| Ray LaHood | |
|---|---|
| 16th United States Secretary of Transportation | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 22, 2009 |
|
| President | Barack Obama |
| Deputy | John Porcari |
| Preceded by | Mary Peters |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 18th district |
|
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2009 |
|
| Preceded by | Bob Michel |
| Succeeded by | Aaron Schock |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives | |
| In office January 4, 1982 – January 4, 1983 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 6, 1945 Peoria, Illinois, United States |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Kathy LaHood |
| Alma mater | Bradley University |
| Profession | Teacher[1] |
| Religion | Maronite Catholicism |
Raymond H. "Ray" LaHood (born December 6, 1945) is a Republican politician from Illinois who is currently the United States Secretary of Transportation, having served since 2009. Previously, he represented the Illinois's 18th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives for seven terms (1995–2009).
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LaHood was born in Peoria, Illinois, to Mary A. LaHood (née Vogel), who was of German ancestry, and Edward M. LaHood, a Lebanese American who managed a restaurant.[2][3][4] He graduated from Spalding Institute, worked his way through Canton Junior College and Bradley University in Peoria, earning a Bachelors of Science in education and sociology in 1971.[2]
Following graduation, he taught junior high school social studies at public and Catholic schools,[2] and has said that "teaching kids ... about the constitution and government" stirred his interest in politics.[1]
LaHood was director of the Rock Island County Youth Services Bureau and then district administrative assistant for U.S. congressman Tom Railsback, a Moline, Illinois Republican, from 1977 to 1982.[5] He was appointed in 1982 to fill a vacant seat in the Illinois House of Representatives, serving for nine months, and running for the seat in November 1982, but losing to Democrat Bob DeJaegher.[5] LaHood then became administrative assistant and ultimately the chief of staff to U.S. House minority leader Robert Michel, serving from 1982 until 1994.[5]
When Michel announced his retirement in 1994, LaHood ran and won his seat in the House, representing Illinois's 18th congressional district.[2] LaHood was one of only three Republicans elected to the House that year who did not sign on to the Contract with America, Newt Gingrich's manifesto for a Republican majority,[5][6] and was a member of the moderate Republican Main Street Partnership. In 1997, in an effort to promote bipartisan cooperation, LaHood organized bipartisan retreats for members of Congress.[5]
During his service in Congress, he became well-known among C-SPAN viewers as the presiding officer of more debates than any other member.[2] Most notably, in 1998 he presided over the contentious debate over the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.[5][7]
A strong advocate for preserving the legacy of Abraham Lincoln, LaHood authored a law that established the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, which laid the groundwork for celebrating the 16th President's 200th birthday in 2009. He has also been a lead Capitol Hill supporter for the Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois, and is one of 15 members on the ALBC.
LaHood served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee from 1995 until 2000,[8] the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence beginning in 1998, and the House Appropriations Committee beginning in 2000.[5] In 2005 he voted against renewing the PATRIOT Act, saying he opposed extending its intrusive police powers.[5]
LaHood was said to be considering a challenge to Governor Rod Blagojevich's re-election bid in 2006, but chose to run for another term in Congress instead.[5] He won the 2006 race against Steve Waterworth[9] by a margin of 147,108 (67%) to 71,106 (33%).[10] On July 26, 2007, LaHood stated he would not seek re-election in 2008.[11]
In August 2007, LaHood received a 0% rating from the conservative and anti-earmark Club for Growth 2007 RePORK Card.[12] He received an 11% rating from the conservative lobbying group Citizens Against Government Waste in August 2007, and holds a lifetime 49% rating from the group.[13]
In 2007 LaHood considered, but later decided against, applying for the post of president of Bradley University.[5]
During the 2008 presidential election, LaHood supported John McCain, but criticized the rallies being held by McCain's vice presidential nominee, Sarah Palin, saying she should put a stop to the name calling, and that the tactic could backfire. "This doesn't befit the office that she's running for. And frankly, people don't like it," he said.[14][15]
On December 19, 2008, President-elect Barack Obama announced that he would nominate Ray LaHood to be the next Transportation Secretary. LaHood's résumé on transport matters was considered thin by some critics, including the Wall Street Journal despite the fact that he served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.[8] As a member of the House Appropriations Committee he won praise for his "skills as an arbiter" in being able to bridge sometimes bitter partisan divides in the Congress, something the position would require.[16] Some critics alleged a reputation for pork barrel spending, including in support of campaign contributors. The Washington Post reported that of the $60 million in earmarks LaHood secured for his district in 2008, $9 million went to campaign donors.[17]
His nomination was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote on January 21, 2009.[18] He was, with Robert Gates,[19][20] one of two Republican members of the Obama Cabinet.[21]
On February 3, 2010, LaHood was criticized for advice he was asked to give while testifying before a congressional committee regarding Toyota's recall of 2.3 million vehicles due to sudden acceleration, wherein he suggested Toyota owners stop driving their cars. LaHood qualified his statement within an hour and a half of his testimony, spelling out that he meant "owners of any recalled Toyota models (should) contact their local dealer and get their vehicles fixed as soon as possible."[22]
Ray LaHood is a supporter of airline passenger rights to facilities, food and water during lengthy on-aircraft delays.[23] He is also a strong proponent of high-speed rail, saying "This is what the American people want. If you build it, they will come."[24]
LaHood plans to step down as transportation secretary at the end of Obama's first term in 2013. He will not seek any public office after that, and instead enter the private sector.[25]
On December 6, 2011, Secretary LaHood accepted the resignation of FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, who was charged with drunk driving near his Washington home.
Ray LaHood's congressional seat, Illinois' 18th congressional district, has been Republican since 1939.
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | G. Douglas Stephens | 78,332 | 39% | Ray LaHood | 119,838 | 60% | * | ||
| 1996 | Mike Curran | 98,413 | 41% | Ray LaHood | 143,110 | 59% | |||
| 1998 | (no candidate) | Ray LaHood | 158,175 | 100% | * | ||||
| 2000 | Joyce Harant | 85,317 | 33% | Ray LaHood | 173,706 | 67% | |||
| 2002 | (no candidate) | Ray LaHood | 192,567 | 100% | |||||
| 2004 | Steve Waterworth | 91,548 | 30% | Ray LaHood | 216,047 | 70% | |||
| 2006 | Steve Waterworth | 73,052 | 33% | Ray LaHood | 150,194 | 67% |
LaHood did not to seek re-election in 2008, and Barack Obama nominated him to be U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Illinois State Representative Aaron Schock of Peoria won the seat for the Republicans in the 2008 election.[27]
LaHood and his wife Kathy have a residence in East Peoria, Illinois. Their son, Darin LaHood, is a current member of the Illinois Senate.
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robert Michel |
Member of the House of Representatives from Illinois's 18th congressional district 1995–2009 |
Succeeded by Aaron Schock |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Mary Peters |
United States Secretary of Transportation Served under: Barack Obama 2009–present |
Incumbent |
| United States order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Shaun Donovan as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
Order of Precedence of the United States as Secretary of Transportation |
Succeeded by Steven Chu as Secretary of Energy |
| United States presidential line of succession | ||
| Preceded by Shaun Donovan as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development |
14th in line as Secretary of Transportation |
Succeeded by Steven Chu as Secretary of Energy |
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