Chip Cravaack

Chip Cravaack
Official portrait, 2011
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 8th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Jim Oberstar
Personal details
Born	December 29, 1959 (1959-12-29) (age 51) Charleston, West Virginia
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Traci
Children	Two sons
Residence	Lindstrom, Minnesota
Alma mater	U.S. Naval Academy, Bachelor's (1981) University of West Florida, Masters' in education
Profession	Airline pilot (retired); Navy helicopter pilot (retired)
Religion	Roman Catholic
Website	Congressman Chip Cravaack
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	U.S. Navy Reserve
Years of service	U.S. Navy 1981-1990; Naval Reserve 1990-2005
Rank	Captain

Raymond "Chip" Cravaack (born December 29, 1959) is the U.S. Representative for northeastern Minnesota's 8th congressional district serving since January 2011. In his first try for political office, he upset 18-term Democratic incumbent Jim Oberstar by a margin of 4,400 votes to become the first Republican since 1947 to represent the district.^[1] Previously, Cravaack was a pilot for Northwest Airlines, and before that he was a Navy pilot, and a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.

Early life and education

Cravaack was born in Charleston, West Virginia, and grew up in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating from St. Xavier High School in 1977.^[2][3] He was raised a Republican in a family that had a military background; his father had served in the Korean War, and his grandfather had served in World War I.^[3] Cravaack graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1981, receiving a bachelor of science degree.

Military service

Following graduation, Cravaack served in the Navy as a helicopter pilot, fulfilling an early ambition.^[1][3] While in the Navy, he earned a master's degree in education from the University of West Florida to prepare for his post military career.^[3] After his discharge from active duty, he served in the Naval Reserve doing administative work for an aircraft carrier and retiring in 2009 with the rank of Captain.^[3]

Northwest Airlines career

Cravaack moved to Minnesota and began working as a pilot for Northwest Airlines in 1990. He was out of work for two years in the early 1990s due to strikes, layoffs and the bankruptcy of Northwest, during which time he gave flying lessons.^[3][4] He was a union steward for the Airline Pilots Association.^[1][4] He served as a "strike coordinator" during the 1998 pilots' strike, bringing military discipline and parade ground style marching to the picket lines.^[3] While working as a pilot for Northwest, he was noted for his determination and goal-oriented, linear thinking.^[3] He and his family settled in Lindstrom, northeast of Minneapolis.^[5] He retired from Northwest in 2007 due to sleep apnea, receiving a $79,000 per year medical disability pension, and becoming a stay-at-home dad for a time.^[1][3]

He was inspired to run for Congress by a suggestion from a talk radio show host that voters demand town hall meetings with their congressmen during the health care bill Tea Party movement protests of August 2009.^[3] Cravaack went with 25 people to one of Oberstar's Minnesota offices asking for a meeting that day and when Oberstar did not come, Cravaack decided to challenge him in the November 2010 election.^[1][3]

U.S. House of Representatives

2010 election

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota, 2010#District 8

Cravaack entered the race as a political novice and an underdog.^[4] No Republican had been elected to the office since 1947, and Oberstar was the longest-serving Congressman in Minnesota's history, usually cruising to re-election.^[3][4] Historically, northeastern Minnesota has been the most Democratic region in the entire state outside of the Twin Cities. Geography was also against Cravaack as well; his home in Lindstrom is located in Chisago County, in the southern portion of the district.

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Cravaack's campaign was "structured like a military operation".^[3] He toured the district in a motor home dubbed "The War Wagon", and ranked volunteers with titles such as commander, captain and precinct lieutenant.^[4] He found his history as a union steward attracted the interest of district voters, especially the miners.^[4]

Cravaack campaigned on a platform of free-market principles and government spending cuts.^[3] He was able to take advantage of the unpopularity of President Obama's legislative agenda, and Oberstar's votes in support of it.^[6] He attacked Oberstar's vote on the health care bill, saying he would vote to repeal and replace it, and called an Oberstar-approved extension of the Clean Water Act to include wet meadows, a "land grab" by the federal government.^[4][7] He criticized the earmark process that Oberstar had used to fund infrastructure projects in the district, saying it was time for the spending to stop.^[1][4] Cravaack also attacked Oberstar's vote on "cap and trade" legislation to limit carbon emissions, saying it would result in higher energy prices.^[4]

