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John Olver
John Walter Olver (b. September 3, 1936) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Olver served the 1st Congressional District of Massachusetts from 1991 to 2013.
On October 26, 2011, Olver announced he would not seek re-election in 2012.[1]
Based on an analysis of bill sponsorship by GovTrack, Olver was a "moderate Democratic follower."[2]
Olver passed away on February 23, 2023.[3]
Biography
Olver was born in Honesdale, PA, where he grew up on a farm. He earned his B.A. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, an M.A. from Tufts University, and his Ph.D. in chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.[4]
Career
Prior to becoming an elected official, Olver was a professor of chemistry at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.[5]
- United States House of Representatives, 1991-2013
- Massachusetts State Senate, 1972-1991
- Massachusetts House of Representatives, 1968-1972
- Professor, Chemistry, University of Massachusetts, 1961-1969
- Professor, Franklin Technical Institute, 1956-1958
Committee assignments
U.S. House
2011-2012
Olver served on the following committees and subcommittees:[6]
- Appropriations Committee
- Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
- Subcommittee on Energy and Water
- Subcommittee on Homeland Security
Issues
Earmarks
A Washington Post investigation in February 2012 revealed that 33 members of Congress helped direct more than $300 million in earmarks to public projects in close proximity to commercial and residential real estate owned by the lawmakers or their family members.[7] According to the report, Olver secured $5.1 million in earmarks for a road project and intersection near Hampshire College. The project begins 209 feet from the congressman's 15-acre home and several adjoining parcels he owns with his wife.[8]
Specific votes
Fiscal Cliff
Olver voted 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. He was one of 172 Democrats who voted in favor of the bill. The bill was passed in the House by a 257 - 167 vote on January 1, 2013.[9]
Elections
2012
With Massachusetts losing a U.S. House seat due to the updated 2010 census, two of the 10 incumbents were drawn into the same district. Olver did not run for re-election in 2012.[10]
2010
On November 2, 2010, John Olver won re-election to the United States House. He defeated William L. Gunn, Jr. (R) and Michael Engel (I) in the general election.[11]
| U.S. House, Massachusetts District 1 General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  John Olver incumbent |
60% | 128,011 | |
| Republican | William L. Gunn, Jr. | 34.9% | 74,418 | |
| Independent | Michael Engel | 5.1% | 10,880 | |
| N/A | All Others | 0% | 55 | |
| Total Votes | 213,364 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, John Olver won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Nathan A. Bech (R) in the general election.[12]
| U.S. House, Massachusetts District 1 General Election, 2008 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | John Olver incumbent |
69.7% | 215,696 | |
| Republican | Nathan A. Bech | 25.9% | 80,067 | |
| N/A | Blank/Scattering | 0.1% | 336 | |
| N/A | All Others | 4.4% | 13,518 | |
| Total Votes | 309,617 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Ballotpedia currently provides campaign finance data for all federal- and state-level candidates from 2020 and later. We are continuously working to expand our data to include prior elections. That information will be published here as we acquire it. If you would like to help us provide this data, please consider donating to Ballotpedia.
Personal Gain Index
- See also: Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress)
- See also: Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress)
The Personal Gain Index (U.S. Congress) is a two-part measurement that illustrates the extent to which members of the U.S. Congress have prospered during their tenure as public servants.
It consists of two different metrics:
PGI: Change in net worth
Between 2004 and 2012, Olver's calculated net worth[13] increased by an average of 40 percent per year. Between 2004 and 2012, the average annual percentage increase for a member of Congress was 15.4 percent.[14]
| John Olver Yearly Net Worth | |
|---|---|
| Year | Average Net Worth |
| 2004 | $836,220 |
| 2012 | $3,484,514 |
| Growth from 2004 to 2012: | 317% |
| Average annual growth: | 40%[15] |
| Comparatively, the American citizen experienced a median yearly decline in net worth of -0.94%.[16] | |
The data used to calculate changes in net worth may include changes resulting from assets gained through marriage, inheritance, changes in family estates and/or trusts, changes in family business ownership, and many other variables unrelated to a member's behavior in Congress.
