Jon Porter

Not to be confused withJohn Porter (Illinois politician),an earlier-serving representative from Illinois, orJohn Porter (Pennsylvania politician),an earlier-serving representative from Pennsylvania.

Jon Porter
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNevada's3rddistrict
In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2009
Preceded by	District established
Succeeded by	Dina Titus
Member of theNevada Senate from the1stdistrict
In office November 1994 – July 2002
Preceded by	Hal Smith
Succeeded by	Christine Milburn
Mayor ofBoulder City
In office 1987–1991
Personal details
Born	(1955-05-16)May 16, 1955 Fort Dodge, Iowa,U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Married (Kristin McMillan-Porter, former CEO Vegas Chamber)
Residence	Washington, DC
Alma mater	Briar Cliff College
Occupation	consultant

Jonathan Christopher "Jon" Porter(born May 16, 1955) is an American politician who served as aRepublicanmember of theUnited States House of Representatives,the first representative elected from the3rd congressional district of Nevada.

He won re-election in the2006 midterm electionagainst Tessa Hafen by a 48%–47% margin. On November 4, 2008, after three consecutive terms, he was defeated by Nevada State SenatorDina Titus,aDemocratand professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Early life, education, and early political career

Porter was born inFort Dodge,Iowa,and graduated fromHumboldt High SchoolinHumboldt, Iowa.He attendedBriar Cliff Collegeand worked in his family business for several years before moving toBoulder City, Nevada,a suburb ofLas Vegas,where he lives today.

He began his political career in 1983 when he was elected to the Boulder City Council. That year he also became an agent forFarmers Insurance.Porter was elected mayor ofBoulder Cityin 1987 and served in that capacity until 1991. He served in theNevada Senatefrom 1994 until 2002.

U.S. House of Representatives

In December, 2005, he joined with several other congressmen to form theSecond Amendments,abipartisanrockandcountryband set to play for United States troops stationed overseas over the holiday season.

Elections

2000

Porter lost the race forU.S. CongressinNevada's 1st congressional districtagainst Democratic incumbentShelley Berkley.Berkley won 52% to 44%.

2002

However, this immediately made him the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in the newly created 3rd District. The district had been created due to a population explosion in the Las Vegas area. Porter easily won the Republican nomination and facedClark CountyCommissionerDario Herrera.The race was considered one of the hottest in the nation, in part because the district had been created as a "fair fight" district. However, Herrera's campaign foundered due to ethical problems, most notably when he was paid $50,000 by the Las Vegas Housing Authority for "public relations work."Porter won 56% to 37%.

2004

Porter defeated Tom Gallagher by a wider-than-expected 14-point margin (54% to 40%).

2006

Porter won re-election over his opponent Tessa Hafen, former press secretary for U.S. SenatorHarry Reid,with 48% to 47%.

2008

The closeness of the 2006 race, combined with the marginal nature of the district, led Democrats to target Porter for defeat in 2008. After their initial choice, Clark County Prosecutor Robert Daskas, dropped out for family reasons, the Democrats quickly recruitedState SenateMinority LeaderDina Titus,the unsuccessful Democratic candidate for governor in 2006. In the November 2008 election, Porter lost only the second general election of his career, taking 42 percent of the vote to Titus' 47 percent. Porter was likely hampered by a sharp increase in Democratic registration, as well asBarack Obamacarrying the district with 55 percent of the vote.Additionally, Porter was seen as a potentially strong challenger toHarry Reid,the Democratic Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate who was up for reelection in2010,so it was thought that Reid targeted Porter for defeat in order to eliminate him as a possible opponent.

Committee assignments

Porter was a member of theWays and Means Committeeand theBudget Committee.

Post-Congressional Career

Porter Group LLC

Since 2008, Congressman Porter leadsPorter Group LLC,a bipartisan government relations and business consulting firm with offices on Capitol Hill. Porter Group's staff has experience in public policy, the legislative and regulatory process, and politics, with access to an extensive network of bipartisan relationships in Washington, D.C. and nationwide.

Jon's base of clients includes both domestic and international businesses in areas of technology, transportation, education, travel and tourism, public lands, aviation, insurance, healthcare, energy, defense, and gaming, among others. Adjacent to this work, serves a variety of government agencies and non-profits including cities and counties, regional transportation agencies, airports, convention authorities, educational institutions, chambers of commerce, and organizations serving persons with disabilities.

Professional Speaking

Ret. Congressman Jon Porter is frequently invited to address national and international business and government audiences ranging from associations and trade shows to state and national conventions. Jon has spoken on topics ranging from leadership, governance, urban planning, transportation, Internet gaming, health care, disability policy, and energy.

Volunteer Work

• Music Maker Relief Foundation (Board of Directors)
• Valley Health System (Board of Governors)
• Farmers New World Life Insurance Company (Board Member)

See also

• United States House of Representatives elections in Nevada, 2008#District 3

External links

• Porter for Congress– campaign site
• Biographyat theBiographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office)at theFederal Election Commission
• ProfileatVote Smart
• AppearancesonC-SPAN
• Ledbetter Supreme Court Opinion