Chris Cannon
Chris Cannon | |
---|---|
![]() Cannon in 2007 | |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Utah's 3rd district | |
In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2009 | |
Preceded by | Bill Orton |
Succeeded by | Jason Chaffetz |
Finance Chairman of the Utah Republican Party | |
In office 1992–1994 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Christopher Black Cannon October 20, 1950 Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
Died | May 8, 2024 Provo, Utah, U.S. | (aged 73)
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Claudia Fox |
Children | 8 |
Relatives | Joseph A. Cannon (brother) |
Education | Brigham Young University (B.S., J.D.) Harvard University |
Christopher Black Cannon (October 20, 1950 – May 8, 2024) was an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, for the Republican Party, representing the third district of Utah from 1997 to 2009.
Personal life
Cannon was born in
Chris Cannon was a member of the
Cannon and his wife, Claudia, had eight children; their daughter, Rachel, died from cancer in 2005.[5]
Cannon died in Provo on May 8, 2024, at the age of 73.[6][5]
Congressional career
This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2024) |
In 1996, Cannon was the Republican candidate in Utah's 3rd District against Democratic incumbent Bill Orton, who had managed to hold the seat for three terms (all by fairly large margins) despite its heavy Republican tilt. This time, however, the district's partisan lean proved too much for Orton to overcome, and Cannon defeated him by four points. He never faced another general election contest nearly that close, and was reelected five times.[5]
Cannon first entered the national spotlight in 1999, when as a member of the
Cannon was named Chairman of the Commercial and Administrative Law Subcommittee at the beginning of the
Cannon was also a member of the
In 2000, Cannon co-founded the Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine, which has nearly 130 members from both major political parties in 2008.[7]
In January 2001, Cannon hired David Safavian as his chief of staff. Safavian left on May 16, 2002, to take a position at the General Services Administration. Safavian was arrested in September 2005 in connection with the Jack Abramoff corruption case, and was convicted in June 2006 on four felony counts.
In January 2003, Cannon was elected chairman of the influential Western Caucus, an organization of over 50 Congressmen working on resource management issues.[5]
He was a cosponsor of HR 2043, legislation that would provide voting representation for the
Campaigns and challengers
Cannon was one of the most conservative members of the House. He had a lifetime rating of 96 from the American Conservative Union.[9] This is not surprising, as he represented one of the most Republican districts in the nation. President George W. Bush received 77% of the vote in the district in 2004, his second highest percentage for a congressional district not located in Texas. However, during his last three reelection bids, he faced primary challengers running well to his right.
2004
In 2004, Cannon defeated Republican challenger Matt Throckmorton in the primary, getting 58.4% of the vote, in a race in which the major issue dividing the candidates was immigration policy. He then beat Democratic opponent Beau Babka 63%–33% in the November race. Cannon spent more than $600,000 to defeat Throckmorton and Babka. Throckmorton raised $84,000; Babka spent $35,000. The spending imbalance was offset to some extent by immigration reform groups that attacked Cannon through billboards, ads, and websites, though these did not support his Democratic opponent.[10]
2006
Primary
Cannon faced opposition in the primaries from a fellow Republican for the first five times he ran (and won), but his opposition in 2006 seemed potentially stronger. In October 2005, millionaire real estate developer
The Republican primary was held on June 27, 2006. Polls predicted a close race.[13] However, Cannon received 32,306 votes (55.8%) and Jacob received 25,589 votes (44.2%).
General election
Cannon faced Democrat Christian Burridge,[14] a consumer rights attorney and also a graduate of Brigham Young University's Law School, in November, as well as Jim Noorlander (Constitution Party)[15] and Phil Hallman (Libertarian party). In the general election, Cannon received 92,621 votes (58%), Burridge 51,396 (32%), Noorlander 14,116 (9%) and Hallman 1,998 votes (1%).[16] Cannon's 58 percent was somewhat closer than expected, given the heavy Republican tilt of his district.
2008
In 2008, Cannon faced two primary opponents—
In the June 24 runoff primary, Chaffetz beat Cannon by nearly 9,000 votes, 60%–40%, ending Cannon's congressional career. Immigration policy was again a significant issue.[19] Cannon refused to meet with Chaffetz after the election to discuss the Transition.[20]
Controversies
Premium Beef of Nebraska
![]() | This section needs to be updated.(May 2024) |
Cannon's financial disclosure statements showed that he gave a loan of between $50,000 and $100,000 to Gary Ruse, an executive and later president of First National Bank of Nebraska, in September 1996. The following year, the bank made a loan of $250,000 to the Premium Beef of Nebraska company, a
The Premium Beef plant operated for a little more than a year before closing its doors, after the rabbi who oversaw the preparation of the meat died. Cannon's chief of staff, Joe Hunter, said that the assets of the business were liquidated and Cannon repaid the loan to the Nebraska bank in 2001. The plant was sold to a Hasidic Jewish sect that took several years but finally reopened it in 2005. Ruse, who left the bank, was hired as manager for the reopened plant.
Cannon's personal loan to Ruse remains outstanding.[21] Cannon spokesman Charles Isom said that Ruse made a payment on the loan in late 1996 and then payments on the interest in 2000 and 2001. According to Cannon's financial disclosure forms, Cannon collected between $200 and $1,000 in interest on Ruse's loan in 2000 and 2001. He did not collect interest in 2002 or 2003 and had not otherwise received interest payments.[22]
Cannon's office stressed that the congressman made repeated efforts to collect the loan. Cannon's most recent financial disclosure forms show the amount outstanding is still over $50,000.
Lobbying by brother Joe Cannon
Chris Cannon's brother, Joseph Cannon, was chairman of the Utah Republican Party, a former business partner of his brother, and led a team of 10 lobbyists at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, a law and lobbying firm. From late 2006 to 2010, he served as editor of Utah's second-largest daily newspaper, Deseret Morning News (now Deseret News).[23]
Cannon acknowledged helping his brother's clients, pointing out that he had been active on the issue in the past before being approached by his brother. "If my wife decided to lobby, then we would probably say, 'No talking to my office.' I just don't see my brother in the same category," Cannon said.[24]
Cannon had a financial interest in his brother's success: The lobbyist owed him more than $250,000, according to the lawmaker's financial disclosure reports. The debt stems from Joseph Cannon's unsuccessful campaign for the U. S. Senate in 1992.[24] Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonpartisan[25] advocacy organization, named Chris Cannon a "member to watch" on its list of "most corrupt" members of Congress for his dealings with his brother.[26]
Obama autobiography
Cannon offered Hertford College, Oxford philosopher Peter Millican $10,000 to prove that then-presidential candidate Barack Obama's memoir Dreams from My Father was ghostwritten by Bill Ayers by using computer analysis to compare that work to Ayers' Fugitive Days. During the 2008 U.S. presidential election, conservatives attempted to link Obama to Ayers, a former radical leader of the Weather Underground. Regarding the claim that Ayers authored Obama's book, Millican concluded "I feel totally confident that it is false".[27][28]
Electoral history
Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1996
|
Bill Orton | 98,178 | 47% | Chris Cannon | 106,220 | 51% | Amy L. Lassen | Libertarian | 2,341 | 1% | Gerald Slothower | Unaffiliated | 706 | <1% | * | ||||
1998
|
(no candidate) | Chris Cannon | 100,830 | 77% | Will Christensen | Independent American | 20,720 | 16% | Kitty K. Burton | Libertarian | 9,553 | 7% | * | ||||||
2000
|
Donald Dunn | 88,547 | 37% | Chris Cannon | 138,943 | 59% | Michael J. Lehman | Independent American | 5,436 | 2% | Kitty K. Burton | Libertarian | 3,570 | 2% | * | ||||
2002
|
Nancy Jane Woodside | 44,533 | 29% | Chris Cannon | 103,598 | 67% | Kitty K. Burton | Libertarian | 5,511 | 4% | * | ||||||||
2004
|
Beau Babka | 88,748 | 33% | Chris Cannon | 173,010 | 63% | Ronald Winfield | Constitution | 5,089 | 2% | Jim Dexter | Libertarian | 3,691 | 1% | * | ||||
2006
|
Christian Burridge | 53,330 | 32% | Chris Cannon | 95,455 | 58% | Jim Noorlander | Constitution | 14,533 | 9% | Philip L. Hallman | Libertarian | 2,080 | 1% |
References
- ^ "United States Government Manual (1986-1987)". Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
- ^ United States Government Manual (1985-1986)
- ^ "ksl.com – Chaffetz defeats Cannon in Republican primary". Archived from the original on June 26, 2008. Retrieved June 25, 2008.
