George Radanovich
Encyclopedia
George Purdy Radanovich is a former U.S. Representative
for , serving from 1995 to 2011. The district includes most of northern Fresno
, as well as several rural areas northeast of the city. On December 29, 2009, Radanovich announced he would not seek reelection in 2010. He is a member of the Republican Party
.
to a Roman Catholic family of Croatian extraction. He was educated at California Polytechnic State University
, San Luis Obispo
. After college, he performed a variety of jobs, including work as a banker, substitute teacher, and construction worker.
Radanovich began growing grapes in his native Mariposa County in 1982, after observing a microclimate
in the area suitable for their growth. In 1986, he opened the Radanovich Winery, the first winery in the region. He was a member of the Mariposa County board of supervisors from 1988 to 1992, serving as chairman in 1991. He first ran for Congress in 1992 after his home in Mariposa was shifted to the 19th District, and lost in the Republican primary to Fresno businessman Tal Cloud.
In the general election, Radanovich faced six-term incumbent Democrat
Richard H. Lehman
in the following November election. Lehman had only defeated Cloud by 1,100 votes in the previous election cycle, and speculation had abounded that the 19th would not stay Democratic for long. Radanovich defeated Lehman by a shocking 17-point margin (56 percent to Lehman's 39 percent). It was one of the largest margins of defeat for an incumbent in a cycle that saw many tenured Democrats lose their seats.
could spend another $10 million and Congressman Radanovich wouldn't lose." Radanovich was reelected with 60% of the vote in 2006 and was unopposed for reelection in 2008 in what is now considered one of the most Republican districts in California.
.
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 , serving from 1995 to 2011. The district includes most of northern Fresno
Fresno
Fresno is the fifth largest city in California.Fresno may also refer to:-Places:Colombia* Fresno, TolimaSpain* Fresno, a ghost village in Nidáliga, Valle de Sedano, Burgos* Aldea del Fresno, Madrid* Fresno de la Vega, Ribera del Esla, León...
, as well as several rural areas northeast of the city. On December 29, 2009, Radanovich announced he would not seek reelection in 2010. 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...
.
Background
Radanovich was born in Mariposa, CaliforniaMariposa, California
Mariposa is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Mariposa County, California, United States. The population was 2,173 at the 2010 census, up from 1,373 at the 2000 census. Its name is Spanish for "butterfly", after the flocks of Monarchs seen overwintering there by early...
to a Roman Catholic family of Croatian extraction. He was educated at California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University
California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system....
, San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, California
San Luis Obispo is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. Founded in 1772 by Spanish Fr. Junipero Serra, San Luis Obispo is one of California’s oldest communities...
. After college, he performed a variety of jobs, including work as a banker, substitute teacher, and construction worker.
Radanovich began growing grapes in his native Mariposa County in 1982, after observing a microclimate
Microclimate
A microclimate is a local atmospheric zone where the climate differs from the surrounding area. The term may refer to areas as small as a few square feet or as large as many square miles...
in the area suitable for their growth. In 1986, he opened the Radanovich Winery, the first winery in the region. He was a member of the Mariposa County board of supervisors from 1988 to 1992, serving as chairman in 1991. He first ran for Congress in 1992 after his home in Mariposa was shifted to the 19th District, and lost in the Republican primary to Fresno businessman Tal Cloud.
1994 Election
Radanovich defeated Michael Der Manouel Jr and Ron Gulke in the Republican primary in 1994. It was a spirited race in which Radanovich and Der Manouel exchanged barbs.In the general election, Radanovich faced six-term incumbent Democrat
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...
Richard H. Lehman
Richard H. Lehman
Richard Henry "Rick" Lehman is a former member of the United States House of Representatives from California who served from 1983 to 1995; he was previously a member of the California State Assembly....
in the following November election. Lehman had only defeated Cloud by 1,100 votes in the previous election cycle, and speculation had abounded that the 19th would not stay Democratic for long. Radanovich defeated Lehman by a shocking 17-point margin (56 percent to Lehman's 39 percent). It was one of the largest margins of defeat for an incumbent in a cycle that saw many tenured Democrats lose their seats.
2006 Election
He ran against Chemical Engineer T. J. Cox, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Cox was arguably Radanovich's most serious and well-funded challenger since his 1994 election. However, Michael Der Manouel Jr. commented on Cox's chances for election by saying, "Cox could spend $10 million and Nancy PelosiNancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
could spend another $10 million and Congressman Radanovich wouldn't lose." Radanovich was reelected with 60% of the vote in 2006 and was unopposed for reelection in 2008 in what is now considered one of the most Republican districts in California.
Votes and positions
As is typical of most Republicans elected in 1994, Radanovich's voting record is strongly conservative. He was president of the Republican freshman class of 1994, has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, and is a member of the Republican Study CommitteeRepublican Study Committee
The Republican Study Committee [RSC] is a caucus of over 170 conservative members of the Republican Party in the United States House of Representatives...
.
- October 6, 2005: Voted for the Department of Homeland Security.http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/
- December 14, 2005: Voted to reauthorize the Patriot Act.
- June 16, 2006: Voted to reject timetables for withdrawal from Iraq.
- September 29, 2008: Voted for the "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008" (Paulson Bailout Bill).
Committee assignments
- Committee on Energy and CommerceUnited States House Committee on Energy and CommerceThe Committee on Energy and Commerce is one of the oldest standing committees of the United States House of Representatives. Established in 1795, it has operated continuously—with various name changes and jurisdictional changes—for more than 200 years...
- Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer ProtectionUnited States House Energy Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer ProtectionThe House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade is a subcommittee within the Committee on Energy and Commerce. It is chaired by Mary Bono Mack of California's .-Jurisdiction:...
(Ranking Member) - Subcommittee on Oversight and InvestigationsUnited States House Energy Subcommittee on Oversight and InvestigationsThe U.S. House Energy Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is a subcommittee within the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.-Jurisdiction:...
Caucuses
- Water Caucus (Co-Chair)
- Congressional Wine Caucus (Co-Chair)
- Congressional Croatian Caucus (Co-Chair)
Family
He was married to Ethie Weaver Radanovich from November 1996 until her death from ovarian cancer on February 4, 2010. They have one son, King (born 1998).External links
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...
- Jim Boren, The Fresno Bee, Published on May 25, 1994, Page B3, Article 8
- Is Radanovich vulnerable? Jim Boren, The Fresno Bee, February 18, 2006