Obediah Maysfield

From Usgovsimulation

Obediah Maysfield
Senator-Elect
In Office: Begins 2013
Preceded by	Esther Cullen
Succeeded by	Incumbent
US Congressman
In Office: 2008 - Present
Preceded by	Regionalization
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Mayor of Knoxville
In Office: 1998 - 2006
Preceded by	James McDaniels (R)
Succeeded by	Emily Vance (D)
Born	October 23, 1963 La Follette, Tennessee
Political Party	Democrat
Spouse	Janet Maysfield
Profession	{{{Profession}}}
Children	{{{Children}}}
Religion	Southern Baptist

}} Obediah Jason "Obie" Maysfield (born 23 October 1963) is a lawyer and member of the United States House of Representatives from the Second District of Tennessee. He is a member of the Democratic Party. On November 6, 2012, he was elected to the United States Senate, as the Junior Senator from the Bluegrass. He will be sworn into office on January 2, 2013.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Political Career 3 Political Positions 4 Electoral History

Biography

Obediah grew up in La Follette, TN, the third of five children, having two older brothers and two younger sisters. His father was a blue-collar worker who managed to put his children through college. Obediah attended The University of the South and earned a B.A., doubling majoring in history and global studies. This is where he met his wife, Janet. They married after college, and he went on to attend the University of Tennessee, where he earned his J.D.

Obediah and Janet maintain a home in Knoxville and in Washington, although they regularly visit Obediah's parents in La Follette, and Janet's parents in Somerset, Kentucky. Janet has a degree in English from the University of the South and taught high school English in the Knox County Public School District until her husband was elected to Congress. She now teaches in D.C. public schools. They have three children: Their oldest, Meredith, is 21 and currently attending the University of the South, majoring in art history. Cody, 18, finished high school one year early and has taken the year off from school in order to work in inner-city missions, teaching guitar at youth centers in underprivileged areas. Their youngest is Jessica, 15, who lives in D.C. with her parents and attends high school in the D.C. public schools.

Political Career

He practiced law for several years in Knoxville, and won a seat on the city council in 1994, and again in 1996. In 1998 he ran for mayor of Knoxville, winning in a narrow victory. He retired in 2006, after completing his second term, and in 2008 ran to fill the seat of the in the Second Congressional District of Tennessee for the U.S. House of Representatives, and is in his second term.

In the 112th Congress, Maysfield was appointed as a member of the House Committee on the Judiciary.

On November 6, 2012, he was elected to the United States Senate, representing the region of the Bluegrass.

Political Positions

Maysfield is a member of the Democratic Leadership Council, and tends to align himself liberal or libertarian on most social issues, although can sometimes lean conservative on certain moral issues, and is economically progressive. He tends to favor small government when possible, but has stated he would support a temporary tax raise if necessary. He supports entitlement programs and tax cuts for all when possible, but especially the middle class. On government spending, he seeks to cut wasteful programs, including optional programs such as museums, when they cannot be self-sufficient. He supports a Balanced Budget Amendment.

Education has always been an important issue for Maysfield, being married to a teacher. He supports more state involvement with public education, and a smaller Federal Department of Education. As mayor, he urged less standardized testing in the Knox County School District, focusing more on writing and critical thinking, and co-sponsored the Standardized Teaching Reform Act in the House. He also supported a greater curriculum for writing and social studies that would rival math and reading in importance. He's a big proponent of school teachers, co-sponsored the Teacher Tax Deduction Reform Act, and voted in favor of the Teacher Tax Credit Act.

On energy, Maysfield has been supportive of environmentalism, seeking the use of alternative fuels and supporting more efficient fuel. He has supported legislation such as the Green Government Act, the American Renewable Energy Act, and the Green Building Act of 2011. However, he is also a big proponent of the coal industry, and has supported initiatives for clean coal. In the House he sponsored the Coal Miner Postage Stamp Concurrent Resolution to commemorate coal miners, and also introduced the Coal-to-Liquid Fuel Energy Act to the House on behalf of Senator Sebastian Williams (D-NC). He also supported the Steel and Coal Industry National History Act.

Maysfield is for comprehensive immigration reform, but also wants a more secure border. Both of these desires are shown through his support of both the Secure Our Boarders Act of 2011 and the American Fair Immigration Act.

In opposition to most of his fellow Democrats, Maysfield is strong on pro-life, and co-sponsored the Abstinence Promotion Act of 2011, and has supported other pro-life measures.

He supports civil unions for same-sex couples, opposes offshore drilling, and is a proponent of the farming industry and labor unions.

Electoral History

Election Result for Tennessee Second Congressional District, 2010
Party		Candidate	Status	%
	Republican	Jonathan Green	Challenger	43%
	Democratic	Obediah Maysfield	Incumbent	56%

Election Result for Tennessee Second Congressional District, 2008
Party		Candidate	Status	%
	Republican	Michael Ester	Challenger	47%
	Democratic	Obediah Maysfield	Challenger	52%

Election Result for Knoxville Mayor, 2002
Party		Candidate	Status	%
	Republican	Teresa Yoder	Challenger	46%
	Democratic	Obediah Maysfield	Incumbent	54%

Election Result for Knoxville Mayor, 1998
Party		Candidate	Status	%
	Republican	Brandon Harris	Challenger	48%
	Democratic	Obediah Maysfield	Challenger	51%

Election Result for Knoxville City Council, 1996
Party		Candidate	Status	%
	Republican	Jessica Vance	Challenger	38%
	Democratic	Obediah Maysfield	Incumbent	60%

Election Result for Knoxville City Council, 1994
Party		Candidate	Status	%
	Republican	Stephen Gilmore	Incumbent	40%
	Democratic	Obediah Maysfield	Challenger	59%