Preceded by Mark Schauer Succeeded by Doug Spade Spouse Susan Walberg (m. 1974) Preceded by Kevin Fisher Role U.S. Representative | Succeeded by Mark Schauer Name Tim Walberg Preceded by Joe Schwarz Political party Republican | |
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Born April 12, 1951 (age 73)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S. ( 1951-04-12 ) Office Representative (R-MI 7th District) since 2011 Previous office Representative (MI 7th District) 2007–2009 Children Caleb Walberg, Matthew Walberg, Heidi Walberg Education Wheaton College (1978), Taylor University (1975) Similar People Mark Schauer, Candice Miller, Fred Upton, Dale Kildee, Sander Levin Profiles | ||
Video u s rep tim walberg gives vicotry speech on election night
Timothy Lee Walberg (born April 12, 1951) is an American politician and former pastor. A Republican, he has served as the U.S. Representative for Michigan's 7th congressional district since 2011. He previously represented the district from 2007-09.
Contents
- Video u s rep tim walberg gives vicotry speech on election night
- Rep tim walberg on gun control
- Early life education and early career
- Michigan legislature
- Elections
- Tenure
- Committee assignments
- Electoral history
- Personal life
- References
Rep tim walberg on gun control
Early life, education, and early career
Walberg was born and educated in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Alice Ann and John A. Walberg. His paternal grandparents were Swedish. He left a post-high school position with the U.S. Forest Service to pursue higher education. At one point working in a steel mill to help pay tuition, he studied forestry at Western Illinois University and attended Moody Bible Institute, and completed his degree in 1975, when he earned a B.A. in religious education from Taylor University. By then Walberg was half-way through a four-year stint as a pastor at Grace Fellowship Church in New Haven, Indiana, which concluded when he enrolled in the Wheaton College graduate school. After receiving an M.A. in communications in 1978, Walberg and his young family relocated to Tipton, Michigan, where he led services at Union Gospel Church. He resigned his pastorship in 1982 in preparation for a successful bid for the Michigan House of Representatives.
Michigan legislature
Walberg served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1983 to 1998. He was succeeded by Doug Spade and the seat is currently held by Dudley Spade, both Democrats. Walberg also spent time as a pastor and as a division manager for the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois while continuing to live in Michigan.
Elections
After six years out of politics, Walberg ran in a field of six candidates in the 2004 Republican primary for the 7th District after six-term incumbent Nick Smith retired. Walberg finished third in the primary. State Senator Joe Schwarz won the primary and went on to win the general election.
Walberg faced a rematch with incumbent Joe Schwarz in the 2006 Republican primary. Walberg defeated Schwarz in the primary.
In the general election, Walberg defeated Democrat Sharon Renier 50%–46%.
In 2007, there was a failed recall effort against Walberg.
Entering the 2008 race, Walberg was identified by Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman Chris Van Hollen as one of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents in Congress. On August 23, 2007, State Senate Minority Leader Mark Schauer announced he would challenge Walberg in the 2008 election. The prior occupant of the seat, Joe Schwarz, who was defeated by Walberg in the 2006 Republican primary, declined to run himself but on September 30 endorsed Schauer.
Schauer narrowly defeated Walberg in the November 2008 election, winning by a margin of 49% to 47%. Between the two candidates, around $3.5 million was spent on the campaign, making it one of the most expensive House races in the 2008 election. Schauer outspent Walberg by nearly $300,000.
On July 14, 2009, Walberg announced that he would run for his old congressional seat and challenge Democratic incumbent Mark Schauer. He defeated Marvin Carlson and Brian Rooney in the Republican primary.
Prior to the election, polling showed the race as a dead heat. Walberg defeated Schauer 50%–45%.
Wahlberg defeated Democrat Kurt Haskell 53%–43%.
Walberg defeated former Democratic State Representative Pam Byrnes in the general election with 54% of the vote.
Walberg ran for re-election in 2016. He defeated Doug North in the Republican primary on August 2, 2016. State Representative Gretchen Driskell was the lone Democrat to file for election. In the general election, Walberg defeated Driskell with 55% of the vote.
Tenure
Walberg has voted repeatedly to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
On July 23, 2014, Walberg introduced the Senior Executive Service Accountability Act, a bill that would give government agencies tools to remove executives in the Senior Executive Service for performance issues. In January 2016, the bill was referred to the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Walberg rejects the scientific consensus on climate change. On the subject of climate change, he said in May 2017, "I believe that there is a creator in God who is much bigger than us. And I’m confident that, if there’s a real problem, he can take care of it."
Committee assignments
Electoral history
Personal life
Walberg and his wife Sue live in Tipton (near Tecumseh, Michigan), where they brought up their three now-adult children. Walberg's son Matthew works as a crime reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
Tim Walberg is an ordained pastor. Ordained as a Baptist, he currently identifies as nondenominational. Walberg attends a church affiliated with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ.