Jeff Trandahl
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Joseph Trandahl (born September 15, 1964) served as the thirty-second Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was elected Clerk on January 6, 1999 and held office until November 18, 2005.
, South Dakota
, and graduated from Spearfish High School in 1983. He received a bachelor of arts
from the University of Maryland
in 1987 and a Certificate in Management from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University
.
(R-SD). From 1987-1990 and from 1990-1995, he was affiliated with the offices of Congresswoman Virginia Smith (R-NE) and Congressman Pat Roberts
(R-KS) and with the Committees on Appropriations
and House Administration
, respectively. In 1995, he joined the Office of the Clerk and served in various capacities. He was also the Acting Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives
from 1996-1997.
On November 18, 2005, Trandahl resigned as Clerk to accept a position as the executive director
of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
. He was succeeded by Karen L. Haas
.
Trandahl was a board member
of Human Rights Campaign
. HRC is a national LGBT rights group.
against then-Representative Mark Foley
by former House pages
are said to have occurred. Trandahl confronted Foley at that time since it is the Clerk of the House's responsibility to effectively administer the House page system. He took great care to assure the safety of the pages. Later, he testified before the House Ethics Committee that he had warned the Speaker's office several times of his concerns about Congressman Foley's behavior toward them.
Personal
Trandahl is a native of SpearfishSpearfish, South Dakota
Spearfish is a city in Lawrence County, South Dakota,United States. The population was 10,494 at the 2010 census.- History :Prior to the Black Hills Gold Rush of 1876, the area was used by Native Americans who would spear fish in the creek...
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, and graduated from Spearfish High School in 1983. He received a bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
in 1987 and a Certificate in Management from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Career
Trandahl began his congressional career in 1983 as an aide to Senator James AbdnorJames Abdnor
James Abdnor is a Republican politician from the state of South Dakota.-Personal:He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1945 where he became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He served in the United States Army during World War II and from 1957 to 1969 was a member of the South Dakota...
(R-SD). From 1987-1990 and from 1990-1995, he was affiliated with the offices of Congresswoman Virginia Smith (R-NE) and Congressman Pat Roberts
Pat Roberts
Charles Patrick "Pat" Roberts is the senior United States Senator from Kansas. A member of the Republican Party, he has served since 1997...
(R-KS) and with the Committees on Appropriations
United States House Committee on Appropriations
The Committee on Appropriations is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is in charge of setting the specific expenditures of money by the government of the United States...
and House Administration
United States House Committee on House Administration
The United States House Committee on House Administration deals with the general administration matters of the United States House of Representatives.-Jurisdiction:...
, respectively. In 1995, he joined the Office of the Clerk and served in various capacities. He was also the Acting Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives
Chief Administrative Officer of the United States House of Representatives
The Chief Administrative Officer of the United States House of Representatives is the chief administrative officer of the United States House of Representatives, charged with carrying out administrative functions for the House, including human resources, information resources, payroll, finance,...
from 1996-1997.
On November 18, 2005, Trandahl resigned as Clerk to accept a position as the executive director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation protects, sustains and restores the wildlife, plants and habitats of the United States. Established by Congress in 1984, the Foundation directs public conservation dollars to critical environmental needs and matches those investments with private...
. He was succeeded by Karen L. Haas
Karen L. Haas
Karen Lehman Haas is an American government affairs official who has served as the 34th Clerk of the United States House of Representatives from December 2005 to February 2007...
.
Trandahl was a board member
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of Human Rights Campaign
Human Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign is the United States' largest LGBT advocacy group and lobbying organization; according to the HRC, it has more than one million members and supporters...
. HRC is a national LGBT rights group.
Mark Foley scandal
Trandahl was the Clerk of the House during the time in which allegationsMark Foley scandal
The Mark Foley scandal, which broke in late September 2006, centers on soliciting e-mails and sexually suggestive instant messages sent by Mark Foley, a Republican Congressman from Florida, to teenaged boys who had formerly served as congressional pages...
against then-Representative Mark Foley
Mark Foley
Mark Adam Foley is a former member of the United States House of Representatives. He served from 1995 until 2006, representing the 16th District of Florida as a member of the Republican Party....
by former House pages
United States House of Representatives Page
United States House of Representatives Page Program was a program run by the United States House of Representatives, under the office of the Clerk of the House, in which appointed high school juniors acted as non-partisan federal employees in the House of Representatives, providing supplemental...
are said to have occurred. Trandahl confronted Foley at that time since it is the Clerk of the House's responsibility to effectively administer the House page system. He took great care to assure the safety of the pages. Later, he testified before the House Ethics Committee that he had warned the Speaker's office several times of his concerns about Congressman Foley's behavior toward them.