A Democrat, he ran for the United States House of Representatives in 1972 against conservative incumbent Walter Baring, a fellow Democrat who was disliked by his party's establishment. Bilbray won the primary and was expected to win the general election, but Baring surprised him by endorsing the Republican nominee, David Towell, who upset Bilbray in a close race. Bilbray made a comeback in 1980 when he was elected to the Nevada State Senate, where he served from 1981 to 1987, and also became chairman of the Taxation Committee and a member of the Judiciary Committee. He successfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986 for the seat being vacated by Harry Reid, who made a successful run for the U.S. Senate in the same election. He served as chairman of the Small BusinessSubcommittee on Taxation, Tourism and Procurement and was also a member of the Foreign Affairs, Armed Services and Intelligence committees.
Bilbray lost his re-election campaign in the 1994 Republican Revolution, losing to Republican opponent John Ensign by less than 1,400 votes. Bilbray appeared to be well on his way to reelection until news surfaced that reports surfaced that one of his aides stood to make a huge profit from lands legislation sponsored by Bilbray.[1]
After leaving Congress, Bilbray joined the law firm of Kummer, Kaempfer, Bonner and Renshaw as Of Counsel in 1996 where he has specialized in dealing with local, state and federal issues. In 2001, he received an honorary doctorate of laws from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for his work in state and federal government. He was appointed a commissioner on the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission and in 2006 was appointed a member of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service by PresidentGeorge W. Bush for a term ending in 2015. He resided in Las Vegas until his death in 2021. James H. Bilbray Elementary School in Las Vegas is named in his honor.
Personal lifeedit
Bilbray and his wife Michaelene had three daughters: Bridget Bilbray Phillips who was the first principal of James H. Bilbray Elementary School, Erin Bilbray-Kohn who unsuccessfully ran for U.S. House in Nevada's 3rd district in 2014, and Shannon Bilbray-Axelrod, a member of the Nevada Assembly since 2017. They also had one son, Kevin. He was a cousin to Brian Bilbray, a two-time Republican congressman from Southern California. Bilbray died on September 19, 2021, at the age of 83.[2]
Referencesedit
^ Wasserman, David; Larry J. Sabato (October 5, 2006). "October Surprise! (And a Leadership Demise?)". Crystal Ball. University of Virginia Center for Politics. Retrieved June 22, 2009. Nevada Rep. James Bilbray (D) was felled after it was revealed days before the election that his aide stood to profit millions from lands legislation he had sponsored
^"Former Nevada Rep. James Bilbray dies". Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2021-09-19. Retrieved 2021-09-20.
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations September 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message James Hubert Bilbray May 19 1938 September 19 2021 was an American politician lawyer and postal executive who served as the U S representative for Nevada s 1st congressional district from 1987 to 1995 He was a member of the Democratic Party James BilbrayActing Chair of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal ServiceIn office December 2014 December 8 2016PresidentBarack ObamaPostmaster GeneralMegan BrennanPreceded byMickey D BarnettVice Chair of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal ServiceIn office 2012 December 2014PresidentBarack ObamaPostmaster GeneralMegan BrennanPreceded byMickey D BarnettMember of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal ServiceIn office 2006 December 8 2016PresidentGeorge W BushBarack ObamaPostmaster GeneralJohn E PotterPatrick R DonahoeMegan BrennanPreceded byJohn F WalshMember of the Defense Base Realignment and Closure CommissionIn office 2005 2006PresidentGeorge W BushSecretaryDonald RumsfeldRobert GatesMember of the U S House of Representatives from Nevada s 1st districtIn office January 3 1987 January 3 1995Preceded byHarry ReidSucceeded byJohn EnsignMember of the Nevada Senate from the Clark County districtIn office January 1981 January 1987Preceded byMulti member districtSucceeded byMulti member districtPersonal detailsBornJames Hubert Bilbray 1938 05 19 May 19 1938Las Vegas Nevada U S DiedSeptember 19 2021 2021 09 19 aged 83 Political partyDemocraticSpouseMichaelene BilbrayRelationsBrian Bilbray cousin Children4 including Shannon Bilbray AxelrodEducationAmerican University