A candidate debate held in Duluth featured a boisterous crowd that jeered Oberstar, with Oberstar calling for a more civil atmosphere at the next debate.^[7] The second debate was quieter and centered on economic issues.^[7] Cravaack argued that the 2003 Bush tax cuts should be continued on all tax brackets to stimulate employment, and Oberstar said he would end the tax cut for the top two percent of earners, because the lowered tax had caused part of the deficit.^[7]

A poll conducted for KSTP-TV in the Twin Cities in October showed Oberstar ahead of Cravaack by only one point, 47 to 46 percent.^[8] Cravaack received the endorsement of former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich as the polls tightened.^[4] He was also endorsed by Minnesota's largest anti-abortion organization, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life, and the largest newspaper in the district, the Duluth News Tribune.^[1] In the November 2 election, Cravaack scored one of the biggest upsets in Minnesota political history,^[6] defeating Oberstar by only 4,400 votes, 48 percent to 47 percent.^[9] Cravaack believed the abortion issue was crucial to his victory; he had argued that the health care legislation that Oberstar had voted for allowed for the payment of abortions with taxpayer funds, and encouraged euthanasia for the elderly.^[3] By the time he won the election, Cravaack had modified his view of the bill, saying that it was an example of socialized medicine that will result in the rationing of medical care.^[3]

Tenure

Following his election in November 2010, Cravaack backed fellow Minnesota Representative, Michele Bachmann for the number four GOP leadership position of House Republican Conference chair.^[10]

In March 2011, Cravaack came under criticism by Duluth students and community leaders for his vote in favor of a budget bill making drastic cuts to the federal Pell Grant program that provides financial aid to college students, including 30 percent of the students at the University of Minnesota, Duluth.^[11] He also came to press attention for implying during a Homeland Security Committee hearing that Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca was furthering the goals of a terrorist organization.^[12]

Committee assignments

112th Congress^[13]

• Committee on Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence^[14]
  • Subcommittee on Transportation Security^[15]
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Aviation (Vice Chair)^[16]
  • Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
  • Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
• Committee on Science, Space and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation^[17]

Electoral history

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections, 2010

2010 Eighth Congressional District of Minnesota Elections[18]
Party		Candidate	Votes	Percentage
	Republican	Chip Cravaack	133,490	48%
	Democratic	James Oberstar (incumbent)	129,091	47%
	Independence	Timothy Olson	11,876	4%
	Constitution	Richard (George) Burton	2,492	1%
		Write-ins	132	0%
Totals			277,081	100.0%
Voter turnout			70%
	Republican gain from Democratic

Personal life

Cravaack is married and is the father of two boys. His wife works for a pharmaceutical company, but does not do any lobbying in Washington.^[3] His wife and children live in New Hampshire.^[19]

