Doris Matsui

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Doris Matsui

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 5th district
Incumbent
Assumed office March 8, 2005–
Preceded by	Robert Matsui
Succeeded by	Incumbent

Born	September 25, 1944 (age 62) Internment camp in Poston, Arizona
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	widowed, late Rep. Robert Matsui
Religion	Methodist

Doris Okada Matsui (born September 25, 1944) is an American politician of the Democratic Party who represents the Fifth Congressional District of California (Sacramento County, map) in the United States House of Representatives. Following the death on January 1, 2005 of her husband, Bob Matsui, who represented the district for twenty-six years, she was elected as his replacement in a special election on March 8, 2005. She took the oath on March 10, 2005.

Matsui was born in an Internment Camp at Poston, Arizona and grew up in Dinuba, in California's Central Valley. While attending the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a B.A. in psychology, she met her husband. They had one child, Brian.

Matsui was active in California politics, her husband serving on the Sacramento city council before entering congress in 1979, and was an early supporter of Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton's presidential campaign. When he was elected, Matsui served on his transition team. Following the inauguration, she was appointed deputy special assistant to the president and deputy director of public liaison, working under Alexis Herman. One of her duties was to work with the Asian American community.

On December 28, 1996, the lead story on the front-page of The New York Times reported Matsui had been active in John Huang's efforts, called the Asian-Pacific American Working Group, to raise campaign donations from Asian Americans, which would have been illegal because of her White House position. While Matsui was friends with Huang, the administration denied she played any role in fund-raising and the Times. Three years later, the newspaper admitted it had made a mistake.

She served in the White House from 1993 to 1998. After leaving government, Matsui was director of government relations for the law firm Colleen, Shannon, Scott, stepping down in 2005 to take her seat in Congress. President Clinton appointed her to the board of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in September 2000. Matsui also served on the boards of KVIE-TV and People for the American Way.

Matsui's husband, Bob, died from complications of myelodysplastic syndrome on January 1, 2005. On January 9, 2005, the day after his funeral, Matsui told supporters she was running for his open seat. The Matsuis had not disclosed Bob's terminal illness to the public during his recent reelection campaign, and with the support of national Democratic Party leaders Matsui quickly organized to buttonhole potential campaign contributors and clear the field of any serious rivals for the Democratic safe seat. She ultimately commanded 27 times the campaign funds of her closest competitor. In the campaign she was accused of improper land deals, but with no viable opposition she won the March 8, 2005, special election with 71% of the vote. In fact, press reports said that Matsui won the election before the polls opened as most votes in the election were absentee ballots, which she won overwhelmingly. [1]

In her inaugural speech, she spoke of the many people who encouraged her to run and her family. She pledged to continue the work of her husband, especially regarding flood control projects in Sacramento, the main city in the district.

[edit] References

"Aide's role in raising cash denied". The Buffalo News. December 29, 1996. A1.
"Editor's Note". The New York Times. March 22, 1999. A2.
"Matsui foes critical of dealings". The Sacramento Bee. February 8, 2005.
Thomas Oliphant. "Another victim is caught in the scandal machine." Boston Globe. September 16, 1997. A17.
"Who's Who in President-elect Clinton's transition team". The Washington Post. November 13, 1992. A25.
Tim Weiner and David E. Sanger. "Democrats Tried to Raise $7m from Asians in U.S." The New York Times. December 28, 1996. A1.
John Wildermuth. "11 Challenge Matsui for Congress Seat". San Francisco Chronicle. February 27, 2005. B1.

This article incorporates facts obtained from the public domain Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

[edit] External links

U.S. Congresswoman Doris Matsui official House site
Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Federal Election Commission - Doris Matsui campaign finance reports and data
On the Issues - Doris Matsui issue positions and quotes
OpenSecrets.org - Doris Matsui campaign contributions
Project Vote Smart - Representative Doris K. Matsui (CA) profile
SourceWatch Congresspedia - Doris Matsui profile
Washington Post - Congress Votes Database: Doris Matsui voting record
Doris Matsui for Congress official campaign site

Political offices
Preceded by Robert Matsui	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 5th congressional district 2005-Present	Succeeded by Incumbent