John Salazar

John Tony Salazar (born July 21, 1953) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 2005 until 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he was appointed Commissioner of the Colorado Department of Agriculture in the Cabinet of Governor John Hickenlooper in 2011, following his electoral defeat in 2010. Salazar announced his retirement as Agriculture Commissioner in November 2014.

Early life, education and career Salazar was born in Alamosa, Colorado, the son of Emma M. (Montoya) and Henry (Enrique) S. Salazar. His younger brother is former Senator Ken Salazar.

Salazar served in the U.S. Army from 1973 to 1976, and is a farmer and rancher.

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.

U.S. House of Representatives Committee assignments Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming

Political positions Salazar was concerned with water rights in particular. He said his top priority on Capitol Hill was to ensure that water derived from the snow melt of Colorado's Western Slope would stay in his district instead of being sent to California or Nevada.

Though a Democrat, he exhibited conservative leanings. He opposed expanding gun control and supported permanent repeal of the inheritance tax and lower taxes. leading him to oppose Democratic priority measures such as the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and the American Clean Energy and Security Act in 2009. During consideration of the Affordable Care Act, he voted in favor of the Stupak Amendment restricting federal funding of elective abortions. However, he also voted for the Senate version of the health care bill lacking the Stupak Amendment language.

As a veteran, a son of a veteran, and father of a child serving in the Colorado National Guard as of 2004, Salazar was also vocal against cuts to veterans' benefits. Salazar introduced the Stolen 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.

Political campaigns 2004

Salazar was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2004. 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. In a year when Republicans made gains, John Salazar was only one of three Democratic pick-up seats in the House of Representatives.

2006

John Salazar was re-elected in 2006 after his first term in Congress defeating Republican Scott Tipton. 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. Salazar had campaigned as a moderate, middle of the road candidate, with the opinion polls having shown him ahead in the election. Salazar had a massive fundraising advantage over Wolf who only had about $16,000 for the campaign. |Year |Democrat |Votes |Pct |Republican |Votes |Pct |3rd Party |Party |Votes |Pct |3rd Party |Party |Votes |Pct 2004 |

|50.9% |

|46.9% |Jim Krug |Independent

|* 2006 |

|61.6% |

|36.5% |Bert Sargent |Libertarian

|Bruce Lohmiller |Green (Write-in)

2008 |

|61.4% |

|38.6% 2010 |

|45.8% |

|50.1% Personal life Salazar is married to Mary Lou Salazar and has three children: Esteban, Miguel and Jesus. They live in Manassa, Colorado.

Salazar's younger brother, Ken Salazar, is a former United States Senator from Colorado and the former Secretary of the Interior appointed by President Barack Obama.