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Brian Baird

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Washington's 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
January 3, 1999
Preceded by Linda Smith
Born March 7, 1956 (1956-03-07) (age 54)
Chama, New Mexico
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Rachel Nugent
Residence Vancouver, Washington
Alma mater University of Utah, University of Wyoming
Occupation Psychologist, College Professor
Religion Non-denominational Protestant

Brian Norton Baird (born March 7, 1956) is an American politician from the U.S. state of Washington.

Brian Baird has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1999, representing Washington's 3rd congressional district. He attended the University of Utah and the University of Wyoming, completing a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Dr. Baird is the former chairman of the Department of Psychology at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, and a licensed clinical psychologist.

Baird was elected to the House in 1998 after being defeated in a prior bid in 1996. He sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the House Science Committee, the House Budget Committee, and the House Select Committee on Continuity in Government.

On December 9, 2009, Baird announced he would not run for reelection in 2010. [1]

Contents

Leadership

He serves as a senior regional whip and on the Democratic Steering Committee. He was elected president of the 1998 Democratic Freshman Class. He is a member of the New Democrat Coalition.

Constituent Service in the Third District

Washington's 3rd congressional district comprises the following counties: Thurston, Lewis, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Clark, and Skamania. During his time in Congress, he has flown home nearly every weekend and has hosted 300 town hall meetings (and counting).[2] He has visited every high school, port, hospital and countless businesses and organizations in Southwest Washington.[3]

Education & Early Life

Baird was born in Chama, New Mexico to Edith S. and William N. (“Bill”) Baird, a town councilman and mayor.[4] Dr. Baird received his B.S. from the University of Utah, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1977. He continued on to the University of Wyoming, receiving his M.S. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology[3]. He has published a number of journal articles and has authored two books.

Town Halls

Baird has held over 300 town halls, or one for approximately every week and a half he's been in office. Although they usually have around 50 participants, when held during passionate debates have had up to 3000. Schedules, transcripts, and recordings of Baird's town halls are listed at his Official Congressional Website.

2007

Baird initially voted against giving the president the authority to go to Iraq War, but came to support a continued U.S. effort in 2007 after a visit to the region. He continued to maintain that the war in Iraq was "one of the worst foreign-policy mistakes in the history of our nation," but also stated a belief in an op-ed published in The Seattle Times that Iraq "at long last begun to change substantially for the better" as a result of the surge. Baird advanced the argument that withdrawal timetables at this time would embolden insurgents, discourage cooperation between Iraqi political factions, and abdicate America's moral obligation to maintain order in the region.[5]

On August 27, 2007, a capacity crowd of approximately 550 filled an auditorium at Fort Vancouver High School for a town hall meeting, with the many attendees voicing passionate disagreement with his stance.[6] Baird requested police protection for the event, the first time he has done so for an event of this type,[7] and Baird also brought along a private bodyguard.[6] The event continued well after the scheduled 9 p.m. conclusion,[7] ultimately passing four hours of discussion.[6]

2009

During the 2009 Congressional recess, Baird held 5 town halls and 6 "tele-town halls" focused on health care. At the August 18 Vancouver town hall Baird was subjected to intense criticism of his support of and previous comments about his opposition to the bill by (among others) David Hedrick, a disabled (veteran) Marine. The video of Hedrick's remarks — remarks described as a "rant" by the Vancouver Columbian — had attracted over 1.3 million views on YouTube.com by February 18, 2010. [8]

Visit to Gaza Strip

On 2/19/2009, Congressman Brian Baird together with fellow congressman Keith Ellison, (D-MN-05), visited Gaza to view firsthand the destruction from recent Israeli air and ground attacks and to meet with international and local relief agencies. Others in the visit included Senator John Kerry (D-MA). This visit, which did not have the official sanction of the Obama Administration, is the first time anyone from the U.S. government has entered Gaza in more than three years. [9] The Congressman had this to say about Gaza;

“ “The amount of physical destruction and the depth of human suffering here is staggering”. He continued, “Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed, schools completely leveled, fundamental water, sewer, and electricity facilities hit and relief agencies heavily damaged. The personal stories of children being killed in their homes or schools, entire families wiped out, and relief workers prevented from evacuating the wounded are heart wrenching – what went on here, and what is continuing to go on, is shocking and troubling beyond words.” ”

