Mark Gibson
From Usgovsimulation
| ||||
| Republican Party | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congressman | ||||
| Began Present Office: 2009 | ||||
| Electoral District | 3rd Congressional District | |||
| State | Virginia | |||
| Region and Superregion | Shenandoah Valley, Appalachia | |||
| Previous Offices | Mayor of Norfolk, VA | |||
| Born | December 10,1965 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |||
| Spouse | Carol Gibson | |||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | |||
| Residence | Norfolk, Virginia | |||
| Occupation | Naval Officer | |||
| Education | Yale University | |||
Mark Schroeder Gibson
Mark Schroeder Gibson was born to Charles and Elizabeth Gibson on December 10th, 1965 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Charles Gibson worked as a doctor and served as a member of the state legislature, and Mark's mother, Carol Gibson, worked as a librarian at a local elementary school. An only child, Mark Gibson attended public schooling from kindergarten all the way to high school, where he played football and basketball. Throughout his high school years, Gibson was enrolled in nearly all advanced classes and served as the president of his high school's Young Republicans club. In 1983, Gibson was accepted into Yale University, and graduated four years later in 1987 with a B.S. in political science.
For six months following his graduation, Mark Gibson worked as an intern for now former Senator Paul S. Trible (R-VA). When Trible was defeated in 1988 by Democrat challenger Chuck Robb, Mark Gibson moved to Washington D.C., where he worked as an intern and eventually a political adviser to the now former Senator John W. Warner (R-VA). In 1991, Mark Gibson left the District to enlist into the United States Navy, having been inspired by both his grandfather who served in World War II, and Senator Warner. Gibson served in the United States Navy from 1991 to 1995, ascending to the rank of lieutenant, though a car crash where Gibson broke his leg and arm in Norfolk prevented him from continuing his service in the Navy.
Soon after departing from Navy life, Mark Gibson actively expressed his own interest to get involved in local politics in Norfolk. In 1996, Gibson campaigned for a seat on the Norfolk City Council, and won in the election that November. As a member of the city council, Gibson publicized his tough stance on crime, his devotion to protecting the environment and his eagerness for education reform. In 1998, a year after taking the oath as city councilman, Mark Gibson campaigned for the mayoralty of the city of Norfolk, challenging Democrat incumbent Paul Fraim. In the election that autumn, Gibson defeated Mayor Paul Fraim by a very close margin - 50.1%-48.8%. Mark Gibson served as Mayor of Norfolk, Virginia for ten years, until he announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for challenger to incumbent Democratic Congressman Robert C. Scott of Virginia's third congressional district. Having easily clinched the nomination the spring of that year, Mark Gibson campaigned as an "open-minded, independent-thinking Republican", and often cited his accomplishments with crime, the environment, education and poverty as Mayor of Norfolk. In November of 2008, Mark Gibson again emerged the victor by a relatively close margin, defeating Robert C. Scott by four points.
Mark S. Gibson has served as a member of the House of Representatives since taking the Oath of Office in January 2009, and resides with his wife and four children - Mark, Patrick, Catherine and Nathaniel Gibson - in Norfolk, Virginia.
Elections
| Election Result for Virginia's 3rd District Congressional Seat, 2008 Congressional Seat, 2008 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Status | % | |||
| Republican | Mark S. Gibson | Challenger | 52% | |||
| Democratic | Robert C. Scott | Incumbent | 48% | |||
