Pete Stark
Pete Stark (November 11, 1931 - January 24, 2020) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House representing California's 13th Congressional District from 1973 to 2013. Stark died of leukemia on January 24, 2020.[1]
Stark ran for re-election in the 2012 election for the U.S. House, representing California's 15th District as a Democrat, but was defeated by fellow Democrat Eric Swalwell in the November election.[2] He was displaced from his pre-2012 district by redistricting.[3]
Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Stark was a "far-left Democrat."[4]
Career
Below is an abbreviated outline of Stark's academic, professional, and political career:[5]
- 1953: Graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology with B.S.
- 1960: Graduated from University of California, Berkeley with M.B.A.
- 1955-1957: United States Air Force
- 1973-2013: U.S. Representative from California
Committee assignments
U.S. House
2011-2012
- Joint Taxation Committee
- Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support
- Ways and Means Committee
- Subcommittee on Health, Ranking Member
- Subcommittee on Social Security
Campaign themes
2012
Stark's campaign website listed the following issues:[6]
- Fighting for Healthcare for All
- Excerpt: "As Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, Pete was a key architect of the Affordable Care Act that was signed into law in 2010 — legislation that will finally guarantee affordable, quality health care to all Americans. It will extend coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans, create a fair marketplace where consumers can shop for affordable coverage based on their ability to pay, and enforce rules on insurance company behavior so that people can get the benefits they need at a price they can afford."
- Standing Up for Seniors
- Excerpt: "Pete has consistently voted to protect and improve Social Security and Medicare. He has been a leading opponent of Republican efforts to privatize these vital programs. In recognition of his commitment to protecting seniors, he receives top ratings from senior advocacy organizations like the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and the Alliance for Retired Americans."
- Growing our Economy and Creating Jobs
- Excerpt: "To help pull our economy out of the Bush recession, Pete voted in favor of the 2009 stimulus bill (The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act). This bill brought over $2.7 Billion to Alameda County. Pete helped author a provision in that bill that created a temporary subsidy program to make COBRA health insurance continuation coverage more affordable for people trying to maintain their families’ health insurance while between jobs."
- Ensuring Quality Public Education
- Excerpt: "From childcare for our youngest children, to public education, after school programs and college, Pete believes every child in America deserves a high quality education that promotes their cognitive, social and emotional development."
- Advancing Civil Rights
- Excerpt: "Pete authored the first piece of federal legislation in history to end discrimination against LGBT individuals and couples seeking to adopt children. The bipartisan Every Child Deserves a Family Act has garnered nearly 100 co-sponsors."
Specific votes
Fiscal Cliff
Stark did not cast a vote for the fiscal cliff compromise bill, which made permanent most of the Bush tax cuts originally passed in 2001 and 2003 while also raising tax rates on the highest income levels. The bill was passed in the House by a 257 - 167 vote on January 1, 2013.[7]
Elections
2012
Stark lost his re-election bid[2] in the 2012 election for the U.S. House, representing California's 15th District as a Democrat. He was displaced from the 13th District by redistricting. He and Eric Swalwell (D) advanced past the blanket primary on June 5, 2012, defeating Christopher Pareja (Ind). They faced off in the general election on November 6, 2012.[8][9]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Eric Swalwell |
52.1% | 120,388 | |
| Democratic | Pete Stark Incumbent | 47.9% | 110,646 | |
| Total Votes | 231,034 | |||
| Source: California Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election" | ||||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Pete Stark (D) Incumbent |
42.1% | 39,943 |
| Eric Swalwell (D) |
36.2% | 34,347 |
| Christopher Pareja (NPP) | 21.7% | 20,618 |
| Total Votes | 94,908 | |
2010
On November 2, 2010, Stark won re-election to the United States House. He advanced past the blanket primary on June 5, 2012, defeating Forest Baker in the general election.[10]
| U.S. House, California District 13 General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Pete Stark Incumbent |
72.2% | 118,278 | |
| Republican | Forest Baker | 27.8% | 45,575 | |
| Total Votes | 163,853 | |||
Campaign finance summary
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Analysis
Congressional staff salaries
The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Stark paid his congressional staff a total of $1,061,470 in 2011. He ranked 109th on the list of the lowest paid Democratic representative staff salaries and ranked 104th overall of the highest paid representative staff salaries in 2011. Overall, California ranked 5th in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.[11]
Net worth
Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Stark's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $-19,177,982 and $27,104,997. That averages to $3,963,507.50, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic representatives in 2010 of $4,465,875.[12]
National Journal vote ratings
- See also: National Journal vote ratings
2012
Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Stark is 1 of 14 members of congress who ranked 1st in the liberal rankings in 2012.[13]
2011
Each year National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted in the previous year. Stark is 1 of 19 members of congress who ranked 1st in the liberal rankings in 2011.[14]
Political positions
Voting with party
November 2011
Stark voted with the Democratic Party 92.4 percent of the time, which ranked 105 among the 192 House Democratic members as of 2011.[15]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Stark and his wife, Deborah, had seven children together.
External links
- Biographies:
- Political profiles:
- Financial (federal level):
- Interest group ratings:
- Issue positions:
- Public statements:
- Voting record:
- Media appearances:
- Media coverage:
Footnotes
- ↑ Washington Post, "Pete Stark, fiery California congressman and advocate of universal health care, dies at 88," January 26, 2020
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 CNN, "California Districts Race - 2012 Election Center," accessed December 1, 2012
- ↑ California Democratic Party, "Official California Democratic Party Endorsements," accessed March 3, 2012
- ↑ GovTrack, "Stark" accessed May 24, 2012
- ↑ Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "Fortney Hillman (Pete), Stark Jr.," accessed November 3, 2011
- ↑ Campaign website, Issues
- ↑ U.S. House, "Roll Call Vote on the Fiscal Cliff," accessed January 4, 2013
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed March 13, 2014
- ↑ California Secretary of State, "Unofficial election results," November 6, 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ LegiStorm, "Pete Stark"
- ↑ OpenSecrets, "Stark, (D-Cali), 2010"
- ↑ National Journal, "2012 Congressional Vote Ratings," February 21, 2013
- ↑ National Journal, "Searchable Vote Ratings Tables: House," accessed February 23, 2012
- ↑ OpenCongress, "Voting With Party," accessed July 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Norman Yoshio Mineta |
U.S. House - California District 13 1973-2013 |
Succeeded by Barbara Lee |
