John Salazar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Agriculture Commissioner of Colorado | |
| In office January 6, 2011 – December 31, 2014 | |
| Governor | John Hickenlooper |
| Preceded by | John Stulp |
| Succeeded by | Don Brown |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromColorado's3rd district | |
| In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Scott McInnis |
| Succeeded by | Scott Tipton |
| Member of theColorado House of Representatives from the 62nd district | |
| In office January 8, 2003 – January 3, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Glenn Scott |
| Succeeded by | Rafael Lopez Gallegos |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Tony Salazar (1953-07-21)July 21, 1953 (age 72) Alamosa, Colorado, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mary Lou Salazar |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Ken Salazar (brother) |
| Education | Adams State University (BS) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1973–1976 |
| Unit | Army Criminal Investigation Division |
John Tony Salazar (born July 21, 1953) is an American politician who served as theU.S. representative forColorado's 3rd congressional district from 2005 until 2011. A member of theDemocratic Party, he was appointed Commissioner of theColorado Department of Agriculture in the Cabinet of GovernorJohn Hickenlooper in 2011, following his electoral defeat in2010. Salazar announced his retirement as Agriculture Commissioner in November 2014.[1][2]
Salazar was born inAlamosa, Colorado, the son of Emma M. (Montoya) and Henry (Enrique) S. Salazar.[3][4] His younger brother is former SenatorKen Salazar.
Salazar served in theU.S. Army from 1973 to 1976, and is a farmer and rancher.[5] His formal education includes aBachelor of Science degree inbusiness administration fromAdams State College in 1981. Salazar was the owner of an internet company, Spudseed.com, which marketed potatoes, as well as serving as adirector of Monte Vista Production Credit Union and Agro Engineering, Inc.[6]
Salazar served on several Colorado public bodies including the Governor's Economic Development Advisory Board, the Rio Grande Water Conservation District and the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Forum.[6] He also served on the Colorado Agricultural Commission from 1999 to 2002 before being elected to theColorado House of Representatives from 2003 until 2004.[7]
Salazar was concerned withwater rights in particular.[8] He said his top priority onCapitol Hill was to ensure that water derived from the snow melt ofColorado's Western Slope would stay in his district instead of being sent toCalifornia orNevada.
Though a Democrat, he exhibitedconservative leanings. He opposed expandinggun control and supported permanent repeal of theinheritance tax and lower taxes.[8] He also supports allowing Americans to buy cheaper prescription drugs fromCanada. He was a member of the conservativeBlue Dog Democrats,[9] leading him to oppose Democratic priority measures such as theEmergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and theAmerican Clean Energy and Security Act in 2009.[10][11] During consideration of theAffordable Care Act, he voted in favor of theStupak Amendment restricting federal funding of elective abortions. However, he also voted for the Senate version of the health care bill lacking theStupak Amendment language.[12]
As a veteran, a son of a veteran, and father of a child serving in theColorado National Guard as of 2004, Salazar was also vocal against cuts to veterans' benefits. Salazar introduced theStolen Valor Act of 2005, designed to protect the integrity of medals, to the House of Representatives, which he has cited as his best achievement in politics.[5]
Salazar was considered for the post ofSecretary of Agriculture byBarack Obama butTom Vilsack was chosen instead.[13][14]
Salazar was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2004.[6] His election to succeed retiringRepublicanScott McInnis was one of the most contested House elections of the year.[6] Salazar defeated Greg Walcher who had attacked Salazar as being soft onillegal immigration,[6][15] while Salazar criticised Walcher for his previous support of a failed 2003 referendum which he said would have diverted water from the district, an important issue in western Colorado.[15][16] In a year when Republicans made gains, John Salazar was only one of three Democratic pick-up seats in the House of Representatives.[17]
John Salazar was re-elected in 2006 after his first term in Congress defeating Republican Scott Tipton.[18] John Salazar raised almost three times as much money as Tipton and won over 60% of the vote, including more Republican areas of the district.[19] Salazar had campaigned as a moderate, middle of the road candidate, with theopinion polls having shown him ahead in the election.[19]
Salazar won in 2008 with a similar margin as 2006 defeating rancher andcounty commissioner Wayne Wolf.[20] Salazar had a massive fundraising advantage over Wolf who only had about $16,000 for the campaign.[20]
Salazar was defeated for re-election by RepublicanScott Tipton. Tipton had unsuccessfully challenged Salazar in 2006. Libertarian Gregory Gilman and Independent Jake Segrest were also on the ballot; Independents John W. Hargis, Sr. and James Fritz qualified as write-in candidates.
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | John Salazar | 153,500 | 50.9% | Greg Walcher | 141,376 | 46.9% | Jim Krug | Independent | 6,770 | 2.2% | * | ||||||||
| 2006 | John Salazar | 146,488 | 61.6% | Scott Tipton | 86,930 | 36.5% | Bert Sargent | Libertarian | 4,417 | 1.9% | Bruce Lohmiller | Green (Write-in) | 23 | 0.01% | |||||
| 2008 | John Salazar | 196,214 | 61.4% | Wayne Wolf | 123,346 | 38.6% | |||||||||||||
| 2010 | John Salazar | 118,048 | 45.8% | Scott Tipton | 129,257 | 50.1% |
Salazar is married to Mary Lou Salazar and has three children: Esteban, Miguel and Jesus.[5] They live inManassa, Colorado.
Salazar's younger brother,Ken Salazar, is a formerUnited States Senator from Colorado and the formerSecretary of the Interior appointed by President Barack Obama.
John Salazar is briefly mentioned at the very beginning of the video gameOutlast, on the radio of the protagonist's vehicle.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromColorado's 3rd congressional district 2005–2011 | Succeeded by |
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| Preceded by John Stulp | Agriculture Commissioner of Colorado 2011–2014 | Succeeded by Don Brown |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
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