From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mary Bono Mack
Mary Bono Mack
Mary Bono Mack Occupation Small business owner
Religion Protestantism
Website Congresswoman Mary Bono
Mary Bono Mack (born October 24, 1961) is the U.S. Rep-
resentative for California’s 45th congressional district,
and previously the 44th, serving since 1998. She is a
member of the Republican Party. The district is based in
Palm Springs and includes most of central and eastern
Riverside County. Bono Mack sits on the Energy and
Commerce Committee, and is Chairwoman for the Sub-
committee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade.
Bono Mack is the only Republican woman in California’s
congressional delegation.
Early life
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
She was born Mary Whitaker in Cleveland, Ohio, but
from California’s 45th district
California’s moved to South Pasadena, California, in 1963. She worked
her way through the University of Southern California,
Incumbent
graduating in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History.
Assumed office She was an accomplished gymnast in her youth.
January 3, 2003
Preceded by Dana Rohrabacher Congressional career
(redistricted to 46th)
The 45th had long been a Republican stronghold but has
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives become much more Democratic in recent years; it cur-
California’s
from California’s 44th district
rently has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+3. While
In office Moreno Valley and Palm Springs have a slight Democra-
April 7, 1998 – January 3, 2003 tic tilt, Palm Desert is strongly conservative. Her district
Preceded by Sonny Bono includes the highest percentage of gays and lesbians of
any district represented by a Republican.[1]
Succeeded by Ken Calvert Bono Mack followed the Republican Party line 89%
(when she redistricted to 45th)
of the time according to Congressional Quarterly. In 2004,
Personal details she received an 84% approval rating from the Christian
Coalition of America,[2] but this fell to 33% in 2008.[3] In
Born Mary Whitaker
October 24, 1961 (1961-10-24) 1999, she voted in favor of the Largent Amendment,[4] to
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. ban adoption by same-sex couples in Washington, D.C.[5]
Bono Mack has, however, voted against the Federal Mar-
Political party Republican
riage Amendment twice.
Spouse(s) Sonny Bono (1986–1998) (his death) Some of the congresswoman’s legislative history in-
Glenn Baxley (2001–2005) (divorced) cludes a bill that calls for country-of-origin labeling for
Connie Mack IV (2007–present)
fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as several energy-sav-
Children Chesare Elan Bono ing bills to reward companies for utilizing clean burn-
Chianna Maria Bono ing fuel technologies and increase the energy-efficiency
Residence Palm Springs, California, U.S.
of federal buildings. In 2000, Bono Mack helped pass leg-
islation that established the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto
Alma mater University of Southern California Mountains National Monument in the Palm Springs re-
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mary Bono Mack
In December 2010, Bono Mack was one of fifteen
Republican House members to vote in favor of repealing
the United States military’s "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" ban on
openly homosexual service members.[11][12]
Bono Mack has received numerous awards from such
organizations as Americans for Tax Reform, National
Federation of Independent Businesses, the National As-
sociation of Manufacturers, and the SunLine Transit
Agency for her support of alternative fuel technolo-
gies.[6] She is also a signer of the Taxpayer Protection
Pledge.[13]
Committee assignments
• • Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and
Trade (Chairwoman)
• Subcommittee on Communications and
Technology
• Subcommittee on Environment and Economy
• Congressional Hispanic Conference {associate
member}
• Republican Main Street Partnership
Caucus memberships
• America Supports You Caucus
• Intellectual Property Promotion and Piracy
Prevention Caucus (Co-Chair)
• International Conservation Caucus
• Recording Arts and Sciences Caucus (Co-Chair)
Earlier photo of Mary Bono, c. 2005
gion. The House of Representatives passed her Securely
Media coverage
Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass (SPY ACT), Bono Mack has been the subject of numerous profiles for
which would protect an individual’s personal informa- a wide array of publications and television shows, includ-
tion on the Web. Also, Bono Mack has sponsored legis- ing People, Capital Style, Elle, Entertainment Tonight, Esquire,
lation that provides funding for obesity studies and im- George, Good Housekeeping, Hello!, Ladies’ Home Journal, and
proved nutrition programs nationwide, autism research, PBS. In 1998, Bono Mack was named one of the "Most
and Federal funding under the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Act. Fascinating Women of 1998" by Ladies’ Home Journal mag-
[6] azine in conjunction with CBS Television. She was also
Bono Mack was a leading proponent of the Sonny selected by the former George magazine as one of the
Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998, the so-called 20 most fascinating women in politics. In 2008, she was
Mickey Mouse Law, which extended the terms of copy- named the "Seventh Hottest Politician in the World" by
right. Giving a speech on the floor of Congress in favor of Maxim.
the bill, Bono Mack said:
Actually, Sonny wanted the term of copyright pro-
Personal life
tection to last forever. I am informed by staff that In 1986, Bono Mack married singer and actor Sonny Bono
such a change would violate the Constitution. ... As and moved to Palm Springs. In his biography, The Beat
you know, there is also [Motion Picture Association Goes On, Sonny said "When I wrote songs I always knew
of America president] Jack Valenti’s proposal for if I was on to something that was great. I could just tell.
