LaVar Christensen
Encyclopedia
LaVar Christensen is a American politician from Utah
, serving as a state representative from the state's 48th district January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2006; January 1, 2011. Christensen was the Republican
nominee for U.S. Congress in Utah's 2nd congressional district
(map). Christensen was defeated by the incumbent, Jim Matheson
, in the 2006 mid-term election and subsequently left the Utah House of Representatives. However, Christensen filed his candidacy with the Lieutenant Governor's office in March 2008 to run for the same Utah House seat he vacated in 2006. In May 2008, he defeated the incumbent, Representative Sylvia Andersen, who took over the seat in 2006, at that year's GOP nominating convention and was the party's nominee in the general election for that cycle.
Christensen was elected to the Utah State House of Representatives (District 48 in Sandy/Draper) in 2002. His committee assignments included Vice-Chair of Education, Budget Appropriations for Public Education, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice; Chair of Judicial Rules Review Committee and member of the Constitutional Revision Commission.
but his family is originally from Utah. His great great grandfather was a member of Utah’s first territorial House of Representatives. Christensen is an attorney with a broad legal background in real estate development. He received his B.A. degree from Brigham Young University
and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California
. While in law school, he was a Legislative Assistant for the Governor of California and Law Clerk for Judge Rothwell B. Mason. He is married to Susan Kay Christensen. They have three children. Christensen is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon
).
, and opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants.
Christensen wrote a paper supporting his Constitutional Amendment for The Sutherland Institute. In this document, Christensen outlined his argument for Utah's successful Constitutional Amendment
banning same-sex marriage
.
by 49,264 votes and was unable to make up such a huge vote deficit. Christensen campaigned in 2006 as the Republican candidate in a traditionally Republican district. Like Matheson's Republican challengers in the past, Christensen's advertisements focused primarily on party affiliation and national issues. His campaign motto was "America Needs Utah". His advertisements frequently mentioned that Nancy Pelosi would become Speaker of the House if the Democrats won a majority.
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, serving as a state representative from the state's 48th district January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2006; January 1, 2011. Christensen was the Republican
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...
nominee for U.S. Congress in Utah's 2nd congressional district
Utah's 2nd congressional district
Utah's 2nd congressional district currently serves the largely rural southern and eastern portions of Utah, including Saint George and Moab in the south and Vernal in the east, as well as the east side of urban Salt Lake County, the northern portion of Utah County, and Wasatch County. The current...
(map). Christensen was defeated by the incumbent, Jim Matheson
Jim Matheson
James David "Jim" Matheson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes eastern Salt Lake City....
, in the 2006 mid-term election and subsequently left the Utah House of Representatives. However, Christensen filed his candidacy with the Lieutenant Governor's office in March 2008 to run for the same Utah House seat he vacated in 2006. In May 2008, he defeated the incumbent, Representative Sylvia Andersen, who took over the seat in 2006, at that year's GOP nominating convention and was the party's nominee in the general election for that cycle.
Christensen was elected to the Utah State House of Representatives (District 48 in Sandy/Draper) in 2002. His committee assignments included Vice-Chair of Education, Budget Appropriations for Public Education, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice; Chair of Judicial Rules Review Committee and member of the Constitutional Revision Commission.
Personal history
Christensen was born and raised in Upland, CaliforniaUpland, California
Upland is a city in San Bernardino County, California, located at an elevation of 1,242 feet . As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 73,732, up from 68,393 at the 2000 census. It was incorporated on May 15, 1906, after previously being named North Ontario.-History and culture:Upland...
but his family is originally from Utah. His great great grandfather was a member of Utah’s first territorial House of Representatives. Christensen is an attorney with a broad legal background in real estate development. He received his B.A. degree from Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. While in law school, he was a Legislative Assistant for the Governor of California and Law Clerk for Judge Rothwell B. Mason. He is married to Susan Kay Christensen. They have three children. Christensen is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
).
Legislative history
He was named 2005 Statesman of the Year by the Salt Lake County Republican Party. Christensen also sponsored legislation that recognizes and strengthens parental rights in Utah as well as civic and character education in Utah's public schools.Political stance
In the Utah state legislature, Christensen has a relatively conservative voting record. He has consistently fought against same-sex marriage and for pro-life causes. Christensen supports making the 2001 federal tax cuts permanent, supports easing restrictions on oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife RefugeArctic National Wildlife Refuge
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in northeastern Alaska, United States. It consists of in the Alaska North Slope region. It is the largest National Wildlife Refuge in the country, slightly larger than the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge...
, and opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants.
Christensen wrote a paper supporting his Constitutional Amendment for The Sutherland Institute. In this document, Christensen outlined his argument for Utah's successful Constitutional Amendment
Utah Constitutional Amendment 3
Utah Constitutional Amendment 3 is an amendment to the Utah state constitution that defines marriage as a union exclusively between a man and woman...
banning same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
.
2006 Congressional campaign
While Christensen won in several lesser-populated counties, he lost in traditional Republican strongholds, such as San Juan Cty., Daggett Cty., and Emery Cty. He lost the largest county: Salt Lake County, UtahSalt Lake County, Utah
Salt Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. It had a population of 1,029,655 at the 2010 census. Its county seat and largest city is Salt Lake City, the state capital. It occupies Salt Lake Valley, as well as parts of the surrounding mountains, the Oquirrh Mountains to the west...
by 49,264 votes and was unable to make up such a huge vote deficit. Christensen campaigned in 2006 as the Republican candidate in a traditionally Republican district. Like Matheson's Republican challengers in the past, Christensen's advertisements focused primarily on party affiliation and national issues. His campaign motto was "America Needs Utah". His advertisements frequently mentioned that Nancy Pelosi would become Speaker of the House if the Democrats won a majority.