Chip Pickering

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Chip Pickering
Chip Pickering
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Mississippi's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 3, 1997
Preceded by Sonny Montgomery
Born August 10, 1963 (1963-08-10) (age 44)
Laurel, Mississippi
Political party Republican
Spouse Leisha Jane Pickering
Religion Baptist

Charles Willis Pickering, Jr., usually known as Chip Pickering (born August 10, 1963), is a politician in the U.S. state of Mississippi. He has represented Mississippi's 3rd congressional district as a Republican in the United States House of Representatives since first being elected in 1996. The district is based in Meridian and stretches from the Alabama border to the Louisiana border, including areas such as Starkville, Natchez and part of Jackson, the state capital.

In mid-August 2007, Pickering announced that he would not seek re-election in 2008[1] due to insufficient attention to his family. Pickering was considered a top Republican contender if U.S. Senator Trent Lott had retired in 2006, and was waiting a decision by Senator Thad Cochran to make his re-election plans clear in 2008; it is widely suspected that Pickering's decision to leave Congress reflected Cochran's decision to run for re-election. [2]

When Trent Lott announced his resignation as Senator from Mississippi, Pickering was rumored to be the likely appointee of Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour to replace him. However, in December, Pickering announced that he was not interested in the post,[3] and fellow Republican Congressman Roger Wicker, of Mississippi's 1st congressional district, was appointed to Lott's seat.

As a result of Mississippi's 1st congressional district special election, 2008, Pickering is currently the sole Republican Representative from Mississippi.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Pickering was born in Laurel, Mississippi. His father is Judge Charles Pickering, Sr., a Mississippi lawyer, former municipal judge, retired Federal Court Judge, and prominent Republican politician. Chip graduated from the University of Mississippi where he was a legacy member of the Eta Chapter of Sigma Chi. He went on to receive a Masters degree from Baylor University in 1989.

Pickering then very briefly served as a Southern Baptist missionary to Hungary, after the end of Hungarian government persecution of religious believers. In the same year, 1989, President George H. W. Bush appointed Pickering as a Department of Agriculture liaison to the former European Communist countries. This appointment provided Pickering with official diplomatic immunity. After returning to the United States, Pickering served on the staff of Senator Trent Lott from 1992 to 1996.

[edit] U.S. House

After a year as a government employee of the Senate Commerce Committee, Pickering returned to Mississippi to run as the Republican candidate for the 3rd District. Congressman Sonny Montgomery, a 30-year Democratic incumbent, was not running for reelection. Pickering won by a wide margin. This was not surprising, as it had always been a rather conservative district; it actually elected a Republican in 1964 (when it was numbered as the 4th District), when Barry Goldwater won an unheard-of 87 percent of Mississippi's popular vote.

During this and following elections, questions have been raised about whether Pickering was a legal resident of Mississippi and lawfully qualified to run for the office. He owns a farm in Madison County, but his permanent residence is in the Washington area. Nonetheless, Pickering was unopposed for reelection in 1998 and defeated token Democratic opposition in 2000. In response to criticism regarding place of residence, Pickering has stated that he was advised by Montgomery to keep his residence and family in the Washington area, in order to have more time to spend with his family.

In 2002, Pickering was pitted against fellow Congressman Ronnie Shows, a conservative Democrat from the neighboring 4th District, after Mississippi lost a seat in the 2000 Congressional re-districting. Pickering soundly defeated Shows with over 60% of the vote in the new 3rd District. In 2004 Pickering faced minor independent candidate Jim Giles and several other candidates.

This photo previously appeared on Pickering's official Congressional website. It was removed in 2003 after critics charged the photo was intentionally deceptive. This is because Pickering is not a military pilot and has never served in any capacity in any U.S. military force.[citation needed]
This photo previously appeared on Pickering's official Congressional website. It was removed in 2003 after critics charged the photo was intentionally deceptive. This is because Pickering is not a military pilot and has never served in any capacity in any U.S. military force.[citation needed]

Pickering is arguably one of the more conservative members of the House. He has risen rapidly through the chamber's ranks, and currently serves as vice-chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee. He has sometimes been mentioned as a candidate for Lott's Senate seat; indeed, most pundits believed that had Lott opted not to run for reelection in 2006, Pickering would have been drafted to run in his place.

Pickering considered leaving Congress in 2003 to take a lobbying job.[citation needed]

On August 16, 2007, Pickering announced that he would not run for re-election in 2008.[4]

[edit] Committee Assignments

  • Energy and Commerce Committee
    • Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee
    • Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee
    • Telecommunications & the Internet Subcommittee

[edit] PAC money

The Federal Election Commission has revealed that Pickering receives most (two out of every three dollars) of his campaign donations and financing from political action committees (PACs). A large part of the remaining monies are received from individuals outside the 3d District.[citation needed]

[edit] Family

Pickering and his wife, Leisha, have five sons.

[edit] Appearance in Borat movie

Pickering was one of several politicians to appear in the film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. In the film he briefly appears at a lively Pentecostal meeting where spoken views against the teachings of evolution are cheered by the congregation [1]. A spokesperson for Pickering said that his boss "hasn't seen the film." The spokesperson added, "[o]f course he doesn't support the offensive nature of the movie" ([2]).

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Editorial", Clarion-Ledger, August 18, 2007. 
  2. ^ Dead link to Clarion-Ledger web site
  3. ^ Mark, David. "Pickering Removes Himself From Senate Consideration", CBS News, December 28, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-05-18. 
  4. ^ Pickering Announces Retirement, Roll Call, August 17, 2007.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Sonny Montgomery		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Mississippi's 3rd congressional district
1997–Present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
v • d • e
Mississippi's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
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Travis Childers (D), Bennie Thompson (D), Charles Pickering, Jr. (R), Gene Taylor (D)
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