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Mike Sodrel

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mike Sodrel
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromIndiana's9thdistrict
In office
January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007
Preceded byBaron Hill
Succeeded byBaron Hill
Personal details
Born(1945-12-17)December 17, 1945(age 78)
Louisville, Kentucky,U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMarquita Dean (d. 2015)
Children2
Residence(s)Columbus, Indiana,U.S.
EducationIndiana University, Southeast
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1966–1973
UnitIndiana National Guard
•151st Infantry Regiment

Michael Eugene Sodrel[1](born December 17, 1945) is an American politician and businessman who served as a member of theUnited States House of RepresentativesforIndiana's 9th congressional districtfrom 2005 to 2007. Sodrel launched another run against incumbent Democratic Rep.Baron Hillin 2010 – his fifth straight run for Congress in the ninth district. However, he lost the Republican nomination to Bloomington attorneyTodd Young,who won the general election.

In 2022, after a twelve-year political retirement, Sodrel announced he was running for his old seat in the2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana.[2]He would lose the Republican primary to State SenatorErin Houchin.[3]

Early life

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Born inLouisville, Kentucky,Sodrel grew up across theOhio RiverinNew Albany, Indiana.He graduatedNew Albany High Schoolin 1963. Sodrel attendedIndiana University Southeastin New Albany, Indiana.[citation needed]

Career

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From 1966 to 1973, Sodrel served in the151st Infantry Regimentof theIndiana National Guard.[4]He was honorably discharged with the rank of staff sergeant. Since 1963, Sodrel has worked at his family's business, Sodrel Truck Lines Inc. He founded the Free Enterprise System Inc. (a charter motor-coach/contract passenger-carrier) and Sodrel Logistics.[5]

Sodrel is the author of an internet book,Citizen Sheep Government Shepherds.[6]

U.S. House of Representatives

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Sodrel at a joint press conference withDan Burton,Steve Buyer,Chris Chocola,andJohn Hostettlerin 2005

Sodrel served as a member of theUnited States House Committee on Agriculture,United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,United States House Committee on Small Business,andUnited States House Committee on Science.

During his term, Sodrel opposed partial-birthabortionsand federal funding for elective abortions. He opposed additional environmental regulations. He has outspokenly supported theright to bear arms.He has a 92 lifetime rating from theAmerican Conservative Union,[7]and a zero rating from theLeague of Conservation Voters.[8]He is in favor of permanently repealing the federalestate tax.

In 2006 Sodrel introduced a bill that would prevent federal courts from ruling on the content of speech in state legislatures. The proposal came as a response to U.S. District JudgeDavid Hamilton's ruling that official Indiana House proceedings could not begin with sectarian prayers that advanced any particular religion.[9]

Political campaigns

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Sodrel has campaigned on a platform of creating and protecting jobs, loweringtaxesand values.[clarification needed]He drives his own18-wheeleron the campaign trail. He first ran for the House of Representatives in 2002, losing to incumbentBaron Hill,51% to 46%. In the 2004 rematch, he defeated Hill by 1,500 votes.

2006

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Sodrel faced Hill again in the 2006 general election. TheCook Political Report,an independent nonpartisan newsletter, rated the race as a toss-up.[10]

PresidentGeorge W. Bushcame to a Sodrel fundraiser in Indianapolis early in 2006, while his opponent gained help in Indianapolis with fundraisers from former PresidentBill Clinton.

Sodrel ultimately lost his bid for re-election by a margin of 45% to 50%. The candidates raised equivalent funds in 2006.

Texas millionaireBob J. Perrygave more than $5 million to theEconomic Freedom Fund,a527 group,which included Hill as one of its targets for removal. The group paid for automated "push poll" calls attacking Hill. These calls stopped after action by the Indiana Attorney General.[11]

2008

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See also:2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana

In October 2007 Sodrel announced that he would run again in 2008 for the Congressional seat against Baron Hill, whom he defeated in 2004 but to whom he lost in 2002 and 2006.[12] In 2006 Cook rated the race as a toss-up for the duration of the race, but in 2008 the race moved between Likely D to Lean D on the Cook Political Report.[13] Sodrel's fundraising was weak compared both to Hill and Sodrel's 2006 figures.

