Joe Schwarz
Encyclopedia
John J. H. "Joe" Schwarz, M.D. (born November 15, 1937), an independent politician from Michigan
, was elected to the United States House of Representatives
in 2004 as a moderate Republican. He represented Michigan's 7th congressional district
from January 2005 to January 2007.
, after his family moved there in 1935 so his father could work as a physician in the Veterans Administration
Hospital. He has two older siblings, Frank and Janet. He attended Fremont Elementary School, W.K. Kellogg Junior High School, and graduated from Battle Creek Central High School. He played on the baseball, swimming and football teams at B.C. Central. In 1959, he received a B.A.
in History
from the University of Michigan
, Ann Arbor
, where he played on the football team as a center. He earned an M.D.
from Wayne State University
, Detroit
, in 1964, completed his medical residency in Los Angeles and subsequently joined the United States Navy
, where he served as a combat surgeon for a Marine battalion in Vietnam
. He was then assigned to the U.S. Embassy at Jakarta, Indonesia
, where he first met his future wife, Anne. From 1968 to 1970, he worked as a Central Intelligence Agency
operative in Southeast Asia
. After resigning from the CIA in 1970, he completed his surgical training in otolaryngology
at the Harvard Medical School
, where he married his wife and had a daughter, Brennan.
He returned, with his new family, to Battle Creek in 1974, and has been a practicing physician
in Battle Creek since that time. He currently sees patients at the Family Health Center in Battle Creek, a federally qualified health center. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons
. His first wife, Anne, died in 1990, and he is divorced from his second wife. He has one daughter from his first marriage.
, 1987–2002, where he was president pro tempore, 1993–2002. He left the senate due to term-limit laws, but launched an unsuccessful campaign for the Republican nomination for governor in 2002, losing the primary to Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus
.
Schwarz had previously attempted a bid for the Republican nomination for a seat in the U.S. House in 1992. He finished second to fellow state senator Nick Smith
in the primary for the 7th District. Although Schwarz is from Battle Creek, the largest city in the district, two other candidates from the western portion of the district split the vote. This allowed Smith, the major candidate from the eastern portion, to win with only 37 percent of the vote.
In 2004, Schwarz ran for the 7th District again. Smith opted not to run for reelection, honoring a promise to serve only six terms in the House. Schwarz defeated Smith's son Brad Smith in a six-way Republican primary race. In the general election, Schwarz received 58% of the vote, while Democrat Sharon Renier received 36%. The remaining 6% was divided between the Green, Libertarian and U.S. Taxpayers Party candidates.
Schwarz is a member of the Republican Leadership Council and The Republican Main Street Partnership
. He is also a member of The Republican Majority For Choice
, Republicans for Choice
and Republicans for Environmental Protection.
Schwarz is considered to be a moderate Republican who supports abortion rights and favors embryonic stem cell research. He has favored extending tax cuts, manufacturing liability reform and overhauling America's medical malpractice
laws, which he says lead to frivolous lawsuits and force doctors to demur from treating patients. Schwarz was one of many GOP Congressmen to return to Washington, DC to vote to maintain Terri Schiavo's life support (Bill S 686) and also voted in favor of Bill HR 6099 which was designed to ensure that women seeking an abortion are informed regarding the pain allegedly experienced by their unborn fetus.
, a former state representative who finished third (18% to Schwarz' 28%) behind Schwarz in the 2004 primary. Walberg is considerably more conservative than Schwarz, and attacked Schwarz for his stances on social and fiscal issues. He was backed by the conservative political action committee
s Club for Growth
and Right to Life
of Michigan.
The race had drawn more than $1 million from outside groups; Schwarz had received support from President Bush
and Arizona Sen. John McCain
.
In 2007, Schwarz was appointed to John McCain's presidential finance committee for the state of Michigan. He'd been co-chairman of McCain's 2000 presidential campaign; the two have been friends for many years.
Schwarz had been rumored to be considering a run for his old congressional seat against Walberg in 2008, either as an independent or a Democrat. Ultimately, he endorsed Walberg's successful Democratic challenger, State Senate Minority Leader Mark Schauer
.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, was elected to the United States House of Representatives
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...
in 2004 as a moderate Republican. He represented Michigan's 7th congressional district
Michigan's 7th congressional district
Michigan's 7th congressional district is a United States congressional district in Southern Michigan. It consists of all of Branch, Eaton, Hillsdale, Jackson, and Lenawee counties, and includes most of Calhoun and a large portion of western and northern Washtenaw counties.In the November 2, 2010...
from January 2005 to January 2007.
