Matthew Mechtel
Encyclopedia
Matthew Mechtel was the 2006 Republican
nominee for the United States House of Representatives
from North Dakota
, and Chairman of the Northern Crops Council, the governing board of the Northern Crops Institute. Mechtel lost to Democratic-NPL incumbent Earl Pomeroy
in the general election and later shot himself to death.
Council. He was also the Chairman of the Northern Crops Council, an oversight committee of the Northern Crops Institute, an industry promotion board representing four states in the Upper Midwest
. During his tenure as the Chairman of the Northern Crops Council, Mechtel testified in front of state legislatures to secure funding and support for the organization, and spoke to many outside groups on issues concerning North Dakota and its economic and business climate.
He received several awards for his commitment to agriculture
including the 1997 Dupont/ASA Young Leader Award, 1999 and 2000 North Dakota Jaycees Outstanding Young Farmer Award, and the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce
Agriculture award for his contributions to the industry within the state.
near Page, North Dakota
.
. The cause of death was an apparent self-inflicted
gunshot wound. Mechtel was 39 years old.
North Dakota Republican Party
The North Dakota Republican Party is the North Dakota affiliate of the United States Republican Party. The party platform is generally conservative.The North Dakota Republican Party is strongly in control of the state's politics...
nominee for 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 North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, and Chairman of the Northern Crops Council, the governing board of the Northern Crops Institute. Mechtel lost to Democratic-NPL incumbent Earl Pomeroy
Earl Pomeroy
Earl Pomeroy is a lobbyist and former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1993 until 2011. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party.- Early life, education and career :...
in the general election and later shot himself to death.
Biography
Mechtel served as Chairman of the Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Committee, Chairman of the North Dakota SoybeanSoybean
The soybean or soya bean is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean which has numerous uses...
Council. He was also the Chairman of the Northern Crops Council, an oversight committee of the Northern Crops Institute, an industry promotion board representing four states in the Upper Midwest
Upper Midwest
The Upper Midwest is a region in the northern portion of the U.S. Census Bureau's Midwestern United States. It is largely a sub-region of the midwest. Although there are no uniformly agreed-upon boundaries, the region is most commonly used to refer to the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and...
. During his tenure as the Chairman of the Northern Crops Council, Mechtel testified in front of state legislatures to secure funding and support for the organization, and spoke to many outside groups on issues concerning North Dakota and its economic and business climate.
He received several awards for his commitment to agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
including the 1997 Dupont/ASA Young Leader Award, 1999 and 2000 North Dakota Jaycees Outstanding Young Farmer Award, and the North Dakota Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
Agriculture award for his contributions to the industry within the state.
Personal life
He lived and farmed in a family operation of approximately 5000 acres (20.2 km²) in Northwest Cass CountyCass County, North Dakota
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 123,138 people, 51,315 households, and 29,814 families residing in the county. The population density was 70 people per square mile . There were 53,790 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile...
near Page, North Dakota
Page, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 225 people, 101 households, and 61 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,259.1 people per square mile . There were 125 housing units at an average density of 699.5 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 99.11% White, 0.44%...
.
Death
On February 21, 2008, aged 39, Matthew Mechtel was found dead by his father in a shop building at his parents' home in rural Page, North DakotaPage, North Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 225 people, 101 households, and 61 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,259.1 people per square mile . There were 125 housing units at an average density of 699.5 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 99.11% White, 0.44%...
. The cause of death was an apparent self-inflicted
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
gunshot wound. Mechtel was 39 years old.