BA JD Military serviceBranch service United States ArmyYears of service1955 19561957 1963 reserve UnitUnited States Army ReserveNevada Army National Guard Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and education editBorn in Las Vegas in 1938 Bilbray graduated from Las Vegas High School and attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas from 1959 to 1960 He received a Bachelor of Arts in government and public administration from American University in Washington D C in 1962 and a Juris Doctor from the Washington College of Law in 1964 He served in the Nevada Army National Guard from 1955 to 1956 and in the United States Army Reserve from 1957 to 1963 Career editBilbray practiced law and was deputy district attorney of Clark County from 1965 to 1967 He was then chief legal counsel in the Clark County juvenile court from 1967 to 1968 and was an alternate municipal judge in Las Vegas from 1978 to 1980 He became licensed to practice law before the Nevada Gaming Commission and the Nevada Gaming Control Board in 1970 A Democrat he ran for the United States House of Representatives in 1972 against conservative incumbent Walter Baring a fellow Democrat who was disliked by his party s establishment Bilbray won the primary and was expected to win the general election but Baring surprised him by endorsing the Republican nominee David Towell who upset Bilbray in a close race Bilbray made a comeback in 1980 when he was elected to the Nevada State Senate where he served from 1981 to 1987 and also became chairman of the Taxation Committee and a member of the Judiciary Committee He successfully ran for the U S House of Representatives in 1986 for the seat being vacated by Harry Reid who made a successful run for the U S Senate in the same election He served as chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Taxation Tourism and Procurement and was also a member of the Foreign Affairs Armed Services and Intelligence committees nbsp Bilbray and his wife with singer Cher in 1990 Bilbray lost his re election campaign in the 1994 Republican Revolution losing to Republican opponent John Ensign by less than 1 400 votes Bilbray appeared to be well on his way to reelection until news surfaced that reports surfaced that one of his aides stood to make a huge profit from lands legislation sponsored by Bilbray 1 After leaving Congress Bilbray joined the law firm of Kummer Kaempfer Bonner and Renshaw as Of Counsel in 1996 where he has specialized in dealing with local state and federal issues In 2001 he received an honorary doctorate of laws from the University of Nevada Las Vegas for his work in state and federal government He was appointed a commissioner on the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission and in 2006 was appointed a member of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service by President George W Bush for a term ending in 2015 He resided in Las Vegas until his death in 2021 James H Bilbray Elementary School in Las Vegas is named in his honor Personal life editBilbray and his wife Michaelene had three daughters Bridget Bilbray Phillips who was the first principal of James H Bilbray Elementary School Erin Bilbray Kohn who unsuccessfully ran for U S House in Nevada s 3rd district in 2014 and Shannon Bilbray Axelrod a member of the Nevada Assembly since 2017 They also had one son Kevin He was a cousin to Brian Bilbray a two time Republican congressman from Southern California Bilbray died on September 19 2021 at the age of 83 2 References edit Wasserman David Larry J Sabato October 5 2006 October Surprise And a Leadership Demise Crystal Ball University of Virginia Center for Politics Retrieved June 22 2009 Nevada Rep James Bilbray D was felled after it was revealed days before the election that his aide stood to profit millions from lands legislation he had sponsored Former Nevada Rep James Bilbray dies Las Vegas Review Journal 2021 09 19 Retrieved 2021 09 20 External links editBiography at the United States Postal Service United States Congress James Bilbray id B000462 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Biography at Kummer Kaempfer Attorneys at Law Biography at the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission Larry J Sabato s Crystal Ball James H Bilbray Elementary School Appearances on C SPAN Nevada Senate Biography U S House of Representatives Preceded byHarry Reid Member of the U S House of Representatives from Nevada s 1st congressional districtJanuary 3 1987 January 3 1995 Succeeded byJohn Ensign Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Bilbray amp oldid 1193540632, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
