Geoff Davis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Geoff Davis
Geoff Davis
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 3, 2005
Preceded by Ken Lucas
Born October 26, 1958 (1958-10-26) (age 49)
Montreal, Quebec
Political party Republican
Spouse Pat Davis
Religion Baptist

Geoffrey C. "Geoff" Davis (born October 26, 1958) is an American politician from the state of Kentucky, who was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Republican from Kentucky's 4th congressional district with 54% of the vote on November 2, 2004. The district includes 24 counties in the northeastern part of the state, stretching from the fringes of the Louisville area to the West Virginia border. Most of its vote, however, is cast in the Cincinnati suburbs.

Davis was born in Montreal, Canada to American parents (one of few sitting House members to be born in Quebec), and attended the United States Military Academy. He served in the Middle East during the 1980s with the U.S. Army Rangers. Before running for the House, he worked as a consultant in the manufacturing field.

Contents

[edit] Political career

[edit] 2002 and 2004 elections

In 2002 elections, Davis had challenged Ken Lucas, the Democratic incumbent but was narrowly defeated.

Two years later, however, Lucas declined to run, honoring a promise to serve only three terms. In the 2004 race for the open seat, Davis defeated Democrat Nick Clooney. The race had been rated as highly competitive by outside observers.

[edit] Service in Congress

Davis has a solidly conservative voting record; according to his congressional website, he has positioned himself as pro-life and in favor of industrial deregulation.

In November, 2005, Davis made headlines for his response to Pennsylvania representative John Murtha's call for withdrawal from Iraq, saying, "Ayman Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden's deputy, as well as Abu Musab Zarqawi, have made it quite clear in their internal propaganda that they cannot win unless they can drive the Americans out. And they know that they can't do that there, so they've brought the battlefield to the halls of Congress. And, frankly, the liberal leadership have put politics ahead of sound, fiscal and national security policy. And what they have done is cooperated with our enemies and are emboldening our enemies." Davis faced harsh criticism for his remarks, including, for example, from the Democratic Veterans of Northern Kentucky, and sparked a drive led by national Democratic Party leaders to get Lucas to run against him in 2006.[1][2][3]

[edit] Committee Assignments

  • Armed Services Committee
    • Air and Land Forces Subcommittee
    • Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee
  • Financial Services Committee
    • Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises
    • Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit
    • Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity

[edit] 2006 election

On January 30, 2006, Lucas announced he would indeed challenge Davis later that year. The announcement instantly turned the race into one of the hottest in the campaign cycle, even though the 4th is considered the most Republican district in Kentucky. Despite a substantial Democratic advantage in voter registration, the influence of the heavily Republican Cincinnati suburbs kept the district in Republican hands from 1967 until Lucas won the seat in 1998. In August Congressional Quarterly rated this race as "Lean Republican." In late July the Washington Post also rated the race as a toss-up.[4] A SurveyUSA poll released on July 25, 2006 showed Lucas leading 50% to 41%.[5] However, the most recent independent SurveyUSA poll shows Davis up by two percentage points (46% Davis - 44% Lucas).[6] Davis has a decisive lead in fundraising.[7]

The Cook Political Report, an independent non-partisan newsletter, rated the race for Kentucky's 4th Congressional District as a "Republican Toss-Up", meaning either party has a good chance of winning.[8]

Election-night (uncertified) count, gave Davis a lead of 7-points and over 73,000 votes more than Lucas.