Cravaack suffers from sleep apnea which ended his flying career with Northwest Airlines, now Delta Airlines, in 2007. As of 2010, he reported receiving thousands of dollars in disability payments. ^[20]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Steve Karnowski (November 3, 2010). "Cravaack plays giant killer in Congressional race". The Associated Press. Winona Daily News. http://www.winonadailynews.com/article_ee7d1222-5f7e-5c0c-8f54-cd9c4e96cc3d.html. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 
2. ^ "Chip Cravaack ('77)". Cincinnati, Ohio: St. Xavier High School. July 20, 2010. http://www.stxavier.org/page.cfm?p=66&newsid=222. Retrieved November 13, 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q} Kevin Diaz and Eric Roper (November 13, 2010). "Chip Cravaack gets ready to report for duty". Minneapolis Star Tribune. http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/107621143.html?page=1&c=y. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Eric Roper (October 14, 2010). "Has Oberstar met his match?". Minneapolis Star Tribune. http://www.startribune.com/politics/local/105001184.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUBP7hUiacyKUnciatkEP7DhU. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 
5. ^ "About Chip". Chip Cravaack for Congress. http://chipcravaack.com/about/. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Albert Eisele (November 4, 2010). "Oberstar's stunning defeat makes history". The Minnesota Post. http://www.minnpost.com/alberteisele/2010/11/04/23040/oberstars_stunning_defeat_makes_history. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 
7. ^ ^{a b c d} Bruce Bisping (October 23, 2010). "Jobs carry debate as Oberstar-Cravaack rematch stays civil". Minneapolis Star Tribune. http://www.startribune.com/politics/local/105582243.html. Retrieved March 12, 2011. 
8. ^ "Poll: Oberstar in Tight 8th District Race". Minneapolis and St. Paul: KSTP- TV. October 29, 2010. http://kstp.com/news/stories/S1815178.shtml?cat=1. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 
9. ^ Renalls, Candace (November 3, 2010). "Cravaack defeats Oberstar in 8th District race". Duluth News Tribune. Archived from the original on November 7, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5u4YwN2gE. Retrieved November 7, 2010. 
10. ^ Derek Wallbank (November 4, 2010). "Make that two: Cravaack will back Bachmann for leadership post". Minnesota Post. http://www.minnpost.com/derekwallbank/2010/11/04/23098/make_that_two_cravaack_will_back_bachmann_for_leadership_post. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 
11. ^ Bob Kelleher (March 3, 2011). "Cravaack under fire for vote to cut financial aid". Minnesota Public Radio News. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/03/03/cravaack-pell-grant-vote/. 
12. ^ Joe Kimball (March 11, 2011). "Cravaack tangles with L.A. sheriff at Muslim hearing". Minnesota Post. http://www.minnpost.com/politicalagenda/2011/03/11/26550/cravaack_tangles_with_la_sheriff_at_muslim_hearing#comments_section. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 
13. ^ "Committees and caucuses". Congressman Chip Cravaack, Proudly Representing the 8th District of Minnesota. http://cravaack.house.gov/about-me/committees-and-caucuses. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 
14. ^ "Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence | The House Committee on Homeland Security". Homeland.house.gov. March 2, 2011. http://homeland.house.gov/subcommittee-on-counterterrorism-and-intelligence. Retrieved March 15, 2011. 
15. ^ "Subcommittee on Transportation Security | The House Committee on Homeland Security". Homeland.house.gov. http://homeland.house.gov/subcommittee-transportation-security. Retrieved March 15, 2011. 
16. ^ "Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Republicans Press Release :: Mica Announces Subcommittee Chairmen & Memberships for the 112th Congress". Transportation.house.gov. January 20, 2011-01-20. http://transportation.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1033. Retrieved March 15, 2011. 
17. ^ "Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation | Committee on Science - U.S. House of Representatives". Science.house.gov. http://science.house.gov/subcommittee-technology-and-innovation. Retrieved March 15, 2011. 
18. ^ "Results from Congressional District 08". Minnesota Secretary of State. January 19, 2011. http://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/20101102/ElecRslts.asp?M=CG&CD=08. Retrieved March 13, 2011. 
19. ^ Brandon Stahl (16 July 2011). "Cravaack’s re-election campaign begins; family moves to New Hampshire". Duluth News Trubune. http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/204402/. Retrieved 15 July 2011. 
20. ^ Catharine Richert (22 Aug 2011). "Cravaack details personal finances". Minnesota Public Radio. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/polinaut/archive/2011/08/cravaack_claims.shtml. Retrieved 26 Aug 2011. 

External links

Biography portal

• Congressman Chip Cravaack official U.S. House site
• Cravaack for Congress official campaign site
• Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Congressional profile at OpenCongress
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by James Oberstar	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota's 8th congressional district January 3, 2011 – present	Succeeded by Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by Hansen Clarke D-Michigan	United States Representatives by seniority 356th	Succeeded by Rick Crawford R-Arkansas

Persondata
Name	Cravaack, Chip
Alternative names
Short description	Minnesota politician, U.S. congressman
Date of birth	December 29, 1959
Place of birth	Charleston, West Virginia
Date of death
Place of death