Brad Ellsworth

Brad Ellsworth was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing the Eighth Congressional District of Indiana from 2007 to 2011.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Biography
Ellsworth was born and spent his childhood in Huntingburg, Indiana. When he was still in grade school, his family moved to Evansville, Indiana where his father took a job as a crane operator in Warrick County's Alcoa plant. After graduation from Evansville's William Henry Harrison High School (Evansville) in 1976, he attended the University of Southern Indiana where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology. Ellsworth worked in the paint and hardware department at Sears while in school to pay for his education. He later received a Masters Degree in Criminology from Indiana State University.

In 1982, Ellsworth began a career in the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's office. Over the next 23 years, he held every merit rank, and was twice decorated for heroism in the line of duty. While serving in the Department, Brad instituted the first Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program in the Evansville - Vanderburgh School Corporation. He later attended and graduated from the FBI National Academy.

In 1998, Ellsworth ran as a Democratic candidate for sheriff and won by a large margin. He was unopposed running for a second term. 

2006 congressional election
In 2005, Ellsworth announced his intention to seek the Democratic Party's nomination for Indiana's 8th Congressional District. Ellsworth ran against John Hostettler, the Republican incumbent. Ellsworth defeated Hostettler 61%-39% to take possession of the seat. 

Money in politics
cid=N00027575&cycle=2008

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Armed Services
 * Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities
 * Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces
 * House Committee on Agriculture
 * Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research
 * Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
 * House Committee on Small Business
 * Subcommittee on Finance and Tax
 * Subcommittee on Rural and Urban Entrepreneurship

Resources

 * Ellsworth for Congress, official campaign site.

Local blogs and discussion sites

 * Torporindy