Jim Jontz

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Jim Jontz (born James Prather Jontz on December 18, 1951 in Indianapolis, Indiana) represented Indiana's sprawling Fifth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1987 to 1993. His political career began in 1974, sparked by his opposition to a dam-building project in Central Indiana. Running for a seat in the Indiana House of Representatives against the dam's sponsor, the House Majority Leader, he was elected by 2 votes at the age of 23. He continued to win re-election as a Democrat in a heavily Republican district, even after Republican gerrymandering in 1980 drastically re-drew his district. He was elected to the Indiana Senate in 1984. As a progressive Democrat representing one of the most conservative Republican areas in the country, Jontz relied on two key strategies for his congressional elections. First, he embraced a very personal style of populist politics that included frequent appearances in every community in his district. Secondly, Jontz assembled a highly talented and dedicated staff of individuals to work with him, and later many of them--including Tom Sugar, Mike Busch, and Kathy Altman--held prominent government positions.

Jontz was re-elected to Congress in 1988 and 1990. During his six-year tenure, he simultaneously held committee memberships on the House Agriculture, Education and Labor, Veterans Affairs, and Select Committee on Aging. He also championed the preservation of the ancient forests in the Pacific Northwest, and worked to foster collaborations between organized labor and environmentalists.

His campaigns for Congress drew national attention. Celebrity supporters included included singers Carole King, Bob Weir, and Don Henley, designer Liz Claiborne, and actors Bonnie Franklin and Woody Harrelson. Most of this support stemmed from Jontz's work on environmental issues. Defeated for re-election in 1992, he lost a race for U.S. Senate in 1994 against incumbent Richard Lugar.

Jontz graduated with honors (Phi Beta Kappa) from Indiana University in less than three years with a degree in geology, and while serving in the Indiana legislature did graduate work in history at Purdue University. Moving to Portland, OR, in 1995 he began working as Executive Director for the Western Ancient Forest Campaign, and in 1999 he helped organize the Alliance for Sustainable Jobs and the Environment (ASJE). In 1998, Jontz was elected president of Americans for Democratic Action (ADA). He is currently ADA president emeritus and serves as a project coordinator for ADA's Working Families Win project.