[edit] 2008 election

Main article: United States House of Representatives elections in Kentucky, 2008

Davis has formally filed to run for re-election in 2008. He will be challenged in the Republican Primary by Gerald Edward Puckett, who was indicted in early 2008 on charges of improperly using charitable gaming money. Democrat Michael Kelley, a doctor from LaGrange, will run in the Democratic primary.[9]

[edit] Contributors

The Davis campaign has received contributions from the Americans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee (ARMPAC), which was led by former Texas Congressman Tom DeLay. As of June 30, 2006, according to the Federal Election Commission, of the $2.4 million contributed to the Davis campaign for the current 2006 electoral cycle, $10,000 was contributed by ARMPAC.[10] Tom DeLay is the subject of indictments sought by Ronnie Earle, the district attorney for Travis County, Texas, alleging violations of Texas campaign-finance law. Judge Pat Priest has dismissed one indictment against DeLay, the second has not yet come to trial.[11] The charges against DeLay are considered by some to be politically motivated.[12][13] Democrats have indicated that they consider the ARMPAC contributions to be a campaign issue.[14] Davis has not, as of June 2007, been accused of any misconduct.

Davis has received donations from Republican Duke Cunningham, who pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion. Davis has not chosen to give back the money from Cunningham, while many other recipients have.[15][16] Davis received a donation from Congressman Bob Ney, who pleaded guilty for bribery and his involvement with convicted felon Jack Abramoff.[17]

[edit] Controversy - Perceived Racial Epithet

On April 12, 2008, at a Northern Kentucky Lincoln Day dinner, Congressman Davis compared Barack Obama and his message for change similar to a "snake oil salesman". He said in his remarks at the GOP dinner that he participated in a "highly classified, national security simulation" with Obama.

"I'm going to tell you something: That boy's finger does not need to be on the button," Davis added. "He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country." [1]

Davis also made reference to Obama as someone who, if he were not a senator, would probably be spending the rest of his life in jail. [2]

Historically, in countries such as the U.S. and South Africa, "boy" was used as a disparaging racist insult towards non-white adult males (especially of African descent), recalling their subservient status even after the 20th century legal emancipation (from slavery, evolved to race segregation, viz. Apartheid) and alleged infantility, and many still consider it offensive in that context to this day. At 49, Davis is three years older than Obama.

Davis later apologized for his comment in a letter:

Dear Senator Obama:
On Saturday night I gave a speech in which I used a poor choice of words when discussing the national security policy positions of the Presidential candidates. I was quoted as saying "That boy's finger does not need to be on the button."
My poor choice of words is regrettable and was in no way meant to impugn you or your integrity. I offer my sincere apology to you and ask for your forgiveness.
Though we may disagree on many issues, I know that we share the goal of a prosperous, secure future for our nation. My comment has detracted from the dialogue that we should all be having on legitimate policy differences and in no way reflects the personal and professional respect I have for you.
Sincerely,
Geoff Davis [3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ House Republicans Respond to Murtha - New York Times
  2. ^ The Enquirer - This article is no longer available
  3. ^ An Unlikely Lonesome Dove
  4. ^ Eight Issues That Will Shape the 2006 Elections (washingtonpost.com)
  5. ^ http://www.wcpo.com/news/2006/local/07/25/survey.html
  6. ^ Results of SurveyUSA Election Poll #9886
  7. ^ U.S. House, Kentucky District 4 | Elections | washingtonpost.com
  8. ^ http://www.cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_house_comp_jun29.pdf
  9. ^ "DAVIS, CHALLENGER FILE FOR PRIMARY", Lexington Herald-Leader, 2008-01-25. 
  10. ^ FEC Disclosure Report Search Results
  11. ^ DeLay's Felony Charge Is Upheld
  12. ^ The Wall Street Journal Online - Featured Article
  13. ^ http://www.washingtontimes.com/commentary/20051003-094234-1323r.htm
  14. ^ The tricky politics of scandal - US News and World Report
  15. ^ FEC Disclosure Report Search Results
  16. ^ FEC Disclosure Report Search Results
  17. ^ FEC Disclosure Report Search Results

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Ken Lucas		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 4th congressional district
2005 – present		 Incumbent
v • d • e
Kentucky's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Representative(s)
Ed Whitfield (R), Ron Lewis (R), John Yarmuth (D), Geoff Davis (R), Hal Rogers (R), Ben Chandler (D)
State delegations
Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • Wyoming
Non-voting delegations
Languages