and became the first member of his family to earn a diploma when he received a business degree in 1965. He then served in the United States Army
from 1965 to 1967. He has also done graduate work in the field of economics.
Etheridge is also a part-time tobacco farmer
and hardware store owner.
commissioner from 1973 through 1976. He was then elected in 1978 to the North Carolina House of Representatives
, and served two terms (1979–1988) and rose to chair the House Appropriations Committee. Having gained a reputation for his strong stances on educational issues, he was elected in 1988 and served two terms (1989–1996) as North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction
.
Etheridge previously served on the Agriculture
and Homeland Security
committees. He has focused on farm issues, educational matters, and providing a balanced budget
.
In 2006, Etheridge joined Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth in proposing increased research and development of biofuel
s to reduce the United States' dependence on foreign oil.
Etheridge supported President Obama's proposed healthcare reforms, voting to pass the Affordable Health Care for America Act
in November 2009 and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
.
Political analysts commented on the potential effect of this confrontation on Etheridge's chances of reelection against Republican candidate Renee Ellmers. Subsequently on June 18, a 32-year-old man said he had been a victim of a similar incident occurring in 1996 in which Etheridge grabbed him when he was a high school student. That report was later disputed by the retired principal who stated that "the student was in the wrong".
Bev Perdue
announced her appointment of Etheridge as head of the North Carolina Office of Economic Recovery and Investment, replacing Dempsey Benton, which oversees funds to the state from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
.
in 1996.
and Libertarian nominee Tom Rose. On November 2, 2010, political newcomer Ellmers defeated Etheridge in the general election. Etheridge contested the result and requested a recount of the vote. On November 19, 2010, the State Board of Elections director Gary Bartlett said that a recount in the 2nd Congressional District has confirmed that Ellmers defeated Democratic Rep. Bob Etheridge by about 1,500 votes. Later that day, Etheridge conceded the election to Ellmers.
, Etheridge was awarded the Silver Beaver Award
; the highest award a Scout leader can receive. He is a Freemason and has served as Grand Orator.
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...
for , serving from 1997 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was defeated in the 2010 election by Renee Ellmers
Renee Ellmers
Renee Jacisin Ellmers is the U.S. Representative for . She is a member of the Republican Party. Ellmers defeated seven-term Democratic incumbent Bob Etheridge by 1,489 votes, confirmed after a recount....
.
Early life, education and career
Born in Sampson County, North CarolinaSampson County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 63,431 people, 22,624 households, and 16,214 families residing in the county. The population density was 67.1 people per square mile . There were 26,476 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile...
, Etheridge attended the Cleveland School and was a high school basketball standout. He attended Campbell University
Campbell University
Campbell University is a coeducational, church-related university in rural North Carolina, USA. Its main campus is located in the community of Buies Creek; its law school moved from Buies Creek to a new campus in the state capital of Raleigh in 2009. Campbell has an approximately equal number of...
on an athletic scholarship and became the first member of his family to earn a diploma when he received a business degree in 1965. He then served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from 1965 to 1967. He has also done graduate work in the field of economics.
Etheridge is also a part-time tobacco farmer
Cultivation of tobacco
Tobacco is usually cultivated annually. It is germinated in cold frames or hotbeds and then transplanted to the field until it matures. Tobacco is grown in warm climates with rich, well-drained soil...
and hardware store owner.
Early political career
Etheridge began his political career as a Harnett CountyHarnett County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 91,025 people, 33,800 households, and 24,099 families residing in the county. The population density was 153 people per square mile . There were 38,605 housing units at an average density of 65 per square mile...
commissioner from 1973 through 1976. He was then elected in 1978 to the North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
, and served two terms (1979–1988) and rose to chair the House Appropriations Committee. Having gained a reputation for his strong stances on educational issues, he was elected in 1988 and served two terms (1989–1996) as North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction
North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction
The North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction is the elected head of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and oversees the public school systems of the state. The Superintendent is currently an elected member of the North Carolina Council of State, chosen in a partisan...
.
Committee assignments (111th Congress)
- Committee on the BudgetUnited States House Committee on the BudgetThe 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...
- Committee on Ways and MeansUnited States House Committee on Ways and MeansThe Committee of Ways and Means is the chief tax-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives. Members of the Ways and Means Committee are not allowed to serve on any other House Committees unless they apply for a waiver from their party's congressional leadership...
- Subcommittee on TradeUnited States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on TradeThe House Way and Means Subcommittee on Trade is one of the six subcommittees within the House Ways and Means Committee-Jurisdiction:From the House Rules:...
- Subcommittee on OversightUnited States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on OversightThe House Way and Means Subcommittee on Oversight is one of the six subcommittees within the House Ways and Means Committee-Jurisdiction:From the House Rules:...
