MICHAEL N. CASTLE

'Michael Newbold "Mike" Castle' (born July 2 1939) is an American lawyer and politician from Wilmington, in New Castle County, Delaware. He is a member of the Republican Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly, as Lieutenant Governor of Delaware, two terms as Governor of Delaware, and is the incumbent U.S. Representative from Delaware, serving his eighth term.

Contents

Early life and family

Governor of Delaware

United States Representative

Almanac

References

Images

External links

Congressional

Informational

Campaign

Places with more information

Early life and family

Castle was born July 2 1939 in Wilmington, Delaware. He is a graduate of Tower Hill School in Wilmington, Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, and Georgetown University School of Law. He married Jane DiSabatino in 1992; they have no children. They are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

Governor of Delaware

Castle was Deputy Attorney General in Delaware from 1965 until 1966, and was elected to the Delaware House of Representatives in 1966. He served one term there during the 1967/68 session, and then was elected to the Delaware State Senate, serving two terms from the 1969/70 session through the 1975/76 session. Following this, he returned to the full time practice of law.
In 1980, Castle was recruited to run for Lieutenant Governor of Delaware by the incumbent Governor, Pierre S. du Pont, IV. With that powerful endorsement, he was elected, defeating State Senator Thomas B. Sharp. He served one term from January 20 1981 to January 15 1985. As the hand-picked choice of the extremely popular Governor du Pont, he easily won election as Governor of Delaware, defeating former Delaware Supreme Court Justice William T. Quillen. In the campaign, Castle was criticized for being a shadow of his mentor, and only promising an extension of du Pont’s program. Despite this criticism, Delaware voters elected him to another term in 1988, when he defeated Democrat Jacob Kreshtool. Castle served two terms from January 15 1985 to December 31 1992, when he resigned to begin his first term as U.S. Representative.
Castle’s terms marked the full establishment of what Delaware political commentator, Celia Cohen has called, “the Age of Incumbency.” Following du Pont’s very successful and popular terms as Governor, Delaware politics seemed to have reached a consensus, with leaders of both parties being regularly re-elected, while working closely and quietly together on a conservative fiscal low tax, pro business, and clean government agenda. Prior to du Pont only four men had served eight years as Governor, and one of those had two non consecutive terms. From 1977 until the present there have been four Governors, two from each party, each emulating Castle in essentially carrying out the program initiated by Pierre S. du Pont, IV.

United States Representative

for others currently serving in the U.S. Congress
With the new consensus style of decision making in Delaware, important decisions are made by a few leaders in both parties. So it was in 1992, when Castle was forced to retire as Governor due to constitutional term limits. The result was what became known as "the Swap." Castle ran for the seat of U.S. Representative Thomas R. Carper and Carper ran for Governor. Delaware’s political leadership had quietly worked out the arrangement and retained the services of two very popular office holders.
Castle was first elected to the U.S. Representatives in 1992, defeating former Lieutenant Governor Shien Biau Woo, and since has won election seven more times in all, also defeating Democrats Carol Ann DeSantis in 1994, Dennis E. Williams in 1996 and 1998, Michael C. Miller in 2000 and 2002, Paul Donnelly in 2004, and Dennis Spivack in 2006.
Castle is president of the Republican Main Street Partnership and is considered one of the most moderate Republicans in the House. In the wake of Tom DeLay's indictment in September 2005, E.J. Dionne named Castle as one of four lawmakers capable of leading an anticorruption reform of the Republican Party. Castle is a member of various moderate/liberal Republican Organizations, such as Republicans For Environmental Protection, The Republican Majority For Choice, Republicans For Choice and Christine Todd Whitman's Its My Party Too. Castle is also the co-chair of several Congressional caucuses, including the Diabetes Caucus, the Community College Caucus, the Biomedical Research Caucus and the Passenger Rail Caucus.
The best example of Castle’s leadership and independence came with his cosponsorship of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act. The bill proposed expanding the number of stem cell lines that are eligible for federally funded research, expecting that this funding would generate more research and ultimately greater progress in addressing many kinds of diseases. Presently only those lines derived before August 9 2001 are eligible for federal funded research. This legislation removes that date restriction, along with proposing stronger ethical requirements. After successfully passing both the Senate and the House, it received U.S. President George W. Bush’s first presidential veto in July 2006.
Castle suffered two minor strokes during the 2006 campaign, but seemed fully recovered. Considering the general Democratic sweep of other offices, he won the election comfortably, but with a greatly reduced margin over previous years.
Castle serves on the following committees in the 110th U.S. Congress:

★ U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor

★
★ Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, ''ranking member''

