Scott Tipton
Encyclopedia
Scott R. Tipton is the U.S. Representative
for . In November 2010, he defeated three-term incumbent Democrat
John Salazar
, whom he lost to in 2006 by a wide margin. He was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives and a co-owner of a pottery company in Cortez, Colorado
. Prior to being elected to public office, he was the Chairman of the Colorado Republican Party
from 1997 to 2008.
, where he attended public schools with his brother Joe and graduated from Montezuma-Cortez High School. He went on to Ft. Lewis College
in Durango
where he studied Political Science
. He graduated in 1978, becoming the first person in his family to graduate from college. After Ft. Lewis, Scott returned to Cortez and founded Mesa Verde Indian Pottery, which he co-owns with his brother Joe. After 31 years in business, Mesa Verde Trading has developed an international client base.
's presidential campaign in 1976 and was a delegate to the Republican Convention that year. He also assisted and ran local campaigns for Reagan in 1980 and 1984 across Montezuma County, Colorado and the 3rd Congressional District.
Over the years, he has served in various roles for the campaigns of Scott McInnis
, Ben Campbell, Bill Owens and George Bush
. A former Montezuma County GOP Chairman, Scott served as the Republican Chairman of the 3rd Congressional District for eight years.
but Tipton won the race with 59 percent of the popular vote.
and Frank McNulty
, Tipton plans on re-introducing a version of Jessica's Law
to establish minimum sentences for child sex offenders, and sponsoring bills to create a full-time judge position in Montrose
, and to simplify water rights filing.
Tipton is a signer of Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge.
Tipton challenged the then Freshman
Democratic U.S. Congressman John Salazar
. Tipton lost 38% to 62% for Salazar.
2010
Tipton challenged Democratic incumbent John Salazar
in . Libertarian Gregory Gilman and Independent Jake Segrest were also on the ballot, with Independents John W. Hargis, Sr. and James Fritz qualified as write-in candidates.
Tipton decided to retire from the Colorado House of Representatives to run for Congress in 2010, again challenging Salazar. In the Republican primary, Tipton defeated Bob McConnell 56% to 44%.
Larry Sabato
, Stuart Rothenberg
, CQ Politics, New York Times, and Charlie Cook
rated the race as a "Toss-up", with FiveThirtyEight giving Tipton a 77.9% of winning, while Real Clear Politics rated the race "Leans GOP". Colorado's 3rd
has a Cook PVI
of R+5.
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...
for . In November 2010, he defeated three-term incumbent Democrat
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...
John Salazar
John Salazar
John Tony Salazar is the former Congressman for , serving from 2005 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Following his service in Congress, he was appointed as Commissioner of the Colorado Department of Agriculture in the Cabinet of Governor John Hickenlooper in 2011.-Early life,...
, whom he lost to in 2006 by a wide margin. He was a member of the Colorado House of Representatives and a co-owner of a pottery company in Cortez, Colorado
Cortez, Colorado
The city of Cortez is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Montezuma County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 8,482 at the 2010 census...
. Prior to being elected to public office, he was the Chairman of the Colorado Republican Party
Colorado Republican Party
The Colorado Republican Party is the state affiliate of the United States Republican Party in the U.S. state of Colorado. Since March 2011, the state party chair is Denver attorney and former legal counsel to the Colorado Republican Party, Ryan Call....
from 1997 to 2008.
Early life
Scott Tipton was raised in CortezCortez, Colorado
The city of Cortez is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Montezuma County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 8,482 at the 2010 census...
, where he attended public schools with his brother Joe and graduated from Montezuma-Cortez High School. He went on to Ft. Lewis College
Fort Lewis College
Fort Lewis College is a public liberal arts college in Durango, Colorado.-History:Military FortThe original site of Fort Lewis College began southwest of its present location back in 1880. Set up originally as a Military Fort for the 22nd Regimental Infantry which occupied the land from...
in Durango
Durango, Colorado
The City of Durango is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau said that the city population was 16,887 in 2010 census.-History:...
where he studied Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He graduated in 1978, becoming the first person in his family to graduate from college. After Ft. Lewis, Scott returned to Cortez and founded Mesa Verde Indian Pottery, which he co-owns with his brother Joe. After 31 years in business, Mesa Verde Trading has developed an international client base.
Early political career
A lifelong Republican, Tipton became involved in the Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's presidential campaign in 1976 and was a delegate to the Republican Convention that year. He also assisted and ran local campaigns for Reagan in 1980 and 1984 across Montezuma County, Colorado and the 3rd Congressional District.
Over the years, he has served in various roles for the campaigns of Scott McInnis
Scott McInnis
Stephen Scott Emory McInnis is a lawyer and former Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorado. In August, 2010, McInnis lost his bid to be gubernatorial nominee after a plagiarism accusation and apology hurt his standing.-Education and professional history:Born in...
, Ben Campbell, Bill Owens and George 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....
