George Radanovich

George Radanovich
File:Radanovich george.jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 19th district
In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Richard Lehman
Succeeded by	Jeff Denham
Personal details
Born	George Purdy Radanovich (1955-06-20) June 20, 1955 Mariposa, California, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Ethie Radanovich (Deceased)
Children	King
Alma mater	California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Religion	Roman Catholicism

George Purdy Radanovich (born June 20, 1955) is a former U.S. Representative for California's 19th congressional district, serving from 1995 to 2011. The district includes most of northern Fresno, as well as several rural areas northeast of the city. On December 29, 2009, Radanovich announced he would not seek reelection in 2010. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Background

Radanovich was born in Mariposa, California to a Roman Catholic family of Croatian extraction. He was educated at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. After college, he performed a variety of jobs, including work as a banker, substitute teacher, and construction worker.

Radanovich began growing grapes in his native Mariposa County in 1982, after observing a microclimate in the area suitable for their growth. In 1986, he opened the Radanovich Winery, the first winery in the region. He was a member of the Mariposa County board of supervisors from 1988 to 1992, serving as chairman in 1991. He first ran for Congress in 1992 after his home in Mariposa was shifted to the 19th District, and lost in the Republican primary to Fresno businessman Tal Cloud.

1994 Election

Radanovich defeated Michael Der Manouel Jr and Ron Gulke in the Republican primary in 1994. It was a spirited race in which Radanovich and Der Manouel exchanged barbs.

In the general election, Radanovich faced six-term incumbent Democrat Richard H. Lehman in the following November election. Lehman had only defeated Cloud by 1,100 votes in the previous election cycle, and speculation had abounded that the 19th would not stay Democratic for long. Radanovich defeated Lehman by a shocking 17-point margin (56 percent to Lehman's 39 percent). It was one of the largest margins of defeat for an incumbent in a cycle that saw many tenured Democrats lose their seats.

2006 Election

He ran against Chemical Engineer T. J. Cox, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary. Cox was arguably Radanovich's most serious and well-funded challenger since his 1994 election. However, Michael Der Manouel Jr. commented on Cox's chances for election by saying, "Cox could spend $10 million and Nancy Pelosi could spend another $10 million and Congressman Radanovich wouldn't lose." Radanovich was reelected with 60% of the vote in 2006 and was unopposed for reelection in 2008 in what is now considered one of the most Republican districts in California.

Votes and positions

As is typical of most Republicans elected in 1994, Radanovich's voting record is strongly conservative. He was president of the Republican freshman class of 1994, has signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, and is a member of the Republican Study Committee.

• October 6, 2005: Voted for the Department of Homeland Security.
• December 14, 2005: Voted to reauthorize the Patriot Act.
• June 16, 2006: Voted to reject timetables for withdrawal from Iraq.
• September 29, 2008: Voted for the "Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008" (Paulson Bailout Bill).

Committee assignments

• Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet
  • Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

Caucuses

• Water Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Congressional Wine Caucus (Co-Chair)
• Congressional Croatian Caucus (Co-Chair)

Family

He was married to Ethie Weaver Radanovich from November 1996 until her death from ovarian cancer on February 4, 2010. They have one son, King (born 1998).

External links

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile at SourceWatch
• Appearances on C-SPAN
• Jim Boren, The Fresno Bee, Published on May 25, 1994, Page B3, Article 8
• Is Radanovich vulnerable? Jim Boren, The Fresno Bee, February 18, 2006

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Richard Lehman	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 19th congressional district 1995–2011	Succeeded by Jeff Denham