Early life and career
Schwarz was born and raised in Battle Creek, MichiganBattle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
, after his family moved there in 1935 so his father could work as a physician in the Veterans Administration
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
Hospital. He has two older siblings, Frank and Janet. He attended Fremont Elementary School, W.K. Kellogg Junior High School, and graduated from Battle Creek Central High School. He played on the baseball, swimming and football teams at B.C. Central. In 1959, he received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
, where he played on the football team as a center. He earned an M.D.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
, Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, in 1964, completed his medical residency in Los Angeles and subsequently joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, where he served as a combat surgeon for a Marine battalion in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. He was then assigned to the U.S. Embassy at Jakarta, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, where he first met his future wife, Anne. From 1968 to 1970, he worked as a Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
operative in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. After resigning from the CIA in 1970, he completed his surgical training in otolaryngology
Otolaryngology
Otolaryngology or ENT is the branch of medicine and surgery that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head and neck disorders....
at the Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
, where he married his wife and had a daughter, Brennan.
He returned, with his new family, to Battle Creek in 1974, and has been a practicing physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
in Battle Creek since that time. He currently sees patients at the Family Health Center in Battle Creek, a federally qualified health center. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons
American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is an educational association of surgeons created in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.-Membership:...
. His first wife, Anne, died in 1990, and he is divorced from his second wife. He has one daughter from his first marriage.
Political career
He served as a Battle Creek City Commissioner, 1979–1985, as mayor of Battle Creek, 1985–1987, and as a member of the Michigan SenateMichigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
, 1987–2002, where he was president pro tempore, 1993–2002. He left the senate due to term-limit laws, but launched an unsuccessful campaign for the Republican nomination for governor in 2002, losing the primary to Lt. Gov. Dick Posthumus
Dick Posthumus
Richard Posthumus is an American farmer, businessman, and politician. He was the 59th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan and majority leader of the Michigan Senate. In 2002, he was the Republican gubernatorial candidate in Michigan....
.
Schwarz had previously attempted a bid for the Republican nomination for a seat in the U.S. House in 1992. He finished second to fellow state senator Nick Smith
Nick Smith (U.S. politician)
Nick H. Smith is a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan, who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1993 until 2005, representing from the 7th District of Michigan.-Life and career:...
in the primary for the 7th District. Although Schwarz is from Battle Creek, the largest city in the district, two other candidates from the western portion of the district split the vote. This allowed Smith, the major candidate from the eastern portion, to win with only 37 percent of the vote.
In 2004, Schwarz ran for the 7th District again. Smith opted not to run for reelection, honoring a promise to serve only six terms in the House. Schwarz defeated Smith's son Brad Smith in a six-way Republican primary race. In the general election, Schwarz received 58% of the vote, while Democrat Sharon Renier received 36%. The remaining 6% was divided between the Green, Libertarian and U.S. Taxpayers Party candidates.
Schwarz is a member of the Republican Leadership Council and The Republican Main Street Partnership
Republican Main Street Partnership
The Republican Main Street Partnership is a group of moderate members of the United States Republican Party. They tend away from the dominant social conservatism of many Republicans and towards a moderate fiscal conservatism and limited government to a degree. The group is the rough equivalent of...
. He is also a member of The Republican Majority For Choice
Republican Majority for Choice
The Republican Majority for Choice is a Republican organization in the United States dedicated to preserving legal access to abortion. The group also supports federal funding for all kinds of stem cell research, including Embryonic stem cell research.....
, Republicans for Choice
Republicans for Choice
Republicans for Choice, an organization based in the Washington, D.C. area is a political action committee composed of members of the United States Republican Party who support legalized abortion.-History of Republicans for Choice:Republicans for Choice was founded in 1989 by Ann Stone...
and Republicans for Environmental Protection.
Schwarz is considered to be a moderate Republican who supports abortion rights and favors embryonic stem cell research. He has favored extending tax cuts, manufacturing liability reform and overhauling America's medical malpractice
Medical malpractice
Medical malpractice is professional negligence by act or omission by a health care provider in which the treatment provided falls below the accepted standard of practice in the medical community and causes injury or death to the patient, with most cases involving medical error. Standards and...
laws, which he says lead to frivolous lawsuits and force doctors to demur from treating patients. Schwarz was one of many GOP Congressmen to return to Washington, DC to vote to maintain Terri Schiavo's life support (Bill S 686) and also voted in favor of Bill HR 6099 which was designed to ensure that women seeking an abortion are informed regarding the pain allegedly experienced by their unborn fetus.