★ U.S. House Committee on Financial Services

★
★ Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises

★
★ Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit

★
★ Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology

Almanac

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1st. Members of the Delaware General Assembly take office the second Tuesday of January. State Senators have a four year term and State Representatives have a two year term. The Governor and Lieutenant Governor take office the third Tuesday of January and have four year terms. U.S. Representatives take office January 3rd, and have a two year term.
{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=7 style="background: #ccccff;" | 'Public Offices'
|-
! 'Office'
! 'Type'
! 'Location'
! 'Elected'
! 'Term began'
! 'Term ends'
! 'notes'
|-
|State Representative
|Legislature
|Dover
|1966
|January 10 1967
|January 14 1969
|
|-
|State Senator
|Legislature
|Dover
|1968
|January 14 1969
|January 9 1973
|
|-
|State Senator
|Legislature
|Dover
|1972
|January 9 1973
|January 11 1977
|
|-
|Lt. Governor
|Executive
|Dover
|1980
|January 20 1981
|January 15 1985
|
|-
|Governor
|Executive
|Dover
|1984
|January 15 1985
|January 17 1989
|
|-
|Governor
|Executive
|Dover
|1988
|January 17 1989
|December 31 1992
|resigned
|-
|U.S. Representative
|Legislature
|Washington
|1992
|January 3 1993
|January 3 1995
|
|-
|U.S. Representative
|Legislature
|Washington
|1994
|January 3 1995
|January 3 1997
|
|-
|U.S. Representative
|Legislature
|Washington
|1996
|January 3 1997
|January 3 1999
|
|-
|U.S. Representative
|Legislature
|Washington
|1998
|January 3 1999
|January 3 2001
|
|-
|U.S. Representative
|Legislature
|Washington
|2000
|January 3 2001
|January 3 2003
|
|-
|U.S. Representative
|Legislature
|Washington
|2002
|January 3 2003
|January 3 2005
|
|-
|U.S. Representative
|Legislature
|Washington
|2004
|January 3 2005
|January 3 2007
|
|-
|U.S. Representative
|Legislature
|Washington
|2006
|January 3 2007
|January 3 2009
|


{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=7 style="background: #ccccff;" |Delaware General Assembly ''service''
|-
! 'Dates'
! 'Assembly'
! 'Chamber'
! 'Majority'
! 'Governor'
! 'Committees'
! 'District'
|-
|1967–1968
|124th
|State House
|Democratic
|Charles L. Terry, Jr.
|
|''6th''
|-
|1969–1970
|125th
|State Senate
|Republican
|Russell W. Peterson
|
|''1st''
|-
|1971–1972
|126th
|State Senate
|Republican
|Russell W. Peterson
|
|''1st''
|-
|1973–1974
|127th
|State Senate
|Republican
|Sherman W. Tribbitt
|
|''1st''
|-
|1975–1976
|128th
|State Senate
|Republican
|Sherman W. Tribbitt
|
|''1st''


{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=12 style="background: #ccccff;" |'Delaware General Assembly'
''(sessions while Governor)''
|-
!'Year'
!'Assembly'
!
!'Senate Majority'
!'President
''pro tempore'''
!
!'House Majority'
!'Speaker'
|-
|1985–1986
|133rd
|
| |Democratic
| |Richard S. Cordrey
|
| |Republican
| |Charles L. Hebner
|-
|1987–1988
|134th
|
| |Democratic
| |Richard S. Cordrey
|
| |Republican
| |B. Bradford Barnes
Terry R. Spence
|-
|1989–1990
|135th
|
| |Democratic
| |Richard S. Cordrey
|
| |Republican
| |Terry R. Spence
|-
|1991–1992
|136th
|
| |Democratic
| |Richard S. Cordrey
|
| |Republican
| |Terry R. Spence
|-


{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=7 style="background: #ccccff;" |United States Congress ''service''
|-
! 'Dates'
! 'Congress'
! 'Chamber'
! 'Majority'
! 'President'
! 'Committees'
! 'Class/District'
|-
|1993–1995
|103rd
|U.S. House
|Democratic
|William J. Clinton, Jr.
|Education, Financial Services
|''at-large''
|-
|1995–1997
|104th
|U.S. House
|Republican
|William J. Clinton, Jr.
|Education, Financial Services
|''at-large''
|-
|1997–1999
|105th
|U.S. House
|Republican
|William J. Clinton, Jr.
|Education, Financial Services
|''at-large''
|-
|1999–2001
|106th
|U.S. House
|Republican
|William J. Clinton, Jr.
|Education, Financial Services
|''at-large''
|-
|2001–2003
|107th
|U.S. House
|Republican
|George W. Bush
|Education, Financial Services
|''at-large''
|-
|2003–2005
|108th
|U.S. House
|Republican
|George W. Bush
|Education, Financial Services
|''at-large''
|-
|2005–2007
|109th
|U.S. House
|Republican
|George W. Bush
|Education, Financial Services
|''at-large''
|-
|2007–2009
|110th
|U.S. House
|Democratic
|George W. Bush
|Education, Financial Services
|''at-large''


