Matthew Berry (politician)
Encyclopedia
Matthew B. "Matt" Berry is a Republican Party
politician and attorney. He challenged Military veteran Patrick Murray
in the 2010 Republican primary election in Virginia's 8th congressional district
, a Congressional seat in Northern Virginia
currently held by 10-term Democratic
incumbent Jim Moran
. He was defeated narrowly by Murray in a June 8 primary.
at the United States Supreme Court. After serving in the judicial branch, he joined the United States Department of Justice
, where he helped to gain reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT act
, and crafted legislation to follow the recommendations of the 9/11 commission
. During his time at the Justice Department, Berry won the John Marshall
award; the department's highest award for legal performance by attorneys.
Following his tenure at the Department of Justice, Berry served as Deputy General Counsel and then General Counsel for the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC). As the Commission's highest legal officer, Berry was responsible for providing legal advice, as well as defending the Commission's orders in court.
and includes all of Arlington County
, the city of Alexandria, Virginia
and part of Fairfax County. The district has been won by Democratic
candidates in the past three presidential elections by margins often exceeding ten points, and Jim Moran
, the former mayor of Alexandria, has held the district for nearly twenty years.
Berry is pro-life
, and supported overturning the United States Supreme Court decision in Roe vs. Wade. He also claimed on his website to believe that "All Americans should be seen as equal under the eyes of the law". He also supports Second Amendment
rights. Berry said that he wanted to end Congressional earmarking as well as to eliminate the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Berry's support of same-sex marriage
and of repealing the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell
policy drew some criticism from conservative bloggers in Virginia.
In closing remarks at a debate with Patrick Murray at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Berry said his campaign was better organized to run against Moran and could attract crossover Democrats and independent voters. "I don’t want us to be in a situation again where we’re bringing a knife to a gunfight," he said.
Berry was defeated by Murray narrowly on June 8, 2010. Prior to his defeat Berry had been the subject of mailers and calls sent out by the Murray campaign attacking his stance on gay rights issues.
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...
politician and attorney. He challenged Military veteran Patrick Murray
Patrick Murray (politician)
Patrick Murray is a retired United States Army Colonel and Virginia politician who ran for the United States House of Representatives from Virginia's 8th congressional district in 2010 and is running for the same seat again in 2012.-Early life:...
in the 2010 Republican primary election in Virginia's 8th congressional district
Virginia's 8th congressional district
Virginia's Eighth Congressional District is a U.S. congressional district in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The residents of the 8th District are currently represented by Democratic Congressman Jim Moran, first elected to the 8th's seat in the U.S...
, a Congressional seat in Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
currently held by 10-term Democratic
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...
incumbent Jim Moran
Jim Moran
James Patrick "Jim" Moran, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1991. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is located in Northern Virginia and includes the cities of Falls Church and Alexandria, all of Arlington County, and a portion of Fairfax County.Jim Moran was...
. He was defeated narrowly by Murray in a June 8 primary.
Early life and career
After graduating from college, Berry clerked for Clarence ThomasClarence Thomas
Clarence Thomas is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Succeeding Thurgood Marshall, Thomas is the second African American to serve on the Court....
at the United States Supreme Court. After serving in the judicial branch, he joined the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
, where he helped to gain reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT act
USA PATRIOT Act
The USA PATRIOT Act is an Act of the U.S. Congress that was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 26, 2001...
, and crafted legislation to follow the recommendations of the 9/11 commission
9/11 Commission
The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, also known as the 9/11 Commission, was set up on November 27, 2002, "to prepare a full and complete account of the circumstances surrounding the September 11, 2001 attacks", including preparedness for and the immediate response to...
. During his time at the Justice Department, Berry won the John Marshall
John Marshall
John Marshall was the Chief Justice of the United States whose court opinions helped lay the basis for American constitutional law and made the Supreme Court of the United States a coequal branch of government along with the legislative and executive branches...
award; the department's highest award for legal performance by attorneys.
Following his tenure at the Department of Justice, Berry served as Deputy General Counsel and then General Counsel for the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC). As the Commission's highest legal officer, Berry was responsible for providing legal advice, as well as defending the Commission's orders in court.
Congressional campaign
Berry, who had never run for political office before 2010, raised more campaign funds then any other Republican candidate to run in the 8th district in recent years, with US$124,000 as of May 26, 2010. The Congressional seat that Berry ran for lies directly south of Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and includes all of Arlington County
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
, the city of Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
and part of Fairfax County. The district has been won by Democratic
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...
candidates in the past three presidential elections by margins often exceeding ten points, and Jim Moran
Jim Moran
James Patrick "Jim" Moran, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1991. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district is located in Northern Virginia and includes the cities of Falls Church and Alexandria, all of Arlington County, and a portion of Fairfax County.Jim Moran was...
, the former mayor of Alexandria, has held the district for nearly twenty years.
Berry is pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
, and supported overturning the United States Supreme Court decision in Roe vs. Wade. He also claimed on his website to believe that "All Americans should be seen as equal under the eyes of the law". He also supports Second Amendment
Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights.In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court issued two Second...
rights. Berry said that he wanted to end Congressional earmarking as well as to eliminate the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Berry's support of 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....
and of repealing the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
policy drew some criticism from conservative bloggers in Virginia.
In closing remarks at a debate with Patrick Murray at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Berry said his campaign was better organized to run against Moran and could attract crossover Democrats and independent voters. "I don’t want us to be in a situation again where we’re bringing a knife to a gunfight," he said.
Berry was defeated by Murray narrowly on June 8, 2010. Prior to his defeat Berry had been the subject of mailers and calls sent out by the Murray campaign attacking his stance on gay rights issues.