- Subcommittee on Trade
Caucus memberships
- New Democrat CoalitionNew Democrat CoalitionThe New Democrat Coalition is a Congressional Member Organization within the United States Congress made up of Democrats who support an agenda that the organization describes as moderate and pro-growth. A July 2009 Press release described the organization as "the largest moderate coalition in the U.S...
, a moderate, pro-growth organization
Etheridge previously served on the Agriculture
United States House Committee on Agriculture
The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, or Agriculture Committee is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The House Committee on Agriculture has general jurisdiction over federal agriculture policy and oversight of some federal agencies, and it can recommend funding...
and Homeland Security
United States House Committee on Homeland Security
The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Its responsibilities include U.S...
committees. He has focused on farm issues, educational matters, and providing a balanced budget
Balanced budget
A balanced budget is when there is neither a budget deficit or a budget surplus – when revenues equal expenditure – particularly by a government. More generally, it refers to when there is no deficit, but possibly a surplus...
.
In 2006, Etheridge joined Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth in proposing increased research and development of biofuel
Biofuel
Biofuel is a type of fuel whose energy is derived from biological carbon fixation. Biofuels include fuels derived from biomass conversion, as well as solid biomass, liquid fuels and various biogases...
s to reduce the United States' dependence on foreign oil.
Etheridge supported President Obama's proposed healthcare reforms, voting to pass the Affordable Health Care for America Act
Affordable Health Care for America Act
The Affordable Health Care for America Act was a bill that was crafted by the United States House of Representatives in November 2009. At the encouragement of the Obama administration, the 111th Congress devoted much of its time to enacting reform of the United States' health care system...
in November 2009 and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 is a law that was enacted by the 111th United States Congress, by means of the reconciliation process, in order to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act...
.
"Who are you?" incident
In June 2010, Etheridge was approached by two young men on a Washington, D.C., sidewalk. The pair, who identified themselves as students working on a project, asked Etheridge if he "fully supported the Obama agenda" while videorecording his response. In the video, Etheridge first says "Who are you?" repeatedly, then is seen grabbing one of the young men by the wrists, neck, and back of the shirt, while repeatedly asking the young men who they were. The young men responded that they were "students working on a project". One of them is heard asking the congressman three times to let go of him while the Congressman continued to hold on to him. Etheridge later apologized for the incident in a statement saying "I deeply and profoundly regret my reaction, and I apologize to all involved". Etheridge called a press conference where he stated that there was no excuse for his actions. He refused to speculate on the motivation of those involved and said that it had been a "long day". An article in the New York Times subsequently stated that unnamed "Republican political strategists acknowledge they were behind the episode."Political analysts commented on the potential effect of this confrontation on Etheridge's chances of reelection against Republican candidate Renee Ellmers. Subsequently on June 18, a 32-year-old man said he had been a victim of a similar incident occurring in 1996 in which Etheridge grabbed him when he was a high school student. That report was later disputed by the retired principal who stated that "the student was in the wrong".
Post-Congressional career
On February 1, 2011, GovernorGovernor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
Bev Perdue
Bev Perdue
Beverly Eaves "Bev" Perdue is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party currently serving as the 73rd Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina. She is the first female governor of North Carolina....
announced her appointment of Etheridge as head of the North Carolina Office of Economic Recovery and Investment, replacing Dempsey Benton, which oversees funds to the state from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...
.
Political campaigns
Etheridge was first elected to the United States House of RepresentativesUnited 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...
in 1996.
2008
Etheridge was elected to his seventh consecutive term in the 2008 Congressional elections. He defeated Republican Dan Mansell and Libertarian Will Adkins.2010
Etheridge was challenged by Republican nominee Renee EllmersRenee Ellmers
Renee Jacisin Ellmers is the U.S. Representative for . She is a member of the Republican Party. Ellmers defeated seven-term Democratic incumbent Bob Etheridge by 1,489 votes, confirmed after a recount....
and Libertarian nominee Tom Rose. On November 2, 2010, political newcomer Ellmers defeated Etheridge in the general election. Etheridge contested the result and requested a recount of the vote. On November 19, 2010, the State Board of Elections director Gary Bartlett said that a recount in the 2nd Congressional District has confirmed that Ellmers defeated Democratic Rep. Bob Etheridge by about 1,500 votes. Later that day, Etheridge conceded the election to Ellmers.
Personal life
Etheridge and his wife Faye have three children and seven grandchildren. They are active in their church and both teach Sunday School. For his decades-long work for the Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, Etheridge was awarded the Silver Beaver Award
Silver Beaver Award
The Silver Beaver Award is the council-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. Recipients of this award are registered adult leaders who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council...
; the highest award a Scout leader can receive. He is a Freemason and has served as Grand Orator.
External links
- Bob Etheridge for Congress official campaign site
- New Democrat Coalition