the term to last forever less one day. Perhaps the I felt that way about being with Mary. I knew it was
Committee may look at that next Congress.[7] great." Soon after, Sonny Bono became interested in pol-
itics, serving as Mayor of Palm Springs (1988-92) and be-
She won her sixth term in 2008 with 58% of the vote,[8] ing elected to Congress (1994). When reflecting about his
down slightly from 60.7% in 2006.[9][10] marriage and family, Sonny said, "I’ve never been happi-
er. For the first time I feel free to really love someone and
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mary Bono Mack
to be a great father."[14] Due to Sonny Bono’s commit- [8] Riverside County Registrar of Voters
ment to Scientology at the time, Bono Mack took some [9] Bono Election Day Schedule
Scientology courses together with her husband but soon [10] "sov_detail_congress.xls" (PDF).
decided it was not for her.[15] http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/
Sonny Bono died in a skiing accident on January 5, 2006_general/congress.pdf. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
1998. Thereafter Bono Mack won the Republican nomina- [11] Chris Geidner, House Passes DADT Repeal Bill,
tion for the special election to succeed him. She then won Metro Weekly (December 15, 2010).
in the special election April 7, 1998. She won a full term [12] House Vote 638 - Repeals ’Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’,
in November and has been re-elected since. As of 2007, New York Times (December 15, 2010).
Bono Mack was one of six representatives to be elected to [13] "Current Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers".
their seats following the deaths of their husbands—Lindy Atr.org. http://www.atr.org/current-taxpayer-
Boggs (D-LA), Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), Lois Capps (D-CA), protection-pledge-signers-th-a2851. Retrieved
Doris Matsui (D-CA), and Sala Burton (D-CA). 2010-09-30.
In 2001, Bono Mack married Wyoming businessman [14] Sonny Bono: And the beat goes on
Glenn Baxley about 18 months after they met in Mexico. [15] Bardach, Ann (August 1999). "Proud Mary Bono".
They filed for divorce in 2005.[16] On December 15, 2007, George Magazine.
Bono Mack married Congressman Connie Mack IV (R-FL) [16] The Associated Press (2007-12-17). "Reps. Mary
in Asheville, North Carolina.[17] Bono, Connie Mack marry | Inland News | PE.com |
Bono Mack has a son, Chesare Elan Bono (born 1988), Southern California News | News for Inland
and a daughter, Chianna Maria Bono (born 1991), from Southern California". PE.com. http://www.pe.com/
her marriage to Sonny Bono. She has four stepchildren: localnews/inland/stories/
Christy Bono, Chaz Bono, Addison Mack, and Connie PE_News_Local_D_bonowed17.4d6b542.html.
Mack. In addition to her family, Bono Mack has interests Retrieved 2010-09-30.
in music and outdoor activities such as hiking and camp- [17] "Fox News, GOP House Members Mary Bono and
ing. In the April 2008 edition of Golf for Women magazine, Connie Mack Marry in North Carolina".
she was listed as "one of the 50 most powerful women Foxnews.com. 2007-12-16.
who play" golf.[18] http://www.foxnews.com/story/
After attending a lecture by mountaineer-turned-hu- 0,2933,316990,00.html. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
manitarian Greg Mortenson, Bono Mack worked with [18] Golf for Women, April 2008
him to open doors in Washington, D.C., to aid his efforts [19] "Mortenson, Greg: Three Cups of Tea
to build schools for girls in the mountainous regions of
Pakistan. Bono Mack is quoted in Mortenson’s book Three
Cups of Tea as saying "I’ve learned more from Greg
External links
Mortenson about the causes of terrorism than during all • U.S. Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack official U.S.
our briefings on Capitol Hill".[19] House site
• Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack official campaign
site
References • Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
[1] "Same-sex Couples and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual • Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United
Population: New Estimates from the American States Congress
Community Survey". The Williams Institute on • Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy, UCLA • Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings
School of Law. October, 2006. at Project Vote Smart
http://www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute/ • Congressional profile at GovTrack
publications/SameSexCouplesandGLBpopACS.pdf. • Congressional profile at OpenCongress
Retrieved February 15, 2007. • Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
[2] [1] • Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
[3] http://www.cc.org/files/3/ • Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at
2008_Scorecard_8_5x11.pdf LegiStorm.com
[4] http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1999/roll346.xml • Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal
[5] "Human Rights Campaign". Commondreams.org. Election Commission
1999-07-29. http://www.commondreams.org/ • Appearances on C-SPAN programs
pressreleases/july99/072999f.htm. Retrieved • Profile at SourceWatch
2010-09-30. Persondata
[6] ^ [2] Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack: Biography
Name Mack, Mary Bono
[7] 144 Congressional Record H9952.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mary Bono Mack
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives Succeeded by
Sonny Bono from California’s 44th congressional district Ken Calvert
April 7, 1998 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives Incumbent
Dana Rohrabacher from California’s 45th congressional district
January 3, 2003 – present
United States order of precedence
Preceded by United States Representatives by seniority Succeeded by
Lois Capps 141st Barbara Lee
D-California D-California
Alternative names Place of birth Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Short description Date of death
Date of birth October 24, 1961 Place of death
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mary_Bono_Mack&oldid=461346483"
Categories:
• 1961 births
• American Protestants
• California Republicans
• Female members of the United States House of Representatives
• Living people
• Mack family
• Members of the United States House of Representatives from California
• People from Cleveland, Ohio
• People from Palm Springs, California
• People from Pasadena, California
• Spouses of California politicians
• Spouses of Florida politicians
• Spouses of members of the United States House of Representatives
• Spouses of United States mayors
• University of Southern California alumni
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