Rick White (politician)

Rick White
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington's 1st district
In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1999
Preceded by	Maria Cantwell
Succeeded by	Jay Inslee
Personal details
Born	(1953-11-06) November 6, 1953 Bloomington, Indiana
Political party	Republican

Richard Alan White (born November 6, 1953) is an American politician, who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999. He represented first congressional district of Washington as a Republican, earning close ties with the Christian Coalition.

Early life

White was born and raised primarily in Bloomington, Indiana, but due to his father's job with Marathon Oil, lived in Geneva, Switzerland and Indianapolis, IN for short periods and graduated from North Central High School in Indianapolis. He attended Dartmouth College and studied abroad at the University of Paris. White received his law degree from Georgetown University in 1980. He was first hired as a law clerk to Washington Federal Court of Appeals Judge Charlie Clark and later became a successful attorney. In 1986, he dabbled in politics for the first time, earning a term on the Queen Anne, Seattle, Washington community council.

Political career

White first won election to the House in 1994 against Democrat Maria Cantwell. Part of White's campaign focused on his being married while Cantwell was a single female. However, while in Washington, he divorced his wife. White served on the Committee on Energy and Commerce and sponsored the Internet Protection Act. He won re-election for a second term in 1996, but was defeated by Democrat Jay Inslee in 1998. It was believed that he was one of the Republicans removed from office due to his vote in favor of President Bill Clinton's impeachment. In addition, spoiler candidate Bruce Craswell took 6 percent of the vote in the General Election. Running on a pro-life platform, Craswell's third party candidacy ate into the traditional Republican base. White had exceeded 50% of the vote in 1994 and 1996, but the Craswell factor left him with less than 45% in 1998.

1st Congressional District election results

Political positions

White voted against affirmative action, for reducing taxes on Social Security earnings, for cutting welfare spending, against US troops being under U.N. command, for the 'Fast Track' authority for trade agreements, and for making it more difficult to appeal death penalty sentences.^[1]

Private sector career

White became CEO of TechNet, the technology industry lobbying group, based in Palo Alto, California. In early 2005 he left that position, and was considering another run against Maria Cantwell in 2006. But he chose instead to drop out of the race and endorse Republican Mike McGavick.

On March 17, 2007 the Seattle Times reported: "Former Republican congressman Rick White, one of three candidates the Republicans have submitted to replace John McKay as U.S. attorney for Western Washington, cannot practice law in the state. White's license was suspended by the state Supreme Court in August 2003 for failure to pay his bar dues. He was reinstated to the bar in 2005 after paying a small fee, but currently holds an 'inactive' status" which is common for attorneys that are not actively practicing law.^[2]

See also

• Politics of the United States

References

External links

• Rick White (politician) at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress