Pete Domenici
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Pete Domenici | |
| | |
| 1973–Present | |
| Political party: | Republican |
|---|---|
| Preceded by: | Clinton P. Anderson |
| Succeeded by: | Incumbent (2009) |
| Born: | May 7, 1932 Albuquerque, New Mexico |
| Spouse: | Nancy Burk Domenici |
| Religion: | Roman Catholic |
Pietro "Pete" Vichi Domenici (born May 7, 1932) is an American politician, currently serving as a Republican Senator from New Mexico. He has served continuously since 1973, the longest tenure in the state's history. On September 7, 2006, he cast his 13 thousandth vote, joining only seven other Senators who have done the same.
Domenici was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Growing up, he worked in his father's grocery business after school. He graduated in 1950 from St. Mary's High School in Albuquerque. After earning a degree in education at the University of New Mexico in 1954, he pitched for one season for the Albuquerque Dukes, a farm club for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He taught mathematics at Garfield Junior High in Albuquerque. He earned his law degree at the University of Denver in 1958 and returned to practice law in Albuquerque.
After graduating, he married Nancy Burk. Together they have two sons and six daughters (Lisa, Peter, Nella, Clare, David, Nanette, and twins Paula & Helen).
In 1966, Domenici successfully ran for a position on the Albuquerque City Commission and in 1968 was elected Commission Chairman. This position was equivalent to that of "mayor" under the structure of the city government at the time.
Domenici made an unsuccessful bid for governor in 1970. He received 134,640 votes to Democrat Bruce King's 148,835 ballots. Two years later Domenici successfully ran for a position in the U.S. Senate and became the first New Mexico Republican to be elected to the position in 38 years. Domenici polled 204,253 votes (54 percent) to 173,815 (46 percent) for the Democrat Jack Daniels. He was re-elected in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996, and 2002 and is the longest-serving senator in his state's history. He is the outgoing Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (Jeff Bingaman, who is currently the Ranking Member of the committee and the junior senator from New Mexico, will take over chairmanship) and the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. He is also a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate Committee on Budget. Domenici is a very strong advocate for the mentally ill.
Domenici is an avid proponent of nuclear power and has published two books on the subject: "A Brighter Tomorrow: Fulfilling the Promise of Nuclear Energy" (Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2004), which he wrote; and "Advanced Nuclear Technologies - Hearing Before the Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate" (Collingdale, Pennsylvania: D I A N E Publishing Company, 1999), which he edited.
Domenici is the fifth-most senior sitting Senator and second-most senior sitting Republican.
He took part in a one year anniversary of the Energy bill which gave billions of dollars in tax breaks to energy companies. [1]
[edit] See also
- Energy Policy Act of 2005, sponsored by Senator Domenici and Representative Joe Barton
- Monsignor Peter Vaghi, a former staffer of Senator Domenici's, now a Catholic prelate
[edit] References
- Fenno, Richard F., Jr. The Emergence of a Senate Leader: Pete Domenici and the Reagan Budget. Congressional Quarterly Press, 1991. 250 pp.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by: Clinton Presba Anderson | United States Senator (Class 2) from New Mexico 1973– | Succeeded by: Incumbent |
| New Mexico's current delegation to the United States Congress |
|---|
| Senators: Pete Domenici (R), Jeff Bingaman (D)
Representative(s): Heather Wilson (R), Steve Pearce (R), Tom Udall (D) All 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 — American Samoa • District of Columbia • Guam • Puerto Rico • U.S. Virgin Islands |
fr:Pete Domenici pl:Pete Domenici ru:Доменичи, Пит sv:Pete Domenici
