Matt Salmon
Encyclopedia
Matthew James "Matt" Salmon (born January 21, 1958) is a former Republican
Congressional Representative from Arizona
. In 2002, he lost to Janet Napolitano
in a highly competitive Arizona governor
's race.
, and graduated from Mesa High School in Mesa, Arizona
in 1976. He later went on to attend Arizona State University
in Tempe, Arizona
in 1981. In 1986 he graduated with a master's in public administration from Brigham Young University
, later becoming a telecommunications executive and community affairs manager. Based on his telecommunications and community affairs experience, Salmon decided in 1991 to run for elected office. Salmon is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
from 1991 to 1995. From 1993 to 1995 he was the assistant majority leader.
and to the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1995–January 3, 2001). During his first Congressional election campaign, term limit
s were a high-profile issue. Salmon was one of many candidates nationwide who pledged to serve only three terms in Congress. He honored his campaign pledge and did not stand for reelection to the 107th Congress
in 2000.
Salmon was instrumental obtaining the January 29, 2000 release of U.S. based academic researcher Song Yongyi from detention in China on spying charges.
Accomplishments
.
In 2007, he served as campaign manager to businessman Scott Smith
's successful campaign for Mayor of Mesa
. In 2008, he became President of the Competitive Telecommunications Association, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association.
for Congress in Arizona's 6th congressional district
, the seat left open by Jeff Flake
, who succeeded Salmon in 2001. He has been endorsed by the Club for Growth
.
Republican 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...
Congressional Representative from Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. In 2002, he lost to Janet Napolitano
Janet Napolitano
Janet Napolitano is the third and current United States Secretary of Homeland Security, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She is the fourth person to hold the position, which was created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the 21st...
in a highly competitive Arizona governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
's race.
Early life, education, and business career
Salmon was born in Salt Lake City, UtahUtah
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...
, and graduated from Mesa High School in Mesa, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
in 1976. He later went on to attend Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
in Tempe, Arizona
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
in 1981. In 1986 he graduated with a master's in public administration from 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...
, later becoming a telecommunications executive and community affairs manager. Based on his telecommunications and community affairs experience, Salmon decided in 1991 to run for elected office. Salmon is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Arizona Senate
He served as a member of the Arizona SenateArizona Senate
The Arizona Senate is part of the Arizona Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arizona. The Senate consists of 30 members representing an equal amount of constituencies across the state, with each district having average populations of 219,859 . Members serve two-year terms with...
from 1991 to 1995. From 1993 to 1995 he was the assistant majority leader.
U.S. House of Representatives
In 1994 he was elected as a Republican to the 104th104th United States Congress
The One Hundred Fourth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1995 to January 3, 1997, during the third and...
and to the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1995–January 3, 2001). During his first Congressional election campaign, term limit
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
s were a high-profile issue. Salmon was one of many candidates nationwide who pledged to serve only three terms in Congress. He honored his campaign pledge and did not stand for reelection to the 107th Congress
107th United States Congress
The One Hundred Seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 2001 to January 3, 2003, during the final...
in 2000.
Salmon was instrumental obtaining the January 29, 2000 release of U.S. based academic researcher Song Yongyi from detention in China on spying charges.
Accomplishments
- "Watchdog of the Treasury" award six years in a row
- "Taxpayer Hero" award from Citizens Against Government WasteCitizens Against Government WasteCitizens Against Government Waste is a 501 non-profit organization in the United States. It functions as a think-tank, 'government watchdog', and advocacy group for fiscally conservative causes...
- "Friend of Small Business" award from the National Federation of Independent BusinessNational Federation of Independent BusinessThe National Federation of Independent Business is a lobbying organization with its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee and offices in Washington, D.C. USA, and in all 50 state capitals...
Post-congressional career
He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Arizona in 2002. After that race, he served as a lobbyist and chairman of the Arizona Republican PartyRepublican 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...
.
In 2007, he served as campaign manager to businessman Scott Smith
Scott Smith (mayor)
Scott Smith is a businessman and politician, elected as the 38th mayor of Mesa, Arizona, in a May 20, 2008, runoff election after the March 11 primary. He began his tenure as mayor on June 2, 2008. His previous employment includes serving as president of both Great Western Homes and K. Hovnanian...
's successful campaign for Mayor of Mesa
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
. In 2008, he became President of the Competitive Telecommunications Association, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association.
2012 congressional run
In April 2011 Salmon announced he would run in 2012United States House of Representatives elections, 2012
The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections will be held on November 6, 2012. Elections will be held for all 435 seats, representing the 50 U.S. states. Elections will also be held for the delegates from the District of Columbia and five major U.S. territories.The winners of this...
for Congress in Arizona's 6th congressional district
Arizona's 6th congressional district
Arizona's 6th congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of Arizona and encompasses parts of Maricopa and Pinal counties...
, the seat left open by Jeff Flake
Jeff Flake
Jeffrey Lane "Jeff" Flake is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was featured in the documentary series How Democracy Works Now: Twelve Stories....
, who succeeded Salmon in 2001. He has been endorsed by the Club for Growth
Club for Growth
The Club for Growth is a politically conservative 527 organization active in the United States of America, with an agenda focussed on taxation and other economic issues, and with an affiliated political action committee . The Club advocates lower taxes, limited government, less government spending,...
.
External links
- 2002 Arizona Governor's Race USA TodayUSA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
November 11, 2002 - Salmon holds vision for Arizona's GOP "Ex-congressman eyes chairman seat" The Arizona RepublicThe Arizona RepublicThe Arizona Republic is a daily newspaper published in Phoenix. Circulated throughout Arizona, it is the state's largest newspaper. Since 2000, it has been owned by the Gannett newspaper chain. It was ranked tenth in US daily newspapers by circulation in 2007.-Early years:The newspaper was founded...
November 28, 2004 (restricted access)