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Michael Okerlund Leavitt (born February 11, 1951 in Cedar City, Utah) is an American politician, and is currently the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Personal
Leavitt graduated with a bachelor's degree in economics and business from Southern Utah University and married Jacalyn Smith. They are the parents of five children.
Leavitt is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Career
A Republican, Leavitt was the 14th Governor of the state of Utah. He was first elected in 1992, then he was re-elected in 1996 (with the largest vote total in state history) and in 2000 became only the second governor in Utah history to be re-elected to a third term. As Governor, he held leadership positions in national and regional organizations, such as the Council of State Governments, which he presided for a year.
On August 11, 2003, Governor Leavitt was nominated by President George W. Bush to be the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at a press conference in Aurora, Colorado. He was confirmed to this office on October 28, 2003 by a vote of 88-8 in the United States Senate. Leavitt resigned the Utah governor's office on November 5. He was sworn in as the 10th Administrator of the EPA the following day. On December 13, 2004, Leavitt was nominated by Bush to succeed Tommy Thompson as Secretary of Health and Human Services and was confirmed by the Senate by voice vote on January 26, 2005.
Mr. Leavitt has described the most serious threat to American security as the avian flu virus. Mr. Leavitt's cited the work of the World Health Organization's Dr. Michael McCoy as the most probative scientific work into the threat of the avian flu.
Leavitt also serves on the Homeland Security Advisory Council.
Electoral history
- 2000 Race for Governor
- Mike Leavitt (R) (inc.), 56%
- Bill Orton (D), 42%
- 1996 Race for Governor
- Mike Leavitt (R) (inc.), 75%
- Jim Bradley (D), 23%
- 1992 Race for Governor
- Mike Leavitt (R), 42%
- Merrill Cook (I), 34%
- Stewart Hanson (D), 23%
Controversy
In June of 2006, Leavitt came under harsh criticism for misappropriation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Gulfstream III Emergency Response aircraft to, primarily, promote the newly reformed Medicare plan. Critics argue that Leavitt irresponsibly has used the aircraft since January of 2006, logging over $700,000 worth of flight time in the 14 seat private jet. Leavitt’s office maintains that the use of the aircraft was necessary since commercial services could not meet the deadlines required by his engagements. During two recent emergencies that the CDC has required use of the aircraft, they were forced to privately charter a different plane since the CDC’s GIII was in use by Leavitt.
External links
1951 births | Administrators of the EPA | Governors of Utah | Latter Day Saints | Living people | United States Secretaries of Health and Human Services | United States Department of Health and Human Services
"Michael Leavitt"