{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
|-bgcolor=#cccccc
!colspan=13 style="background: #ccccff;" |'Election results'
|-
!'Year'
!'Office'
!'Election'
!
!'Subject'
!'Party'
!'Votes'
!'%'
!
!'Opponent'
!'Party'
!'Votes'
!'%'
|-
|1980
|Lt. Governor
|General
|
| |Michael N. Castle
| |Republican
| |128,827
| |59%
|
| |Thomas B. Sharp
| |Democratic
| |88,224
| |40%
|-
|1984
|Governor
|General
|
| |Michael N. Castle
| |Republican
| |135,250
| |55%
|
| |William T. Quillen
| |Democratic
| |108,315
| |45%
|-
|1988
|Governor
|General
|
| |Michael N. Castle
| |Republican
| |169,733
| |71%
|
| |Jacob Kreshtool
| |Democratic
| |70,236
| |29%
|-
|1992
|U.S. Representative
|Primary
|
| |Michael N. Castle
| |Republican
| |18,377
| |56%
|
| |Janet C. Rzewnicki
| |Republican
| |9,812
| |30%
|-
|1992
|U.S. Representative
|General
|
| |Michael N. Castle
| |Republican
| |153,037
| |55%
|
| |Shien Biau Woo
| |Democratic
| |117,426
| |43%
|-
|1994
|U.S. Representative
|General
|
| |Michael N. Castle
| |Republican
| |137,945
| |71%
|
| |Carol Ann DeSantis
| |Democratic
| |51,793
| |27%
|-
|1996
|U.S. Representative
|General
|
| |Michael N. Castle
| |Republican
| |185,577
| |70%
|
| |Dennis E. Williams
| |Democratic
| |73,258
| |27%
|-
|1998
|U.S. Representative
|General
|
| |Michael N. Castle
| |Republican
| |119,811
| |66%
|
| |Dennis E. Williams
| |Democratic
| |57,446
| |32%
|-
|2000
|U.S. Representative
|General
|
| |Michael N. Castle
| |Republican
| |211,797
| |68%
|
| |Michael C. Miller
| |Democratic
| |96,488
| |31%
|-
|2002
|U.S. Representative
|General
|
| |Michael N. Castle
| |Republican
| |164,605
| |72%
|
| |Michael C. Miller
| |Democratic
| |61,011
| |27%
|-
|2004
|U.S. Representative
|General
|
| |Michael N. Castle
| |Republican
| |245,978
| |69%
|
| |Paul Donnelly
| |Democratic
| |105,716
| |30%
|-
|2006
|U.S. Representative
|General
|
| |Michael N. Castle
| |Republican
| |143,897
| |57%
|
| |Dennis Spivack
| |Democratic
| |97,555
| |39%

References

★ Almanac of American Politics, , Michael, Barone, National Journal Group, 2005, ISBN 0-89234-112-2

★ Democracy in Delaware, , Carol E., Hoffecker, Cedar Tree Books, 2004, ISBN 1-892142-23-6

★ Governing Delaware, , William W., Boyer, University of Delaware Press, 2000, ISBN 1-892142-23-6

★ Memoirs of the Senate, , Roger A., Martin, Roger A. Martin, 1995,

★ Only in Delaware, Politics and Politicians in the First State, , Celia, Cohen, Grapevine Publishing, 2002,

Images

★ Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress [1]

External links

Congressional

★ Committee on Education and the Workforce [2]

★ Congressman Mike Castle [3]

★ U.S. House Committee on Financial Services [4]

Informational

★ Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress [5]

★ Contacting the Congress [6]

★ FEC Disclosure [7]

★ Delaware’s Governors [8]

★ National Governors Association [9]

★ News Meat [10]

★ Open Secrets — Top Industries [11]

★ Open Secrets — Career Profile [12]

★ Political Graveyard [13]

★ Project Vote Smart [14]

★ SourceWatch Congresspedia [15]

★ Stem Cell Bill Gets Bush's First Veto [16]

★ The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act [17]

★ Washington Post voting record [18]

Campaign

★ Main Street Republican Partnership [19]

★ Mike Castle for Congress [20]

★ Mike Castle for Congress — biography [21]

Places with more information

★ Historical Society of Delaware [22] 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware (302) 655-7161

★ University of Delaware Library [23] 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware (302) 831-2965


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