2006 Election
Schwarz lost in the 2006 Republican primary to Tim WalbergTim Walberg
Timothy Lee "Tim" Walberg is the current U.S. Representative for , and was also the former Congressman for the district from 2007 to 2009.-Early life, education, and religious career:...
, a former state representative who finished third (18% to Schwarz' 28%) behind Schwarz in the 2004 primary. Walberg is considerably more conservative than Schwarz, and attacked Schwarz for his stances on social and fiscal issues. He was backed by the conservative political action committee
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
s Club for Growth
Club for Growth
The Club for Growth is a politically conservative 527 organization active in the United States of America, with an agenda focussed on taxation and other economic issues, and with an affiliated political action committee . The Club advocates lower taxes, limited government, less government spending,...
and Right to Life
National Right to Life Committee
The National Right to Life Committee is the oldest and largest pro-life organization in the United States with affiliates in all 50 states and over 3,000 local chapters nationwide. The group works through legislation and education to work against abortion, infanticide, euthanasia and assisted...
of Michigan.
The race had drawn more than $1 million from outside groups; Schwarz had received support from President Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
and Arizona Sen. John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
.
Post-congressional life
Schwarz has maintained a busy schedule since leaving office in January 2007. On the state level, Schwarz was appointed to Gov. Jennifer Granholm's Emergency Financial Advisory Panel, led by former Michigan governors Milliken (R) and Blanchard (D). On the national level, Schwarz was appointed by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to serve on the independent panel to investigate the conditions at Walter Reed Army Hospital in suburban Washington, DC. Schwarz was reappointed to the Altarum Institute Board of Trustees, a position he held prior to his congressional service, in February 2007. Altarum Institute is a nonprofit health policy research institute based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He also accepted a teaching position at the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, which began in fall 2007.(http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070309/NEWS01/703090331/1002) Schwarz is also active in the UM Alumni Association, and is often spotted at UM sporting events.In 2007, Schwarz was appointed to John McCain's presidential finance committee for the state of Michigan. He'd been co-chairman of McCain's 2000 presidential campaign; the two have been friends for many years.
Schwarz had been rumored to be considering a run for his old congressional seat against Walberg in 2008, either as an independent or a Democrat. Ultimately, he endorsed Walberg's successful Democratic challenger, State Senate Minority Leader Mark Schauer
Mark Schauer
Mark Schauer is the former U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Democratic Party.He was previously a member of the Michigan Senate, where he served as the Minority Leader, and the Michigan House of Representatives....
.
Electoral history
- 2006 Race for the U.S. House of Representatives, 7th District
- Tim WalbergTim WalbergTimothy Lee "Tim" Walberg is the current U.S. Representative for , and was also the former Congressman for the district from 2007 to 2009.-Early life, education, and religious career:...
(R), 49.93% - Sharon Renier (D), 45.98%
- David Horn (UST), 1.47%
- Robert Hutchinson (L), 1.55%
- Joe Schwarz, 1.07% (Write-in candidate)
- Tim Walberg
- 2006 Race for the U.S. House of Representatives, 7th District — Republican Primary
- Tim WalbergTim WalbergTimothy Lee "Tim" Walberg is the current U.S. Representative for , and was also the former Congressman for the district from 2007 to 2009.-Early life, education, and religious career:...
(R), 53% - Joe Schwarz (R) (inc.), 47%
- Tim Walberg
- 2004 Race for the U.S. House of Representatives, 7th District
- Joe Schwarz (R), 58%
- Sharon Renier (D), 36%
- 2004 Race for the U.S. House of Representatives, 7th District — Republican Primary
- Joe Schwarz (R), 28%
- Brad Smith (R), 22%
- Tim WalbergTim WalbergTimothy Lee "Tim" Walberg is the current U.S. Representative for , and was also the former Congressman for the district from 2007 to 2009.-Early life, education, and religious career:...
(R), 18% - Clark BisbeeClark BisbeeClark E. Bisbee is an American politician and businessman from Jackson, Michigan. He is the owner of Bisbee Travel, a local travel agency.He served as the Republican representative to Michigan's state house from Michigan's 64th district until 2004, when he was forced out by term limits.He was...
(R), 14% - Gene DeRossett (R), 11%
- Paul DeWeese (R), 7%
- 2002 Race for Governor — Republican Primary
- Dick PosthumusDick PosthumusRichard Posthumus is an American farmer, businessman, and politician. He was the 59th Lieutenant Governor of Michigan and majority leader of the Michigan Senate. In 2002, he was the Republican gubernatorial candidate in Michigan....
(R), 81% - Joe Schwarz (R), 19%
- Dick Posthumus