Jerry McNerney

Gerald M. "Jerry" McNerney (born June 18, 1951) is an engineer, energy specialist, and the U.S. Representative for CA's 9th congressional district, serving in Congress since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes parts of San Joaquin County, East Contra Costa County, and southern Sacramento County.

McNerney holds a Ph.D in mathematics.

Early life, education, and business career
McNerney was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the son of Rosemary (née Tischhauser) and Col. John E. McNerney. His ancestry is Irish and Swiss. He attended St. Joseph's Military Academy in Hays, Kansas, and, for two years, the United States Military Academy at West Point. After leaving West Point in 1971 in protest of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, he enrolled at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where he received Bachelor's and Master's degrees and, in 1981, a Ph.D. in Mathematics, with a doctoral dissertation in differential geometry.

McNerney served several years as a contractor to Sandia National Laboratories at Kirtland Air Force Base on national security programs. In 1985, he accepted a senior engineering position with U.S. Windpower (Kenetech). In 1994, he began working as an energy consultant for PG&E, FloWind, The Electric Power Research Institute, and other utility companies. Before being elected to Congress, Jerry served as the CEO of a 2004 start-up company manufacturing wind turbines, named HAWT Power (Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Power). A 1992 article that he co-authored in an IEEE journal is a good example of his writings during this period.

Elections

 * 2004

McNerney has said that he was inspired to run for Congress by his son Michael, who in response to the attacks of September 11 sought and received a commission in the Air Force. Michael suggested that his father serve his country by running for Congress. McNerney first ran for Congress against Richard Pombo in California's 11th congressional district in the 2004 House elections. He entered the race two weeks before the primary election as a write-in candidate. He qualified to be a write-in candidate for the March 2004 primary by one signature. Having no primary opponent, he won the primary and qualified for the November general election ballot as the Democratic nominee. He lost the November general election, 61%-39%.


 * 2006

McNerney launched his 2006 campaign early in the fall of 2005. In June 2006 he won the Democratic primary with 52.8% of the vote, defeating Steve Filson, who had been endorsed by the DCCC, and Stevan Thomas.

In late July, Republicans Pete McCloskey and Tom Benigno (both of whom ran in the Republican primary against Pombo) endorsed McNerney. In September, analysis of the campaign was changed from "Republican safe" to "Republican favored" due to the emergence of McNerney's campaign. The report noted "a [GOP] party spokesman says it's because they want to win decisively but others speculate that internal polling has delivered bad news for the incumbent." On October 3, 2006, a poll commissioned by Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund was released with McNerney leading Pombo 48 percent to 46 percent. Based on these events, in early October, CQPolitics.com changed their rating of this race from Republican Favored to Leans Republican

On November 7, 2006, McNerney defeated Pombo 53%-47%.


 * 2008

McNerney won re-election 55% to 45% over Republican nominee Dean Andal.


 * 2010

McNerney won re-election 48%-47%, defeating Republican nominee David Harmer.


 * 2012

McNerney announced in late July 2011 that he would move to San Joaquin County in order to run in the newly drawn 9th Congressional District, comprising parts of San Joaquin County, East Contra Costa County, and southern Sacramento County.

Tenure


In 2007, McNerney voted against legislation that would have prevented the DEA from enforcing prohibition in the twelve states (including California) which allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes.
 * Drugs

In 2013, McNerney introduced the Methamphetamine Education, Treatment and Hope (METH) Act to modernize and expand programs that combat methamphetamine abuse by expanding treatment for addicts, particularly mothers or pregnant women, and provide grants to provide substance abuse and mental health services in rural areas.

Jerry McNerney voted for 2008’s $700 billion rescue package for the financial markets, acknowledging that “his district opposed the bailout but he felt it was best for the economy.” McNerney authored a provision of the bill permanently raising the lending limit for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae loans.
 * Fiscal issues

He voted for the September 2008 jobs and energy stimulus package and to regulate the subprime mortgage market, modify bankruptcy rules with the aim of reducing foreclosure rates, and to ban abusive credit practices and enhance consumer disclosure.

McNerney voted in favor of legislation allowing employees to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation.

In 2009, McNerney voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and voted against its repeal the next year.

McNerney has frequently opposed free trade agreements, voting against CAFTA, GATT, and the U.S.-Peru free trade agreement.

McNerney is a proponent of renewable energy. He voted to reduce carbon emissions. He has voted for tax incentives for renewable energy and for allowing states to impose stricter emissions standards. He opposes drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf.
 * Energy

Committee assignments

 * Committee on Energy and Commerce
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Power
 * Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade
 * Subcommittee on Environment and Economy

Caucus memberships

 * Congressional Arthritis Caucus
 * International Conservation Caucus
 * Veteran's Mental Health Caucus

Personal life
Since 1990, McNerney and Mary, his wife, have lived and raised their children in Pleasanton, California. Their older son, Michael, is a reserve officer in the U.S. Air Force, joining soon after the September 11 attacks. His daughter Windy is a graduate student in Psychology at the University of Notre Dame. His younger son, Greg, is a Biophysics Ph.D working for Intel Corporation as an Engineer in Oregon.