. A former Montezuma County GOP Chairman, Scott served as the Republican Chairman of the 3rd Congressional District for eight years.
2008 election
Scott Tipton announced his candidacy for Colorado House District 58 on February 5, 2008. This announcement came shortly after the incumbent Ray Rose announced he was retiring in 2008 and several key leaders asked Tipton to run. Tipton had no opposition in the August Republican primary, but faced Democrat Noelle Hagan in the November 2008 general election. Hagan's candidacy was endorsed by the Denver Post and the Montrose Daily Press,but Tipton won the race with 59 percent of the popular vote.
Tenure
With Representatives Laura BradfordLaura Bradford
Laura Bradford is a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. Elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Republican in 2008, Bradford represents House District 55, which encompasses northern portions of Mesa County and northern Grand Junction.-Biography:Born in Crookston, Minnesota and...
and Frank McNulty
Frank McNulty (Colorado legislator)
Frank McNulty is a legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. First elected to the Colorado House of Representatives as a Republican in 2006, McNulty represents House District 43, which centers around the community of Highlands Ranch. McNulty was elected Speaker of the House on November 9,...
, Tipton plans on re-introducing a version of Jessica's Law
Jessica's Law
Jessica's Law is the informal name given to a 2005 Florida law, as well as laws in several other states, designed to punish sex offenders and reduce their ability to re-offend...
to establish minimum sentences for child sex offenders, and sponsoring bills to create a full-time judge position in Montrose
Montrose, Colorado
The City of Montrose is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Montrose County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 15,479 in 2005. The main road that leads in and out of Montrose is U.S...
, and to simplify water rights filing.
Committee assignments
For the 2009 legislative session, Tipton was named to seats on the House Agriculture, Livestock, and Natural Resources Committee and the House Local Government Committee.U.S. House of Representatives
TaxesTipton is a signer of Americans for Tax Reform’s Taxpayer Protection Pledge.
Elections
2006Tipton challenged the then Freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
Democratic U.S. Congressman John Salazar
John Salazar
John Tony Salazar is the former Congressman for , serving from 2005 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Following his service in Congress, he was appointed as Commissioner of the Colorado Department of Agriculture in the Cabinet of Governor John Hickenlooper in 2011.-Early life,...
. Tipton lost 38% to 62% for Salazar.
2010
Tipton challenged Democratic incumbent John Salazar
John Salazar
John Tony Salazar is the former Congressman for , serving from 2005 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Following his service in Congress, he was appointed as Commissioner of the Colorado Department of Agriculture in the Cabinet of Governor John Hickenlooper in 2011.-Early life,...
in . Libertarian Gregory Gilman and Independent Jake Segrest were also on the ballot, with Independents John W. Hargis, Sr. and James Fritz qualified as write-in candidates.
Tipton decided to retire from the Colorado House of Representatives to run for Congress in 2010, again challenging Salazar. In the Republican primary, Tipton defeated Bob McConnell 56% to 44%.
Larry Sabato
Larry Sabato
Larry Joseph Sabato is an American political scientist and analyst. He is the Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, and director of its Center for Politics. He founded Sabato's Crystal Ball, an online newsletter and website that provides free political analysis and...
, Stuart Rothenberg
Stuart Rothenberg
Stuart Rothenberg is an American editor, publisher, and political analyst best known for his Washington-based, biweekly, self-proclaimed non-partisan political newsletter The Rothenberg Political Report...
, CQ Politics, New York Times, and Charlie Cook
Charlie Cook
Charlie Cook , originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, is an American political analyst who specializes in election forecasts and political trends. He attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He delivers election forecasts and rankings in his own publication, The Cook Political Report,...
rated the race as a "Toss-up", with FiveThirtyEight giving Tipton a 77.9% of winning, while Real Clear Politics rated the race "Leans GOP". Colorado's 3rd
Colorado's 3rd congressional district
Colorado's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Colorado. The district is located in western and south central Colorado, encompassing most of the rural Western Slope...
has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of R+5.
Committee assignments
- Committee on AgricultureUnited States House Committee on AgricultureThe U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, or Agriculture Committee is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The House Committee on Agriculture has general jurisdiction over federal agriculture policy and oversight of some federal agencies, and it can recommend funding...
- Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry
- Committee on Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public LandsUnited States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public LandsThe United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands is one of the five subcommittees within the House Natural Resources Committee-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:*...
- Subcommittee on Water and PowerUnited States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and PowerThe United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power is one of the five subcommittees within the House Natural Resources Committee-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:*...
- Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
- Committee on Small BusinessUnited States House Committee on Small BusinessThe United States House Committee on Small Business is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives.-History:On December 4, 1941, the U. S...
- Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade (Chairman)
- Subcommittee on Investigations, Oversight and Regulations
Personal life
Tipton and his wife Jean have been married for 27 years and have two daughters, Liesl and Elizabeth.External links
- U.S. Congressman Scott Tipton official U.S. House site
- Scott Tipton for Congress official campaign site