Posted on 11/20/2006 4:10:15 PM PST by jwalsh07
Congressman Duncan Hunter represents the 52nd Congressional District of California, encompassing eastern and northern San Diego County. First elected in 1980, the voters in the 52nd district re-elected him in 2004 with over 69% of the vote. A Vietnam veteran, he served in the 173rd Airborne and 75th Army Rangers. Hunter utilized the G.I. Bill to attend Western State University Law School in San Diego and, while completing his degree, he supplemented his income by working in farming and construction. After graduating, the new attorney opened a storefront legal office where he served many in the Hispanic community, often without compensation. In 1980, he was asked to mount a challenge for the Congressional seat held by an 18-year incumbent, Lionel Van Deerlin. Despite the district having a 2-to-1 Democrat registration, Hunter won the seat in an upset.
Coming to Washington, the new Congressman immediately sought a seat on the House Armed Services Committee where he could work on Americas national security needs. Hunter became Chairman of the full committee in 2002. As Chairman, Hunter oversees a $532 billion defense budget and focuses his efforts on providing President Bush with the necessary resources to win our nations military conflicts, protecting our men and women in uniform, and developing modernization initiatives that will move new and more effective technologies into the field of battle.
Since his election, Hunter has made securing the California-Mexico border a top priority. Congressman Hunter works tirelessly to ensure that the region is safe for communities on both sides of the border and to put a stop to illegal immigration and drug trafficking. His efforts have yielded over 59 miles of fencing and border infrastructure to date, including continued construction of the Southwest Border Fence Project. His provision to extend the San Diego Fence for 700 miles across Arizona, New Mexico and Texas is now law.
Congressman Hunters other legislative priorities include retaining and increasing jobs in the 52nd District and across this nation, providing tax relief to hard-working families, keeping our promises to Americas veterans, protecting Social Security for present and future generations, and continued cleanup efforts at the New River and Salton Sea in Imperial County, an area he represented for 20 years.
In response to the needs of his district, Hunter continues working to secure funding for local projects. Accomplishments include funding for the Mission Valley East Light Rail extension and continued funding for the widening of I-15 and adding more managed lanes to meet San Diegos growing transportation needs. Also, funds were provided for enhanced emergency care at Grossmont Hospital Emergency Department and Edgemore Hospital. Youth recreational and handicapped facilities were built throughout San Diego County at the Junior Seau Sports Complex and the Sweetwater and Loveland Reservoirs. To ensure the safety of students attending Shoal Creek Elementary School in Scripps Ranch, funds were allocated for the construction of a new pedestrian bridge. Congressman Hunter worked to provide funding for the new Boys and Girls Club in Santee, the YMCA in Rancho San Diego, La Maestra Clinic in El Cajon, which provides healthcare for low-income citizens, and Phoenix House, where drug users (particularly methamphetamine) are treated. Hunters legislation saved the Mt. Soledad Memorial by making it a national memorial.
Congressman Hunter is residing in El Cajon with his wife, Lynne. Like many of his constituents, he is in the process of re-building his Alpine home after losing it in the October 2003 wildfires. In 2006, Duncan and Lynne celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary. They have two sons, Duncan Duane, honorably discharged from the Marines Corps and now president of Boise Hunter Homes, and Sam Hunter, a business student at San Diego State University. Duncan D. and his wife, Margaret, have three children, Duncan Lee, Elizabeth Grace and Sarah Louise and reside in Boise, Idaho. Sam was married on Valentines Day 2004 to the former Theresa Heger of Jamul and they are expecting their first child.
I give up, who is Old Man Cravath? :-}
I saw him on C-SPAN this morning and I was very impressed. He expresses himself very well. But can a congressman win?
Heck, Gore and Kerry almost won, certainly Duncan Hunter can!
I wonder that too, but my wondering is due to folks here saying that House members don't get elected.
But then I thought, why not? Senators didn't either, until one did.
Duncan Hunter is my congressman. I also support him for the republican nomination. His views match mine exactly. (Pro-life, anti NAFTA, border protection). I could not ask for a better presidential nominee.
Jeannine
Duncan Hunter does have some baggage folks.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Duncan_Hunter
Randy "Duke" Cunningham baggage.
Figure it should be noted.
Gunner
Such is life though.
That's fine. That is one of the purposes of the thread. Care to give us a synopsis?
Duncan Who??
(I know who he is, I'm just giving a preview of what America will say)
Rep Hunter is one of the good guys. He has served this country and his district well for years. His background as a soldier is one of courage and competency.
I am of the mind that he would be a "so so" Prez, but a startling good SecDef.
Just my opinion.
Ah yes, I see. 1.5 extra large is a bit more than one gets at Legal Aid no?
Why?
What firm are you with?
Billy Jeff What?
I had no idea he was so anti-free trade. I doubt he would have much of a chance anyway, but he'll have a very hard time winning the support of the pro-business wing of the party. I don't think I can support someone who is anti-free trade, since it draws into question his committment to other free-market principles, but we'll see who the alternatives are.
I read your stuff. There is no "Duke Cunningham problem" contained therein.
That's what Congressmen do. They respond to the needs of their constituents.
Everything is pork until it affects your district - then it's a necessity. "Cut that guy's pork but leave mine alone." That's just the way it is, it's hypocritical, it stinks, and I don't like it either, but what are Congressmen going to do? Tell their constituents to fund it themselves?
And we can't forget....
James Earl who?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.