John M. McHugh

John Michael McHugh (born September 29, 1948) is the 21st United States Secretary of the Army and a former Republican politician from the state of New York, currently representing the state's 23rd congressional district (map) in the United States House of Representatives. The district is located in the far northern part of the state and includes Watertown, Plattsburgh and Oswego.

On June 2, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated him to the position of United States Secretary of the Army. The United States Senate confirmed McHugh in a voice vote on September 16, 2009. He was sworn in as the 21st Secretary of the Army at a Pentagon ceremony on September 21, 2009.

Early life and career

McHugh was born in Watertown and currently lives in the nearby hamlet of Pierrepont Manor, within the town of Ellisburg. He graduated from Watertown High School and then graduated from Utica College in 1970 with a Bachelor's degree and received a Master's degree from the Nelson A. Rockefeller Graduate School of Public Affairs at State University of New York at Albany in 1977.

McHugh served as an assistant to Watertown's city manager from 1971 to 1977. He then served as an aide to State Senator H. Douglas Barclay from 1977 to 1984, when he was elected as his successor. He served as a member of the State Senate until his election to Congress.

Congressional career

He ran successfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992 to replace Congressman David O'Brien Martin in the 24th district, which was renumbered as the 23rd district after the 2000 census. This part of Upstate New York has historically been very Republican at the congressional level, though it has recently become more competitive in presidential elections. The district (and its predecessors) has been in Republican hands continuously since 1871, and some parts of the district have not been represented by a Democrat since 1851. McHugh has kept this tradition going. He has been reelected eight times with no substantive opposition, even running unopposed in 2002.

McHugh is the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, and is also a senior member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He was chairman of the Oversight Committee's Post Office Subcommittee for six years, and worked to pass legislation to significantly reform the U.S. Postal Service for the first time since it was demoted from a Cabinet-rank department with passage of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (P.L. 109-435) in 2006. He was a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence from 2005 to 2007.

McHugh defeated his Democratic opponent, Dr. Robert J. Johnson, in 2004 and again in 2006. During the campaign, Dr. Johnson found himself unable to fly due to his name appearing on the No Fly List. At the time, Johnson speculated that he was added to the list because of his anti-war views and opposition to McHugh. McHugh's office denied wrongdoing. A later CBS News investigation discovered that the name "Robert Johnson" appeared on the list due to its use as an alias by a man convicted of plotting bombings in Toronto. Several other men named Robert Johnson were affected by its inclusion.

McHugh was the only one of New York's eight Republican incumbents to win over 60% in 2006. The other seven were either defeated or were held below 60% by their Democratic challengers. McHugh defeated Mike Oot for congressional re-election in 2008, again garnering over 60% of the vote.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Armed Services (Ranking Member)
  • As Ranking Member of the full committee, Rep. McHugh may serve as an ex officio member of all subcommittees.
• Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
  • Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Post Office, and the District of Columbia (Vice Ranking Member)

Political views

McHugh is a moderate Republican by national standards, which is typical for Republicans from New York. He has a lifetime rating of 71 from the American Conservative Union.

Health care

McHugh wants the health care system to be reformed by tax cuts and credits to individuals, small businesses, and the self-employed.

Bailout plan

McHugh voted for both versions of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. Vorlage:Fact

Tenure as Army Secretary

On Vorlage:Date, McHugh was nominated to the position of Secretary of the Army, by President Barack Obama. He was sworn in as the 21st Secretary of the Army at a Pentagon ceremony on September 21, 2009. McHugh replaced the former Army Secretary, Pete Geren.

Personal

McHugh, who was active socially in Albany, New York while a State Senator, is divorced from his wife, the former Katherine Sullivan. McHugh's home is in the hamlet of Pierrepont Manor.

McHugh was voted one of the 50 most beautiful people on Capitol Hill by The Hill magazine.

External links

• U.S. Congressman John M. McHugh, U.S. House site

• SourceWatch Congresspedia — John McHugh profile