After Baird's third visit to Gaza in February of 2010, he called on the US to break Israel's blockade of the strip to deliver humanitarian aid. In a television interview [10] he said that the US needed to be more serious about getting Israel to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

  • Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus (co-founder)
  • Congressional Caucus to Control and Fight Methamphetamine (co-founder)
  • Congressional National Parks Caucus (co-founder)
  • Addiction, Treatment, and Recovery Caucus
  • Community College Caucus
  • Community Health Centers Caucus
  • Congressional Boating Caucus
  • Congressional Brain Injury Task Force
  • Congressional Caucus on Intellectual Property Promotion and Piracy Prevention
  • Congressional China Caucus
  • Congressional Coast Guard Caucus
  • Congressional Coastal Caucus
  • Congressional Diabetes Caucus
  • Congressional Fire Service Caucus
  • Congressional Fitness Caucus
  • Congressional Mental Health Caucus
  • Congressional Native American Caucus
  • Congressional Port Security Caucus
  • Congressional Rural Caucus
  • Congressional Ski and Snowboard Caucus
  • Democratic Caucus
  • Friends of New Zealand Caucus
  • Hellenic Caucus
  • House Education Caucus
  • House Science, Technology, Engineernig and Math Education Caucus
  • International Conservation Caucus
  • Medical Malpractice Caucus
  • New Democrat Caucus
  • Northwest Energy Caucus
  • Prochoice Caucus Democratic Task Force
  • Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus
  • U.S. China Working Group
  • Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus
  • Mountain West Caucus
  • Middle East Economic Partnership Caucus

Books

  • Baird, Brian N.; illustrations by David Horsey (1995). Are We Having Fun Yet?: Enjoying the Outdoors With Partners, Families, and Groups. Seattle: Mountaineers Books. ISBN 978-0-89886-449-6. 
  • Baird, Brian N. (1996). The Internship, Practicum, and Field Placement Handbook: A Guide for the Helping Professions (fourth edition, 2004 ed.). New Jersey: Prentice Hall. ISBN 978-0-13-118116-8. 

See also

Electoral history

Washington's 3rd congressional district: Results 1996–2008[11]
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct
1996 Brian Baird 122,230 50% Linda Smith 123,117 50%
1998 Brian Baird 120,364 55% Don Benton 99,855 45%
2000 Brian Baird 159,428 56% Trent R. Matson 114,861 41% Erne Lewis Libertarian 8,375 3%
2002 Brian Baird 119,264 62% Joseph Zarelli 74,065 38%
2004 Brian Baird 193,626 62% Thomas A. Crowson 119,027 38%
2006 Brian Baird 147,065 63% Michael Messmore 85,915 37%
2008 Brian Baird 216,701 64% Michael Delavar 121,828 36%

Footnotes

  1. ^ Durbin, Kathie. "Baird won’t seek re-election", The Columbian, Vancouver WA, published December 9, 2009, accessed December 9, 2009.
  2. ^ http://www.house.gov/baird/cs/faq.shtm
  3. ^ a b Congressman Brian Baird :: Washington's 3rd Congressional District :: Biography Section
  4. ^ 1
  5. ^ Baird, Brian. "Our troops have earned more time", The Seattle Times, published August 24, 2007, accessed August 29, 2007.
  6. ^ a b c Westneat, Danny. "The lone, and lonely, optimist", The Seattle Times, published August 29, 2007, accessed August 29, 2007.
  7. ^ a b Brettman, Allan, and Jeff Mapes. "Crowd pounds Baird's Iraq stance", The Oregonian, published August 28, 2007, accessed August 29, 2007.
  8. ^ Durbin, Kathie. "Hedrick's rant at Baird health care forum goes viral", The Columbian, Vancouver WA, published August 26, 2009, accessed September 9, 2009.
  9. ^ Brian Views Destruction in Gaza – Calls for Immediate Relief and Change in Policy
  10. ^ [1]
  11. ^ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html. Retrieved 2008-01-10. 

External links

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Linda Smith		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Washington's 3rd congressional district
1999–Present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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