Rick Hill
Encyclopedia
Richard "Rick" Hill is a former Republican
member of the United States House of Representatives
from Montana
. He is currently a candidate for Governor of Montana in 2012.
. In 1968, he graduated from Saint Cloud State University in St. Cloud
, Minnesota. Hill received his Juris Doctor
degree in 2005 from the Concord Law School
in Los Angeles
, California.
He owns a surety bonding company
, served as Republican precinct committeeman
and state committeeman from Lewis and Clark County
, Montana; member, served on the board of directors, Montana Science and Technology Alliance; and chaired the Montana State Worker’s Compensation
Board from 1993-1996.
In 1993 Governor Marc Racicot
asked Hill to act as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Montana State Fund, where he worked in a volunteer, unpaid capacity for three years.
. He defeated Democrat Bill Yellowtail
, who had been a Regional Administrator for the United States Environmental Protection Agency
. Hill was re-elected in November 1998.
In May 1999, Hill criticized the "life style" choices of Nancy Keenan
, a Democrat serving her third term as State School Superintendent, who had just announced she would run against him in 2000. He noted that she had never married and had no children, whereas he was a "family man". Keenan called Hill's remarks "ridiculous" and said she had always wanted children but had had a hysterectomy for health reasons.
Hill later decided not to run in the 2000 election, citing vision problems that were subsequently corrected. The election was won by Republican nominee Denny Rehberg
, who defeated Keenan.
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...
member of 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...
from Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. He is currently a candidate for Governor of Montana in 2012.
Background
Hill was born in Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
. In 1968, he graduated from Saint Cloud State University in St. Cloud
St. Cloud, Minnesota
St. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 65,842 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stearns County...
, Minnesota. Hill received his Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
degree in 2005 from the Concord Law School
Concord Law School
Concord Law School , is an online law school based in Los Angeles, California. It is currently known as Concord Law School of Kaplan University. The school is a subsidiary of the Kaplan Higher Education Corporation...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California.
He owns a surety bonding company
Surety bond
A surety bond is a promise to pay one party a certain amount if a second party fails to meet some obligation, such as fulfilling the terms of a contract...
, served as Republican precinct committeeman
Precinct committeeman
A Precinct Committeemen, or PC, is the name for a office and the name of the official that organizes a voting precinct for a political party.There are state, ward and township party organizations, but the basic unit of U.S...
and state committeeman from Lewis and Clark County
Lewis and Clark County, Montana
-National protected areas:* Flathead National Forest * Helena National Forest * Lewis and Clark National Forest * Lolo National Forest * Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Area -Demographics:...
, Montana; member, served on the board of directors, Montana Science and Technology Alliance; and chaired the Montana State Worker’s Compensation
Workers' compensation
Workers' compensation is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured in the course of employment in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee's right to sue his or her employer for the tort of negligence...
Board from 1993-1996.
In 1993 Governor Marc Racicot
Marc Racicot
Marc F. Racicot is a U.S. politician and lobbyist and member of the Republican Party. He was the governor of Montana from 1993 until 2001. After leaving office, Racicot worked as a lobbyist for the law firm Bracewell & Giuliani. His notable clients included Enron, Burlington Northern Santa Fe,...
asked Hill to act as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Montana State Fund, where he worked in a volunteer, unpaid capacity for three years.
US Representative
Hill was elected to Congress in November 1996, representing Montana's At-large congressional districtMontana's At-large congressional district
Montana is currently represented in the US House of Representatives by one at large congressional district. The district is currently the largest congressional district by population with nearly 1,000,000 constituents. It is also the second largest by size, after Alaska's At-large congressional...
. He defeated Democrat Bill Yellowtail
Bill Yellowtail
Bill Yellowtail is an American politician from Wyola, Montana. He is a 1971 graduate of Dartmouth College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography and Environmental Studies...
, who had been a Regional Administrator for the United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
. Hill was re-elected in November 1998.
In May 1999, Hill criticized the "life style" choices of Nancy Keenan
Nancy Keenan
Nancy Keenan is the current president of the United States-based reproductive/abortion rights organization NARAL Pro-Choice America....
, a Democrat serving her third term as State School Superintendent, who had just announced she would run against him in 2000. He noted that she had never married and had no children, whereas he was a "family man". Keenan called Hill's remarks "ridiculous" and said she had always wanted children but had had a hysterectomy for health reasons.
Hill later decided not to run in the 2000 election, citing vision problems that were subsequently corrected. The election was won by Republican nominee Denny Rehberg
Denny Rehberg
Dennis R. "Denny" Rehberg is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:...
, who defeated Keenan.