Paul Gosar
Encyclopedia
Paul Anthony Gosar is the U.S. Representative
for . He is a member of the Republican Party
.
. He is the older brother of Pete Gosar, a former college football
player at the University of Wyoming
, who made an unsuccessful run for the Democratic Party
nomination for the office of Governor of Wyoming in 2010.
Gosar earned his D.D.S. from Creighton Boyne School of Dentistry
and owned his own dentistry practice for 25 years. He was the Arizona Dental Association
's “Dentist of the Year” in 2001, has been into the ADA Hall of Fame, and served as their President. He was also President of the Northern Arizona Dental Society and the Vice-Chair of the ADA Council on Governmental Affairs. Gosar is of Slovenian descent.
on November 2, 2010. Gosar has been identified as a Tea Party candidate
by The New York Times
because the Arizona Tea Party features Gosar on its website. Libertarian nominee Nicole Patti was also on the ballot.
Gosar won the Republican primary. He was endorsed by Sarah Palin
and three Arizona County Sheriffs: Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio
, Coconino County Sheriff Joe Richards, and Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu. Kirkpatrick challenged him to five debates across the district. Gosar initially agreed to one debate but later withdrew. Gosar released a statement explaining the decision to withdraw from the debate was based on the long drive to and from Phoenix. A producer at the PBS station organizing the debate said Gosar's staff told the station the candidate could not participate in the debate because he would be attending a fundraiser instead.
, Gosar may seek re-election in the 1st district, which was made less favorable to Republicans, or the new 4th district
, which strongly favors Republicans.
. Gosar supports the 2nd Amendment
and opposes restrictions on firearm ownership. He describes himself as a fiscal conservative
. He opposes the Affordable Health Care for America Act
.
Regarding immigration, Gosar supports Arizona Senate Bill 1070. He advocates deploying soldiers to the border and supports building a double barrier fence.
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 . He is a member of the Republican Party
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...
.
Early life, education and career
Gosar is a native of Pinedale, WyomingPinedale, Wyoming
Pinedale is a town in and the county seat of Sublette County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 1,412 at the 2000 census. Pinedale is an important hunting outfitting town and a gateway to the Wind River Mountains. It is also a major gateway to the Jackson Hole area in Wyoming. Pinedale is...
. He is the older brother of Pete Gosar, a former college football
Wyoming Cowboys
Wyoming Cowboys is the name given to the sports teams of the University of Wyoming. The women's teams use the name Cowgirls. The University is a member of the Mountain West Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 17 NCAA-sanctioned sports. Wrestling is the only varsity sport that is...
player at the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
, who made an unsuccessful run for the Democratic Party
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...
nomination for the office of Governor of Wyoming in 2010.
Gosar earned his D.D.S. from Creighton Boyne School of Dentistry
Creighton University School of Dentistry
The Creighton University School of Dentistry is an American school of dentistry located at Creighton University in the city of Omaha, Nebraska, United States...
and owned his own dentistry practice for 25 years. He was the Arizona Dental Association
Arizona Dental Association
The Arizona Dental Association is a constituent society of the American Dental Association that encourages improvements in public oral health and promotes the art and science of dentistry through leadership, education and information....
's “Dentist of the Year” in 2001, has been into the ADA Hall of Fame, and served as their President. He was also President of the Northern Arizona Dental Society and the Vice-Chair of the ADA Council on Governmental Affairs. Gosar is of Slovenian descent.
2010
Gosar defeated the Democratic incumbent Ann KirkpatrickAnn Kirkpatrick
Ann Kirkpatrick is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She earlier served in the Arizona House of Representatives. She was defeated by Republican Paul Gosar in the 2010 election...
on November 2, 2010. Gosar has been identified as a Tea Party candidate
Tea Party movement
The Tea Party movement is an American populist political movement that is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian, and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009...
by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
because the Arizona Tea Party features Gosar on its website. Libertarian nominee Nicole Patti was also on the ballot.
Gosar won the Republican primary. He was endorsed by Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin
Sarah Louise Palin is an American politician, commentator and author. As the Republican Party nominee for Vice President in the 2008 presidential election, she was the first Alaskan on the national ticket of a major party and first Republican woman nominated for the vice-presidency.She was...
and three Arizona County Sheriffs: Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Joe Arpaio
Joseph M. "Joe" Arpaio is the elected Sheriff of Maricopa County in the U.S. state of Arizona. First voted into office in 1992, Arpaio is responsible for law enforcement in Maricopa County. This includes management of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, county jail, courtroom security,...
, Coconino County Sheriff Joe Richards, and Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu. Kirkpatrick challenged him to five debates across the district. Gosar initially agreed to one debate but later withdrew. Gosar released a statement explaining the decision to withdraw from the debate was based on the long drive to and from Phoenix. A producer at the PBS station organizing the debate said Gosar's staff told the station the candidate could not participate in the debate because he would be attending a fundraiser instead.
2012
Following changes made in redistrictingRedistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
, Gosar may seek re-election in the 1st district, which was made less favorable to Republicans, or the new 4th district
Arizona's 4th congressional district
Arizona's 4th congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of Arizona and contains the southern portion of the city of Phoenix and some of its suburbs, including part of Glendale....
, which strongly favors Republicans.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral ResourcesUnited States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral ResourcesThe United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources is one of the five subcommittees within the House Natural Resources Committee-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:*...
- Subcommittee on Water and PowerUnited States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and PowerThe United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power is one of the five subcommittees within the House Natural Resources Committee-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:*...
- Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native AffairsUnited States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native AffairsThe United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs is one of the five subcommittees within the House Natural Resources Committee-Members, 112th Congress:- External links :*...
- Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- Subcommittee on Health Care, District of Columbia, Census and the National Archives (Vice-Chair)
- Subcommittee on National Security, Homeland Defense and Foreign Operations
- Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency and Financial Management
Caucuses
Gosar is a member of several caucuses.- GOP Doctors Caucus
- Oral Health Caucus
- Western Caucus
- Native American Caucus
- Immigration Reform Caucus
- Military Veterans Caucus
- Israel Allies CaucusIsrael Allies CaucusThe Israel Allies Caucus is a caucus in the United States House of Representatives made up of members who strongly support Israel. It was formed on July 27, 2006 to affirm United States support for Israel amidst growing international pressure for Israel to implement an immediate and unreciprocated...
- Congressional Rural Caucus
- Republican Study CommitteeRepublican Study CommitteeThe Republican Study Committee [RSC] is a caucus of over 170 conservative members of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives...
Political positions
Gosar describes himself as pro-lifePro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
. Gosar supports the 2nd Amendment
Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights.In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court issued two Second...
and opposes restrictions on firearm ownership. He describes himself as a fiscal conservative
Fiscal conservatism
Fiscal conservatism is a political term used to describe a fiscal policy that advocates avoiding deficit spending. Fiscal conservatives often consider reduction of overall government spending and national debt as well as ensuring balanced budget of paramount importance...
. He opposes 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...
.
Regarding immigration, Gosar supports Arizona Senate Bill 1070. He advocates deploying soldiers to the border and supports building a double barrier fence.
External links
- Congressman Paul Gosar official U.S. House site