J. Gresham Barrett

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J. Gresham Barrett

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 7, 2003–
Preceded by	Lindsey Graham
Succeeded by	Incumbent

Born	February 14, 1961 (age 46) Westminster, South Carolina
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Natalie Barrett
Religion	Southern Baptist

James Gresham Barrett (born February 14, 1961) is an American politician from the Republican Party and a U.S. Representative from South Carolina, representing the 3rd Congressional district (map) in the northwestern part of the state.

1 Biography
2 Congress
3 Election 2006
4 Footnotes
5 External links

[edit] Biography

J. Gresham Barrett was born in Westminster, South Carolina to Del M. Ayers and Charles Gresham Barrett.^[1] He is married to Natalie Barrett and has 3 children. Barrett attended The Citadel and graduated in 1983. Following this he served as an officer in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of Captain in the U.S. Army Field Artillery. He resigned his commission in 1987.

Before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives he ran the family-owned business Barrett’s Furniture. In addition he was elected to the House of Representatives in the South Carolina General Assembly where he served on the Education and Public Works Committee, Labor Commerce and Industry Committee, Rules Committee, and the School Choice Ad Hoc Committee. He was also the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Urban Growth. During the 2000 Presidential Election Barrett was a member of the Bush for President South Carolina State Steering Committee.

Outside of politics his community involvement included serving as President of the Westminster Rotary Club, Chairman of the Oconee County Boy Scouts, President of the Westminster Chamber of Commerce, board member of the Oconee County Red Cross, member of the Oconee Kids Do Count Board, and coach of the Barrett's Furniture Pony League baseball team.

[edit] Congress

After serving three terms in the South Carolina state legislature, Barrett successfully ran for Congress in 2002 in place of Lindsey Graham (who was retiring to run for the U.S. Senate seat of the retiring Strom Thurmond) and took office in January 2003. He ran unopposed for reelection in 2004.

Barrett currently sits on the Budget Committee, the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on International Relations.

According to an analysis done by GovTrack.us Barrett is arguably the most conservative member of the U.S. House of Representatives. On Thursday July 27, 2006 Rep. Barrett went on record as one of the 33 members of the House to vote against renewal of the Voting Rights Act. [1].

[edit] Election 2006

In 2006, Barrett easily won reelection defeating Democratic challenger Lee Ballenger by capturing 63% of the vote.[2].

[edit] Footnotes

^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~battle/reps/barrett.htm

[edit] External links

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

Preceded by Lindsey Graham	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 3rd congressional district January 3, 2003 – present	Incumbent