- ^ Deseret Morning News | Joe Cannon steps down from state GOP post Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e Richardson, Holly (May 9, 2024). "Former Congressman Chris Cannon dies at age 73". Deseret News. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
- ^ "Christopher Cannon Obituary (1950 - 2024) - Provo, UT - Deseret News". Legacy.com.
- ^ Home » Congressional Caucus to Fight and Control Methamphetamine Archived February 3, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "H.R. 2043". Archived from the original on November 26, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2006.
- ^ 2007 House ratings Archived July 31, 2008, at the Wayback Machine from American Conservative Union
- ^ a b Tad Walch, "Cannon gets a challenger" Archived December 10, 2005, at the Wayback Machine, Deseret Morning News, October 11, 2005
- ^ Michael Teitelbau, "UT 3: Immigration, GOP's Thorniest Issue, Takes the Stage in Primary" Archived October 27, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, CQPolitics, June 27, 2006
- ^ "Utah primary an immigration test case" Archived October 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, CNN, June 27, 2006]
- ^ Charles Hurt, "Utah race closes to virtual dead heat" Archived March 12, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Washington Times, June 26, 2006
- ^ travel media shopping computers hardware at burridgeforcongress.com Archived August 25, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "noorlander4congress.com". Archived from the original on December 17, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2006.
- ^ "America Votes: CNN 2006 Mid-Term Election Results". CNN. Archived from the original on December 21, 2006. Retrieved January 21, 2007.
- ^ Republicans: Chaffetz nearly upsets Cannon – Salt Lake Tribune Archived May 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Daily Herald – Cannon almost ousted by GOP rival Archived May 14, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Cannon Ousted In Republican Primary". CBS News. June 25, 2008. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2009.
- ^ [1] Archived December 17, 2012, at archive.today
- Salt Lake Tribune, January 21, 2006
- ^ John Byrne, "Congressman made personal loan to bank president shortly before bank extended him $250,000-plus loan" Archived March 29, 2006, at the Wayback Machine, Raw Story, January 18, 2006
- ^ ""New editor named for the News," Dec. 8, 2006, Deseret Morning News". Deseret News. Archived from the original on March 8, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2008.
- ^ a b Ted Bridis, "Lawmaker Helped Brother's Lobby Clients: Rep. Christopher Cannon of Utah acknowledges helping his brother's lobbying clients", Associated Press, August 17, 2006
- ^ "Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington media kit" Archived August 3, 2012, at archive.today
- ^ "Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT) | Beyond Delay". Archived from the original on August 20, 2007. Retrieved October 4, 2007.
- Salt Lake Tribune, March 11, 2008 (courtesy link to article lede: http://qa.politicswest.com/node/32523/print[permanent dead link])
- ^ Obama book under scrutiny", United Press International, November 2, 2008
- ^ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Archived from the original on July 25, 2007. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
External links
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Beyond Abramoff: Gambling lobbyist joined with anti-gambling congressman, derailed gambling bills John Byrne, Raw Story, September 1, 2005