Melissa Bean

Melissa Bean (born January 22, 1962) is an American politician from Barrington, Illinois who was recently elected a member of the United States House of Representatives. Bean is a Democrat, representing Illinois' 8th Congressional district in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago (map). She lives with her husband and two children. She is president of a consulting firm whose clients include several Fortune 1000 companies.

Related Topics:
January 22 - 1962 - American - Politician - Barrington, Illinois - United States House of Representatives - Democrat - Congressional district - Chicago

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In 2002, Bean ran against 33-year 8th District Republican incumbent Phil Crane, losing with 43%--a stunning total since she received almost no funding from the national party. The 8th had long been considered the most Republican district in the Chicago area, and according to some in all of Illinois.

Related Topics:
Republican - Phil Crane

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In the 2004 campaign cycle, the Bean campaign raised almost as much money as the Crane campaign, mostly from individual donors, as opposed to Crane, most of whose money came from political action committees. Bean's campaign gained traction with charges that Crane, once a leader of conservative forces in the House, had become a "do-nothing" Congressman, and by focusing attention on lobbyist-funded trips that he had taken. On November 2, 2004, Bean defeated Crane with 52% of the vote to become the first Democrat to represent the 8th District since its creation in 1935.

Related Topics:
2004 campaign cycle - Political action committee - Conservative - Lobbyist - November 2 - 2004 - 1935

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The seat has been targeted by Republicans as vulnerable to takeover, due to Bean's freshman status and the fact it still went heavily for George W. Bush in the presidential election; if she is reelected in 2006, her position will be in much less jeopardy. Among the Republican hopefuls who announced are David McSweeney, Teresa Bartels, and Kathy Salvi, wife of former Senate and Illinois secretary of state candidate Al Salvi.

Related Topics:
George W. Bush - David McSweeney - Teresa Bartels - Kathy Salvi - Al Salvi

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Bean's voting record has been a matter of controversy to some Democrats, particularly her being one of only fifteen Democrats to vote for passage of CAFTA. Organized labor had been an important part of her 2004 victory. Before the final vote, some labor unions sent a letter to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi warning they would not offer any support to Bean if she supported CAFTA.

Related Topics:
CAFTA - Nancy Pelosi

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