John Mica

John Mica
Chair of the House Transportation Committee
In office
January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by Jim Oberstar
Succeeded by Bill Shuster
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 7th district
Assumed office
January 3, 1993
Preceded by Sam Gibbons
Succeeded by Stephanie Murphy (elect)
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the 41st district
In office
1976–1980
Preceded by Harvey Matthews
Succeeded by Daniel Webster
Personal details
Born John Luigi Mica
(1943-01-27) January 27, 1943
Binghamton, New York, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Patricia Mica
Children 2
Alma mater Miami Dade College
University of Florida (BA)

John Luigi Mica (born January 27, 1943) is an American businessman, consultant and Republican politician who has represented Florida's 7th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1993. He was defeated by Democrat Stephanie Murphy in the November 8, 2016 general election while serving his 12th term in office.

Early life, education, and business career

Mica was born in Binghamton, New York and grew up in Florida. He was educated at Miami Edison High School, Miami-Dade Community College and the University of Florida, where he received a degree in education and was a member of Delta Chi Fraternity and Florida Blue Key. He has been a businessman serving in the real estate, telecommunications, government affairs and consulting fields.

Early political career

Mica was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1976–80 and served on several committees, including the Appropriations Committee. He was a staff member for Senator Paula F. Hawkins from 1981–85 and became her chief of staff.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

1992

In 1992, Mica ran for Congress in the 7th District, previously the 4th District represented by two-term Republican Craig T. James.

John Mica while a member of the Florida state legislature

Mica won the Republican primary with 53% of the vote, defeating State Representative Richard Graham (34%) and Vaughn Forrest (13%).[1] In the general election, he defeated Democrat Dan Webster 56%–44%.[2]

1994–2004

During this time period, he won re-election every two years with at least 60% of the vote.[3]

2006

Mica defeated Jack Chagnon 63%–37%.[4]

2008

Mica defeated Faye Armitage 62%–38%.[5]

2010

Mica defeated Heather Beaven 69%–31%.[6]

2012

After the 2010 Census, the bulk of Mica's territory became the 6th District. However, most of the Orange County portion, including Mica's home in Winter Park, was drawn into the new 7th District. That district had previously been the 24th District, represented by freshman Republican Sandy Adams. Mica defeated Adams in the Republican primary with 61 percent of the vote. In the general election, Mica defeated Jason Kendall 59%–41%.[7]

2014

Mica defeated Wes Neuman 64%–32%.[8]

2016

In the general election, Mica lost to Democrat Stephanie Murphy by a margin of 51%–49%.[9]

Policy positions

Abortion

Mica opposes abortion. Regarding taxpayer funding of abortion through Planned Parenthood, he has said “I think the majority of Americans would oppose public, federal dollars going into abortion."[10]

Economic issues

Mica voted against the 2009 stimulus.[11] He has brought federal money for Florida highways, SunRail, the Veterans Administration Medical Center, and the University of Central Florida.[12]

Transportation

Mica supports Amtrak privatization.[13] In 2009, he earmarked $13 million for the Central Florida Commuter Rail, which was supported by a client of Mica's daughter.[14]

Mica has been opposed to the federal government contributing any additional funds towards repairing the Metrorail system.[15]

Marijuana

As chairman of the House Oversight Committee's subcommittee on government operations, Mica convened a hearing on marijuana legalization in 1999. It was the first such hearing since 1988. Mica opposes the legalization of recreational marijuana.[16][17]

Committee assignments

Mica was chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee from January 3, 2011 to December 2012.

Personal life

Mica is married to Patricia, a schoolteacher, and has two grown children. He lives in Winter Park, Florida. He is the brother of former Representative Daniel A. Mica, while his other brother, David, is a former ranking staffer of Senator Lawton Chiles. He is a member of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees and the Coast Guard Academy Board of Visitors.[18][19]

Mica and his wife own six properties on Capitol Hill. From 2006–13, they paid $1,071.81 in 17 penalty payments for paying their property taxes late.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "FL District 07 – R Primary Race – Sep 01, 1992". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  2. ↑ "FL District 07 Race – Nov 03, 1992". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  3. ↑ "Candidate – John L. Mica". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  4. ↑ "FL – District 07 Race – Nov 07, 2006". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  5. ↑ "FL – District 07 Race – Nov 04, 2008". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  6. ↑ "FL – District 07 Race – Nov 02, 2010". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2012-10-31.
  7. ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=736117
  8. ↑ "November 4, 2014 General Election Official Results". Florida Department of State Division of Elections. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  9. ↑ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=801550
  10. ↑ Martinez, Jack (September 29, 2015). "Facing Congress, Planned Parenthood CEO Defends Abortion as a Health Service". Newsweek. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  11. ↑ Finley, Ben (July 20, 2012). "Florida Primary Flier Frames Republican". FactCheck.org. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  12. ↑ Powers, Scott (August 30, 2016). "John Mica gets tune-up election out of the way, set for Democratic challenge in CD 7". Florida Politics. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  13. ↑ Hannan, Larry (June 16, 2011). "John Mica, Corrine Brown split over privatizing Amtrak in Northeast". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  14. ↑ Ward, Kenric (March 28, 2012). "Report: Two Florida Congressmen Kept Earmarks in the Family". Sunshine State News. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  15. ↑ Freed, Benjamin (April 13, 2016). "Metro Chairman Tells Congress to Chip in $300 Million Per Year. Congress Yells at Metro.". Washingtonian Magazine. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  16. ↑ Itkowitz, Colby. "Rep. Mica holds (another) hearing on being stoned". www.washingtonpost.com. The Washington Post. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  17. ↑ Fang, Marina (July 31, 2014). "Congressional Republicans Rail Against Legalization Of Marijuana". Huffington Post. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  18. ↑ "Company Overview of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts". Bloomberg. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  19. ↑ Congressional Record (V. 153, Pt. 15 ed.). Government Printing Office. July 2007.
  20. ↑ Sommer, Will (April 18, 2016). "District-Bashing Congressman Doesn't Pay His Own D.C. Taxes On Time". Washington City Paper. Retrieved April 18, 2016.

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Sam Gibbons		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 2nd congressional district
1993–present 		Succeeded by
Stephanie Murphy
Elect
Preceded by
Jim Oberstar		 Chair of the House Transportation Committee
2011–2013 		Succeeded by
Bill Shuster
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Carolyn Maloney		 United States Representatives by seniority
47th 		Succeeded by
Lucille Roybal-Allard
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/30/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.