Matt Salmon

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Matthew James Salmon
Matt Salmon
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 1st district
In office
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2001
Preceded by Sam Coppersmith
Succeeded by Jeff Flake
Born January 21, 1958
Salt Lake City, Utah
Political party Republican
Alma mater Arizona State University
Brigham Young University

Matthew James (Matt) Salmon (b. January 21, 1958) is a former Republican Congressional Representative from Arizona. In 2002, he lost to Janet Napolitano in a highly competitive Arizona governor's race.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Salmon was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and graduated from Mesa High School in Mesa, Arizona in 1976. He later went on to attend Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona in 1981. In 1986 he graduated with a master's in public administration from Brigham Young University, later becoming a telecommunications executive and community affairs manager.

Based on his telecommunications and community affairs experience, Salmon decided in 1991 to run for elected office. He served as a member of the Arizona Senate from 1991–95. From 1993–95 he was the assistant majority leader.

In 1994 he was elected as a Republican to the 104th and to the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1995–January 3, 2001). During his first Congressional election campaign, term limits were a high-profile issue. Salmon was one of many candidates nationwide who pledged to serve only three terms in Congress. He honored his campaign pledge and did not stand for reelection to the 107th Congress in 2000.

Salmon was instrumental obtaining the January 29, 2000 release of U.S. based academic researcher Song Yongyi from detention in China on spying charges.[1]

He was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of Arizona in 2002 and as of 2006 was a lobbyist and chairman of the Arizona Republican Party.

In 2008, he became President of the Competitive Telecommunications Association, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association.[2]

[edit] Quotes

  • "Janet has dodged debates. Where does she stand on the issues? Most of the time she's on the fence." (In reference to then candidate Janet Napolitano)[3]
  • "We need to focus on the needs of Arizona," Salmon said. "We need seasoned people. We need experienced voices in Congress." (In reference to refusing to repeat the term limit pledge that impelled him to leave the U.S House of Representatives after his first three terms in 2000)[4]
  • "I'm not a big fan of the UN. I think it's encumbered with self-interest ..." [5]


[edit] References

  1. ^ Academic freed by China flies home January 29, 2000 BBC News World Service
  2. ^ Comptel
  3. ^ Southwestern Political Report MacNeil/Lehrer Productions September 16, 2002
  4. ^ Ex-Rep. Salmon in '06 race Will he run against Flake? by Chip Scutari The Arizona Republic September 23, 2004
  5. ^ video interview at UpTV

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Sam Coppersmith		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 1st congressional district
1995 – 2001		 Succeeded by
Jeff Flake
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