Analysis
Congressional staff salaries
The website Legistorm compiles staff salary information for members of Congress. Olver paid his congressional staff a total of $1,083,458 in 2011. He ranked 63rd on the list of the highest paid Democratic representative staff salaries and ranked 82nd overall of the highest paid representative staff salaries in 2011. Overall, Massachusetts ranked 2nd in average salary for representative staff. The average U.S. House of Representatives congressional staff was paid $954,912.20 in fiscal year 2011.[17]
Net worth
2011
Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Olver's net worth as of 2011 was estimated between $2,035,029 and $4,700,000 . This averages to $3,367,514 , which is a 2.008 % increase since 2010. This is lower than the 5,107,874.16 average net worth for Republican representatives in 2011.[18]
2010
Based on congressional financial disclosure forms and calculations made available by OpenSecrets.org, Olver's net worth as of 2010 was estimated between $604,018 and $1,635,000. That averages to $1,119,509, which is lower than the average net worth of Democratic representatives in 2010 of $4,465,875.[19]
Political positions
National Journal vote ratings
Each year, National Journal publishes an analysis of how liberally or conservatively each member of Congress voted, as compared to other members, in the previous year. More information about the analysis process can be found on the vote ratings page.
2012
According to the data released in 2013, Olver was ranked one of the in the liberal rankings in 2012. There are thirteen other representatives who share this ranking, making this the highest ranking held by a representative of Massachusetts in 2012.[20]
2011
According to the data released in 2012, John Olver ranked most liberal representative during 2011, both in Massachusetts and America. This is a position that he shares with 18 others.[21]
Voting with party
November 2011
Olver voted with the Democratic Party 93.9 percent of the time, which ranked 47th among the 192 House Democratic members as of November 2011.[22]
Personal
Olver was married to Rose. They had one child. He lived in Amherst, Massachusetts.[23]
External links
- Social media:
- Biographies:
- Political profiles:
- Financial (federal level):
- Interest group ratings:
- Issue positions:
- Public statements:
- Voting record:
- Media appearances:
- Media coverage:
Footnotes
- ↑ Politico, "Olver's exit averts intraparty fight," October 26, 2011
- ↑ GovTrack, "Olver" accessed May 22, 2012
- ↑ WBUR, "John Olver, former Democratic US representative, dies at 86," February 25, 2023
- ↑ John Olver U.S. House website, "About John," accessed November 18, 2011
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography of John Olver," accessed November 18, 2011
- ↑ Official Olver House Website, "Committees and Caucuses," accessed August 31, 2011
- ↑ Washington Post, "Congressional earmarks sometimes used to fund projects near lawmakers' properties," February 6, 2012
- ↑ Washington Post, "Mapping the earmarks," February 6, 2012
- ↑ U.S. House, "Roll Call Vote on the Fiscal Cliff," accessed January 4, 2013
- ↑ Berkshire Eagle, "Berkshires may lose rural voice with Olver's retirement," October 28, 2011
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ This figure represents the total percentage growth from either 2004 (if the member entered office in 2004 or earlier) or the member's first year in office (as noted in the chart below).
- ↑ This number was found by dividing each member's total net worth growth percentage by the number of years included in the calculation.
- ↑ This figure represents the total percentage growth divided by the number of years for which there are net worth figures for each member.
- ↑ This figure was calculated using median asset data from the Census Bureau. Please see the Congressional Net Worth data for Ballotpedia spreadsheet for more information on this calculation.
- ↑ LegiStorm, "John Olver"
- ↑ OpenSecrets, "Olver, (D-Massachusetts), 2010"
- ↑ OpenSecrets, "Olver, (D-Massachusetts), 2010"
- ↑ National Journal, "TABLE: House Liberal Scores by Issue Area," February 26, 2013
- ↑ National Journal, "Searchable Vote Ratings Tables: House," accessed February 23, 2012
- ↑ OpenCongress, "Voting With Party," accessed July 2014
- ↑ John Olver Campaign Website, "About," accessed November 18, 2011
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Silvio Conte |
U.S. House of Representatives - Massachusetts, District 1 1991-2013 |
Succeeded by Richard Neal |
| Preceded by ' |
Massachusetts State Senate 1973-1991 |
Succeeded by ' |
| Preceded by ' |
Massachusetts House of Representatives 1969-1973 |
Succeeded by ' |
