Wayne Gilchrest

Infobox_Congressman
name =Wayne Gilchrest


width=170
date of birth=birth date and age|1946|04|15
place of birth =Rahway, New Jersey
state = Maryland
district = 1st
term_start =January 3, 1991
preceded = Roy Dyson
party =Republican
religion = Methodist
spouse = Barbara Gilchrest
residence= Kennedyville, Maryland
alma_mater= Wesley College, Delaware State University
occupation= high school teacher
branch=United States Marine Corps
serviceyears=1964-1968
rank=Sergeant
battles=Vietnam War
awards=Purple Heart
Bronze Star
Navy Commendation Medal

Wayne Thomas Gilchrest (born April 15, 1946) is a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives representing ushr|Maryland|1 since 1991. The district includes the entire Eastern Shore and a few suburbs of Baltimore, including parts of Anne Arundel County and Harford County. In 2008, the moderate Gilchrest was defeated in the Republican primary by State Senator Andy Harris.

Early life and education

Born in Rahway, New Jersey, Gilchrest was the fourth child of Elizabeth and Arthur Gilchrest's six boys. After graduating high school in 1964, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. His tour of duty saw action during the invasion of the Dominican Republic, and ultimately the Vietnam War. He earned the rank of Sergeant in Vietnam where, as a platoon leader, he was wounded in the chest. Gilchrest was decorated with the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Navy Commendation Medal. Today he is a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Military Order of the Purple Heart.

In 1969, he received an associate's degree from Wesley College in Dover, Delaware. He then spent a semester in Kentucky studying rural poverty in Appalachia. He went on to receive a bachelor's degree in history from Delaware State College in 1973. Since then, he has done some work towards a master's degree at Loyola College in Baltimore. [ [http://gilchrest.house.gov/bio.asp bio on H.R. web site] retrieved Oct 18, 2007]

Congressional career

While teaching at Kent County High School on the Eastern Shore, Gilchrest ran against four-term 1st District Democratic incumbent Roy Dyson in 1988. Dyson was plagued by allegations of improper contributions from defense contractors and questions about his sexual orientation. Despite being badly outspent, Gilchrest nearly unseated Dyson, losing by only 460 votes. He sought a rematch in 1990; this time soundly beating Dyson by 14%. In 1992, he survived a close contest against Tom McMillen, who had represented the 4th District before being drawn into the 1st District. Gilchrest won by only 3%, largely by swamping McMillen on the Eastern Shore. He hasn't faced serious opposition since, and recently defeated Democratic opponent Jim Corwin in the 2006 Congressional race.

Gilchrest's voting record is considered moderate, and he broke ranks with his party more often than any other house member in 2007. [ [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=53 Party Unity Scores] "CQ Politics". Retrieved September 26, 2008] While registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans in the district 183,332 to 180,856 [http://www.elections.state.md.us/pdf/vrar/2006_general_stats.pdf] , his Congressional district is rated as strongly Republican by the Cook Partisan Voting Index and supported President Bush's re-election with over 60% of the vote.

Gilchrest is a member of many moderate Republican groups such as the Republican Main Street Partnership, Republicans for Environmental Protection, and the Republican Majority For Choice. [ [http://www.gopchoice.org/meet.asp "Meet Our..."] "Republican Majority for Choice". Retrieved September 28, 2008] He is also the co-chairman of the Congressional Climate Change Caucus together with Democrat John Olver (MA-1). [ [http://www.house.gov/olver/climatechange/members.html Climate Change Caucus Members] John Olver's Congressional Website. Retrieved September 28, 2008] Gilchrest is a Republican co-sponser of Rep. Marty Meehan's "Military Readiness Enhancement Act" which would repeal the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. [ [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0207/2646.html "Meehan Seeks To Overturn 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'"] "The Politico", February 7, 2007] [ [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:H.1246: H.1246] Full text of bill, via THOMAS]

Aside from his socially moderate stance, Gilchrest has drawn attention for his stance on the Iraq War. Though he initially supported the war, [ [http://gilchrest.house.gov/news.asp?FormMode=Detail&ID=28 Gilchrest Votes for Use of Force Against Iraq] Congressman Gilchrest's Official Website, October 10, 2002] Gilchrest's support waned as the occupation became increasingly violent, expressing his support for the Iraq Study Group Report and called on setting a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. [ [http://www.gilchrest.house.gov/Topics.asp?FormMode=Call&LinkType=Section&Section=215 "Congressman Gilchrest's Statement on Iraq (as of May 2006)"] Congressman Gilchrest's Official Website, Retrieved September 28, 2008] Gilchrest also joined 16 Republicans and 229 Democrats voting in favor of House Concurrent Resolution (H.CON.RES) 63, a non-binding resolution expressing disapproval for the Iraq War troop surge of 2007. [ [http://www.gilchrest.house.gov/news.asp?FormMode=Detail&ID=327 "Gilchrest Statement on Iraq Resolution"] Congressman Gilchrest's Official Website, February 22, 2007] [ [http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c110:H.CON.RES.63: H. CON. RES. 63] "THOMAS" Retrieved September 28, 2008.] [ [http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll099.xml Roll Call No. 99] Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved on September 28, 2008]

2008 election

Gilchrest's moderate voting record resulted in vigorous primary challenges from Republicans who considered him a Republican in Name Only. However, none were successful until 2008. That year, State Senator Andrew Harris, State Senator E. J. Pipkin, Joe Arminio, and Robert Banks challenged Gilchrest in the 2008 Republican primary. Harris was strongly supported by the Club for Growth.

Harris defeated Gilchrest in the Republican primary, with Pipkin finishing third. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/metro/elections/2008/general_md.html 2008 Maryland Elections (washingtonpost.com) ] ] [ [http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2008/by_state/MD_Page_0212.html?SITE=MDBAEELN&SECTION=POLITICS] ] After Gilchrest's loss in the primary, he broke with his party and endorsed Queen Anne's County State's Attorney Frank Kratovil, the Democratic nominee, in the general election. [ [http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-gilchrest0902,0,6122703.story Gilchrest crosses party lines, endorses Democrat Kratovil, even cutting an ad for him (baltimoresun.com) ] ] On September 18, 2008, Gilchrest made radio comments praising the Democratic Presidential ticket of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, causing some media outlets to claim his endorsement of the Democratic ticket. [ [http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0908/Republican_Congressman_endorses_Obama.html The Crypt: Republican congressman endorses Obama] ] However, Gilchrest quickly clarified these comments, saying that they did not amount to an endorsement. [ [http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20080919/pl_cq_politics/politics2955136 "Gilchrest Says Radio Comments Were Not Endorsement of Obama"] "CQ Politics", September 18, 2008.]

Committee and caucus membership

*Committee on Natural Resources
**Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans
*Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
**Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
**Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
**Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment

*Chairman of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force
*Co-chair of the House Climate Change Caucus
*Chairman of the House Corps Reform Caucus
*Co-founder and Co-chair of the House Organic Caucus
*Co-founder and Co-chair of the House Dialogue Caucus

Election history

ee also

References

External links

* [http://gilchrest.house.gov Congressman Wayne Gilchrest] official U.S. House website
* [http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Wayne_Gilchrest Profile] at SourceWatch Congresspedia