John Wertheim
Encyclopedia
John V. Wertheim is an American
lawyer
and politician
who served as Chairman of the Democratic Party (United States)
of New Mexico
from 2004 until 2007. During that time, he also served on the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee
. In 1996, he was the Democratic nominee for the United States House of Representatives
in New Mexico's 1st congressional district
against the incumbent Representative Steve Schiff of the Republican Party (United States)
. The treasurer for his congressional campaign was Arvind A. Raichur
.
Wertheim is a graduate of Yale University
, where the Yale Political Union
elected him President and then Speaker. Representing the Yale Debate Association, he and partner Matt Wolf won the 1990 World Universities Debating Championship
held at the Glasgow University Union
in Scotland, becoming the first Americans to do so. In 1990, he and debate partner Austan Goolsbee
placed second at the APDA National Debating Championship. At Yale, he was also a member of the secret society Skull and Bones
.
In his senior year of high school, 1986, Wertheim won dual championships at the National Speech and Debate Tournament
, sponsored by the National Forensic League
, in both Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking
and Lincoln-Douglas Debate
.
Wertheim received his law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law
in 1995. He is married to Bianca Ortiz-Wertheim.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as Chairman of the Democratic Party (United States)
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...
of New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
from 2004 until 2007. During that time, he also served on the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
. In 1996, he was the Democratic nominee for 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 New Mexico's 1st congressional district
New Mexico's 1st congressional district
New Mexico District 1 of the United States House of Representatives serves the central area of New Mexico, in and around Albuquerque. The current Representative is Democrat Martin Heinrich, who became the district's first Democratic representative in 2009.-History:Until the 1968 elections, New...
against the incumbent Representative Steve Schiff of the Republican Party (United States)
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...
. The treasurer for his congressional campaign was Arvind A. Raichur
Arvind A. Raichur
Arvind A. Raichur is an American lawyer and entrepreneur; he is the president and founder of AllLaw.com, Inc. Raichur graduated with a double B.A. in economics and political science from the University of New Mexico where he was a CLEO Fellow and member of the ASUNM student senate...
.
Wertheim is a graduate of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, where the Yale Political Union
Yale Political Union
The Yale Political Union , a debate society now the largest student organization at Yale University, was founded in 1934 by Professor Alfred Whitney Griswold , to enliven the university's political culture of the time. It was modelled on the Cambridge Union Society and Oxford Union...
elected him President and then Speaker. Representing the Yale Debate Association, he and partner Matt Wolf won the 1990 World Universities Debating Championship
World Universities Debating Championship
The World Universities Debating Championship is the world's largest debating tournament, and one of the largest annual international student events in the world. It is a parliamentary debating event, held using the British Parliamentary Debate format. Each year, the event is hosted by a university...
held at the Glasgow University Union
Glasgow University Union
Glasgow University Union is one of the largest and oldest students' unions in the UK, serving students and alumni of the University of Glasgow since 1885....
in Scotland, becoming the first Americans to do so. In 1990, he and debate partner Austan Goolsbee
Austan Goolsbee
Austan Dean Goolsbee is an American economist, formerly serving as the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers and the youngest member of the cabinet of President Barack Obama. Goolsbee is from the University of Chicago where he is the Robert P...
placed second at the APDA National Debating Championship. At Yale, he was also a member of the secret society Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is a traditional peer society to Scroll and Key and Wolf's Head, as the three senior class 'landed societies' at Yale....
.
In his senior year of high school, 1986, Wertheim won dual championships at the National Speech and Debate Tournament
National Speech and Debate Tournament
The National Speech and Debate Tournament is a week-long high school championship forensics competition hosted by the National Forensic League...
, sponsored by the National Forensic League
National Forensic League
The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, non-profit educational honor society established to encourage and motivate American high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking and interpretation. NFL is the America's oldest and largest...
, in both Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking
Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking
International Extemporaneous Speaking is a style of competitive speaking sponsored by the National Forensic League. It is identical in structure to U.S...
and Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Lincoln-Douglas debate
Lincoln–Douglas debate is sometimes also called values debate because it traditionally places a heavy emphasis on logic, ethical values, and philosophy...
.
Wertheim received his law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law
University of New Mexico School of Law
The University of New Mexico School of Law is the law school of the University of New Mexico, located in Albuquerque. It is the only law school in the state of New Mexico. Approximately 350 students attend the school, with approximately 115 enrolled in the first-year class...
in 1995. He is married to Bianca Ortiz-Wertheim.