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Aaron Schock

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Aaron Schock
File:AaronSchock.jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 18th congressional district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 6, 2009
Preceded byRay LaHood
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 92nd district
In office
2005–2009
Preceded byRicca Slone
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
Spousenone
ResidencePeoria, Illinois
Alma materBradley University
Occupationpolitical assistant

Aaron Schock (born May 28, 1981) is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the 18th district of Illinois.

Prior to his election, Schock was a school board member in Illinois and later president of the board. Schock was claimed to be the youngest member of a school board in United States history. Schock was the youngest member of the Illinois House of Representatives and has assumed this position again as the youngest member of the U.S. House in the 111th Congress. Schock is also the first member of the United States Congress born in the Reagan era.

Earlier years

Schock was born in Morris, Minnesota and lived nearby until fifth grade. His father was a physician in Morris.[2] The family eventually moved to Peoria, Illinois.[citation needed] According to the Washington Post, Schock grew up on a farm with his brother and two sisters.[1] He graduated from Peoria's Richwoods High School.[citation needed]

In 2001, Schock was elected a member of the Peoria Public Schools District 150 school board at the age of 19, making him the youngest person serving on a school board in Illinois.[1][2] As a write-in candidate, he defeated the incumbent school board president, Rhonda Hunt.[4] After two years on the board, his fellow board members elected him vice president of the board, and a year later, unanimously elected him school board president, making him, at 23, the youngest school board president in history, according to his campaign web site.[4]

Schock received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Bradley University in 2002, earning a four year degree in only two years.[1][4]

At the age of 22, Schock ran for state representative in his district and defeated Ricca Slone, an eight-year incumbent Democrat, making him the youngest member of the Illinois House of Representatives.[2][4] In his first five months in office, Representative Aaron Schock was able to work 11 of the bills he authored to passage, and got 18 bills he sponsored passed since taking office. These bills dealt with a series of education reforms, several child protection initiatives, prescription drug savings, veterans' assistance, road construction, and a bill to combat high-tech identity theft, the first of its kind in the nation.[citation needed]

2008 Congressional campaign

Schock, who succeeded retiring incumbent Republican Congressman Ray LaHood, defeated Democrat Colleen Callahan and Green Party candidate Sheldon Schafer in the 2008 general election. The head of the Illinois Republican Party cited Schock's ability to win despite Illinois' Barack Obama riding to victory on the same ballot and the state Republican party receiving no financial support from the national party.[5]

In his speech announcing his candidacy for Congress, Schock suggested that the U.S. sell nuclear weapons to Taiwan if the People's Republic of China failed to follow U.S. policy in Iran,[6] saying "Non-proliferation will either be enforced universally or not at all — it is their choice. The Chinese will come around, I have no doubt."[7] He later rescinded his statement.[6]

Schock easily won the Republican primary in February 2008, with 72% of the vote, beating his opponents Jim McConoughey (16%) and John Morris (12%).[8][9]

Schock drew mixed reaction in late July 2008 when he brought George W. Bush to Peoria to raise money for the congressional campaign. The city of Peoria provided 38 police officers, 30 city trucks for temporary security barriers, and a number of firefighters, spending $38,252 to facilitate the visit, even though it was a private, paid-admission fundraiser. When requests to compensate the city increased, Schock called it "obviously a political move" and compared the issue to Barack Obama's endorsement of another state senator on the courthouse steps a few years before, which the city did not request compensation for.[10] A city councilman cited an ordinance against political activity by the city, but the mayor of Peoria said the ordinance didn't apply, and also called the requests "political rhetoric". Schock later said he would reimburse the city voluntarily, referring to payment for presidential protection as "unprecedented".[11]

Schock won the November 4 general election with 59% of the vote[12] Upon taking his Congressional seat, he became the youngest member of Congress, suppplanting 33-year-old Patrick T. McHenry of North Carolina.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Aaron Schock (R)". Washington Post. The Washington Post Company. 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-07. Note that the Post article also claims Schock was "born in Peoria".
  2. ^ a b c d "Election '08 In Review: Former Morris resident becomes youngest U.S. House Representative". Morris Sun Tribune. Morris, Minnesota: Forum Communications Company. 2008-11-08. Archived from the original on 2008-11-19. Retrieved 2008-12-25. Schock was born in Morris and lived in the area until the fifth grade. His father is Dr. Rich Schock, who practiced at Stevens Community Medical Center. Schock still has family in the Morris area, including his grandfather, Albert Joos, of Hancock.
  3. ^ "Aaron's Story". Aaron Schock for Congress. Schock for Congress. 2008-02-02. p. 4. Retrieved 2008-10-21. Aaron Schock is an active member of Bethany Baptist Church in Peoria.
  4. ^ a b c d "Biography". Aaron Schock for Congress. Schock for Congress. 2007-12-12. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
  5. ^ McDonald, Karen (2008-11-05 20:07 CST). "Schock could be next 'poster child' for GOP, LaHood says". Peoria Journal Star. Peoria, Illinois. Retrieved 2008-11-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ a b Riopell, Mike (2008-10-04). "Shock, Callahan hope to show differences in debate". The Pantagraph. Bloomington, Illinois.
  7. ^ "Aaron Schock, Fighting Non-proliferation with Proliferation" (2007-11-08), using the The State Journal-Register as its source. Retrieved on 2008-10-21.
  8. ^ "Illinois Primary Results". National Republican Congressional Committee. 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  9. ^ McDonald, Karen (2008-02-06). "Schock claims victory". Peoria Journal Star. Peoria, Illinois. Archived from the original on 2008-02-06. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  10. ^ "Talking Point for Sept. 26: Aaron Schock says demanding repayment of an estimated $38,000 in city costs for President George W. Bush's visit is just politics". Peoria Journal Star. Peoria, Illinois. 2008-09-25. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  11. ^ Sampier, Kevin (2008-09-30). "Schock to repay city for costs of Bush visit". Peoria Journal Star. Peoria, Illinois. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  12. ^ "Elections". WEEK News 25 website. Granite Broadcasting. 2008-11-05. Retrieved 2008-11-05. 100% of precincts reporting. Unframed data at [1].
  13. ^ McDonald, Karen (2008-11-05 16:39 CST). "Schock rolls in 18th Congressional District". Peoria Journal Star. Peoria, Illinois. p. A1. Retrieved 2008-11-06. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 18th congressional district
2009–Present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent

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