E. Clay Shaw, Jr.

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E. Clay Shaw

United States Representative from Florida's 22nd district
In office 1981-(term ends 2007)
Preceded by	None (District Created After 1990 Census)
Succeeded by	Incumbent₁

Born	April 19, 1939 Miami, Florida
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Emilie Shaw
Religion	Roman Catholic
₁Ron Klein defeated Shaw in the 2006 elections and will replace him in the House on January 3, 2007.

Eugene Clay Shaw Jr. (born April 19, 1939) is an American politician who has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1981, representing the 22nd District of Florida (map). He was defeated by Ron Klein in the 2006 midterm election.

1 Years prior to Congress
2 Congress
3 External links

[edit] Years prior to Congress

Shaw was born in Miami, Florida. He graduated in 1957 from Miami Edison Senior High School. He received a bachelor's degree in business in 1961 from Stetson University in Florida, where he joined Sigma Nu Fraternity, a master's degree in accounting in 1963 from the University of Alabama, and a law degree in 1966 from Stetson University School of Law.

After graduation, Shaw practiced law and worked as a certified public accountant. In 1968, he became assistant city attorney in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was chief city prosecutor from 1968 to 1969, then became an associate municipal judge and, later, city commissioner from 1971-1973. After two years as vice mayor, he served as mayor of Fort Lauderdale from 1975 to 1981.

Shaw is a member of the Florida Bar Association and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

[edit] Congress

[edit] 2000, 2002, and 2004 campaigns

Shaw faced a tough challenge in November 2000 from State Senator Elaine Bloom, who lost by only 599 votes. Al Gore defeated George W. Bush in the district by 52% to 48%.

Shaw was redistricted into more favorable turf and scored somewhat easier reelections in 2002 and 2004.

In 2002, Shaw was reelected with 61% of the vote against Democrat Carol Roberts, a former Palm Beach County Commissioner.

In 2004, Shaw won reelection with 63% of the vote against a last-minute replacement Democratic candidate, Robin Rorapaugh. His original opponent, Jim Stork, dropped out before the election for medical reasons, but his name remained on the ballot.[1] John Kerry defeated George W. Bush in the district by a margin of 50% to 48%.[2]

[edit] Funds from Tom DeLay's PAC

Shaw was a recipient of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's ARMPAC campaign contributions. DeLay is being prosecuted on charges of felony money laundering of campaign finances and conspiracy to launder money. To date, Shaw has not offered to return any of the $30,020 he received, despite calls from Democrats to do so.[3] Republicans say that the charges by Ronnie Earle against DeLay are politically motivated because they say that Earle has a history of indictments against Democrat and Republican political enemies that have failed (see Kay Bailey Hutchison) and because Earle had to shop the charges against DeLay to several grand juries to find one to indict. [4]

[edit] 2006 re-election

Main article: Florida U.S. House election, 2006

Shaw is running for re-election in 2006 against Democratic challenger Ron Klein, a three term state senator from Boca Raton. As of the end of June 2006, Klein had over $2 million cash on hand. Klein's fundraising ability combined with his moderate voting record make him one of the Democrats' top House challengers.

The revelation that Shaw was recently treated for a second bout of lung cancer [5] made the race even more unpredictable.

At 11:10 P.M on November 7th, CNN announced that Clay Shaw had been defeated by his challanger by the margin of 48%-51%.

[edit] Committees and caucuses

Shaw is the second most senior Republican on the House Ways and Means committee.

In 2005, he became the chairman of the Ways and Means subcommittee on Trade. From 1999 to 2005, he was as Chairman of the Social Security Subcommittee. From 1995 to 1998, Shaw chaired the Human Resources subcommittee. Shaw is on the International Conservation Caucus, where he sits as one of four chairmen.

He has also been chairman of the Florida delegation since 1996. He is on the Congressional Arts Caucus, Congressional Fire Services Caucus, Congressional Narcotics Abuse and Control Caucus, Congressional Social Security Caucus, Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus, Friends of Ireland, Law Enforcement Caucus, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus. He is also the co-chair of the following Congressional Boating Caucus, Congressional Coastal Caucus, and International Conservation Caucus.

[edit] External links

Political offices
Preceded by: Edward J. Stack	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 12th congressional district 1981-1983	Succeeded by: Tom Lewis
Preceded by: Dante B. Fascell	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 15th congressional district 1983-1993	Succeeded by: Jim Bacchus
Preceded by: District Created after 1990 Census	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida's 22nd congressional district 1993-2007	Succeeded by: Ron Klein