Bob McDermott | |
---|---|
Member of the
Hawaii House of Representatives from the 40th district | |
In office November 6, 2012 – November 8, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Redistricted |
Succeeded by | Rose Martinez |
Member of the
Hawaii House of Representatives from the 32nd district | |
In office November 5, 1996 – November 5, 2002 | |
Preceded by | Robert Bunda |
Succeeded by | Lynn Finnegan |
Personal details | |
Born | Robert Charles McDermott August 5, 1963 Lansdale, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Education | Chaminade University ( BA, MBA) |
Robert Charles McDermott (born August 5, 1963) [1] is an American politician and Republican former member of the Hawaii House of Representatives who served from 1996 to 2002 and 2012 to 2022.
McDermott initially served three terms in the Hawaii House of Representatives from 1996 until 2002 but left to run unsuccessfully for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. He returned to the Hawaii House of Representatives in 2012 before leaving state office in 2022 to run as the Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Hawaii, losing to incumbent Senator Brian Schatz in the November 2022 general election. [2]
McDermott is a 1981 graduate of Upper Perkiomen High School in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. He earned his BA in economics and his MBA from Chaminade University of Honolulu.
McDermott made headlines in 2013 for his vocal opposition to same-sex marriage. It ultimately became law in Hawaii, and Bob McDermott turned his focus on Pono Choices, a sex education program in Hawaii. [3] On January 8, 2014, McDermott held a press conference in opposition to Pono Choices in which he gave a presentation on oral sex, vaginal sex, and anal sex, in contrast with what he said the program teaches. [4]
In July 2022, McDermott said he was the first elected official to call for closure of the U.S. military's Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility, which he identified as the biggest issue facing Hawaii. He has criticized Hawaii's congressional delegation for slowness to take action, saying he would have done so safely within a year and a half. [5]
McDermott announced his intent to run for Governor of Hawaii in the 2018 election on May 12, 2017. [6] He withdrew his candidacy in August 2017. [7]
On March 14, 2016, during a debate over the state budget, McDermott yelled profanities at fellow Republicans for not volunteering time to him as he was at the limit of his allotted time. McDermott told his colleagues to "start acting like (expletive) Republicans" and "do your (expletive) job." [8]
McDermott made headlines again in March 2017 after voting Beth Fukumoto out of her position as House Minority Leader, saying that her criticisms of Donald Trump and attendance at the Women's March were only to gain publicity for herself. [9] Fukumoto then left the Republican party, citing racism and sexism within the party as her reasons for leaving. [10] [11]
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
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Bob McDermott | |
---|---|
Member of the
Hawaii House of Representatives from the 40th district | |
In office November 6, 2012 – November 8, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Redistricted |
Succeeded by | Rose Martinez |
Member of the
Hawaii House of Representatives from the 32nd district | |
In office November 5, 1996 – November 5, 2002 | |
Preceded by | Robert Bunda |
Succeeded by | Lynn Finnegan |
Personal details | |
Born | Robert Charles McDermott August 5, 1963 Lansdale, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Education | Chaminade University ( BA, MBA) |
Robert Charles McDermott (born August 5, 1963) [1] is an American politician and Republican former member of the Hawaii House of Representatives who served from 1996 to 2002 and 2012 to 2022.
McDermott initially served three terms in the Hawaii House of Representatives from 1996 until 2002 but left to run unsuccessfully for Hawaii's 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. He returned to the Hawaii House of Representatives in 2012 before leaving state office in 2022 to run as the Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Hawaii, losing to incumbent Senator Brian Schatz in the November 2022 general election. [2]
McDermott is a 1981 graduate of Upper Perkiomen High School in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania. He earned his BA in economics and his MBA from Chaminade University of Honolulu.
McDermott made headlines in 2013 for his vocal opposition to same-sex marriage. It ultimately became law in Hawaii, and Bob McDermott turned his focus on Pono Choices, a sex education program in Hawaii. [3] On January 8, 2014, McDermott held a press conference in opposition to Pono Choices in which he gave a presentation on oral sex, vaginal sex, and anal sex, in contrast with what he said the program teaches. [4]
In July 2022, McDermott said he was the first elected official to call for closure of the U.S. military's Red Hill Underground Fuel Storage Facility, which he identified as the biggest issue facing Hawaii. He has criticized Hawaii's congressional delegation for slowness to take action, saying he would have done so safely within a year and a half. [5]
McDermott announced his intent to run for Governor of Hawaii in the 2018 election on May 12, 2017. [6] He withdrew his candidacy in August 2017. [7]
On March 14, 2016, during a debate over the state budget, McDermott yelled profanities at fellow Republicans for not volunteering time to him as he was at the limit of his allotted time. McDermott told his colleagues to "start acting like (expletive) Republicans" and "do your (expletive) job." [8]
McDermott made headlines again in March 2017 after voting Beth Fukumoto out of her position as House Minority Leader, saying that her criticisms of Donald Trump and attendance at the Women's March were only to gain publicity for herself. [9] Fukumoto then left the Republican party, citing racism and sexism within the party as her reasons for leaving. [10] [11]
{{
cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)