Hill defeated Sodrel in the election, 58% to 39%.[14]

2010

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See also:2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana

On January 11, 2010, at an event inJeffersonville, Indiana,Mike Sodrel announced that he would again seek the 2010 Republican nomination for the 9th congressional seat. He joined two other candidates in the field of Republican contenders: Bloomington attorneyTodd Young(a native ofCarmel, Indiana) and Columbus real-estate investor Travis Hankins. A poll published by the left-leaning weblogFiredoglakeshowed Sodrel leading Hill 49–41 in a head-to-head race.[15]However he lost the Republican nomination, coming in third place behind Travis Hankins and winner Todd Young. Young won the general election against Hill.[16]

2022

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See also:2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana

On February 8, 2022, Sodrel announced that he would once again seek the Republican nomination for the ninth district after three-term representativeTrey Hollingsworthannounced his retirement.[2]Sodrel was one of nine Republicans seeking the nomination in the district.[17]Sodrel would come in second in the primary to State SenatorErin Houchin,who would go on to succeed Hollingsworth as Congressperson for the ninth district.[3]

Electoral history

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Indiana's 9th congressional district:Results 2002–2008[18]
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct
2002 Baron P. Hill 96,654 51% Mike Sodrel 87,169 46% Jeff Melton Green 2,745 2% Al Cox Libertarian 2,389 1%
2004 Baron P. Hill 140,772 49% Mike Sodrel 142,197 49% Al Cox Libertarian 4,541 2%
2006 Baron P. Hill 110,454 50% Mike Sodrel 100,469 46% D. Eric Schansberg Libertarian 9,893 4% *
2008 Baron P. Hill 181,254 58% Mike Sodrel 121,514 38% D. Eric Schansberg Libertarian 12,000 4%
Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 2006, Donald W. Mantooth received 33 votes.

Personal life

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In 1967, Sodrel married Marquita Dean; they have two children and seven granddaughters. Sodrel has served on numerous charitable organization's board of directors, including the Remnant Trust and as a past regional council president of theBoy Scouts of America.

References

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  1. ^Who's Who in the Midwest.Marquis Who's Who. 2009.
  2. ^abTRIBUNE, NEWS AND (February 8, 2022)."Former Congressman Sodrel enters 9th District race".News and Tribune.RetrievedApril 22,2022.
  3. ^abLange, Kaitlin."Former state Sen. Erin Houchin wins in 9th Congressional District Republican primary".The Indianapolis Star.RetrievedApril 13,2023.
  4. ^"Mike Sodrel".Ballotpedia.RetrievedApril 26,2022.
  5. ^"Trucking magnate running for Congress caught in residence kerfuffle".TheTrucker.com.Associated Press. April 22, 2022.RetrievedMay 3,2022.
  6. ^Sodrel releases first book,Chris Morris,Jefferson Evening News and Tribune,August 20, 2010
  7. ^[1]ArchivedJuly 6, 2009, at theWayback Machine
  8. ^"2009 National Environmental Scorecard".Lcv.org. Archived fromthe originalon February 7, 2012.RetrievedAugust 23,2010.
  9. ^[2]ArchivedDecember 3, 2008, at theWayback Machine
  10. ^[3]ArchivedMay 24, 2006, at theWayback Machine
  11. ^[4]ArchivedSeptember 7, 2008, at theWayback Machine
  12. ^[5]ArchivedJuly 21, 2011, at theWayback Machine
  13. ^"Rep. Baron Hill | The Cook Political Report".Cookpolitical.com. Archived fromthe originalon November 27, 2008.RetrievedAugust 23,2010.
  14. ^ "Hill Defeats Sodrel".WLKY.November 4, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon February 13, 2012.RetrievedNovember 5,2008.
  15. ^"IN-9: Baron Hill Trailing Mike Sodrel in Fifth Straight Match Up, 41% to 49% | Elections".Elections.firedoglake.com. January 21, 2010.RetrievedAugust 23,2010.
  16. ^Magleby, David B.; Patterson, Kelly D. (December 3, 2015).Battle for Congress: Iraq, Scandal, and Campaign Finance in the 2006 Election.Routledge.ISBN978-1-317-26334-0.
  17. ^"Candidate List - Abbreviated"(PDF).Indiana Secretary of State.
  18. ^"Election Statistics".Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Archived fromthe originalon July 30, 2008.RetrievedJanuary 10,2008.
[edit]
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of theU.S. House of Representatives
fromIndiana's 9th congressional district
2005–2007 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence(ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative 		Succeeded byas Former US Representative
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