Steve Pearce (R-NM-2)i

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Steve Pearce Congressman District 2

House links: Steve Pearce (R-NM-2)i

Campaign links: Steve Pearce (R-NM-2)i

Stevan E. “Steve” Pearce

Steve Pearce Congressional Candidate New Mexico District 2

Biography of Steve Pearce from House.gov

Steve Pearce was born in 1947 to a large working-class family. He was raised in Hobbs, New Mexico, where his father worked as a roustabout, selling vegetables on the side of the road to make ends meet. With six children to feed, times were often hard in the Pearce household, but his upbringing has made it easy for Steve to relate to the hardworking people of southern New Mexico.

Steve attended New Mexico public schools his entire life, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics from New Mexico State University and an MBA from Eastern New Mexico University. During the Vietnam War, Steve served as a combat pilot, flying over 518 hours of combat flight and 77 hours of combat support. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and two Air Medals, as well as seven other military medals and four exceptional service awards. Steve continued service at Blytheville Air Force Base in the Arkansas, and attained the rank of Captain.

In addition to his firsthand knowledge of the military and its importance to America, Steve is a respected small-businessman who thoroughly understands the economic issues facing our country. He and his wife Cynthia long owned and operated Lea Fishing Tools, an oilfield services company in Hobbs. Because of this role, Steve is well aware of the regulations and taxes that plague small-business owners, and wants to help get government out of the way of these hard-working Americans. Having built his business from the ground up, Steve created 50 jobs in his community. He is confident that small businesses throughout southern New Mexico form the backbone for job creation and economic growth.

In 1996, Steve was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives, where he served until 2000. During this time, he was elected as Caucus Chair and served on the Appropriations Committee. He was widely recognized for his work in economic development, in which he applied the common-sense principles he had gained as a small-business owner.

In 2002, Steve was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served three terms. In 2008, with the retirement of Senator Pete Domenici, many New Mexicans were concerned about the loss of a strong conservative voice representing New Mexico in the Senate. Steve again answered the call to serve by leaving the House and running for U.S. Senate. His bid was ultimately unsuccessful, but in 2009, amidst an economic crisis, the passage of President Obama’s healthcare bill, and expansion of government regulation, Steve decided to again run for Congress. As he explained to friends and family, he made the tough decision because he was afraid for his country, and wanted to keep fighting for New Mexico.

Continuing a lifetime of service, Steve returned to the U.S. House of Representatives. Steve represents New Mexico’s only conservative voice in Washington. Steve was appointed by his peers to serve on the House Committee on Financial Services and looks forward to making New Mexicans’ voices heard, helping to create jobs in southern New Mexico, and fighting for the liberty of all Americans.

Biography of Steve Pearce from People for Pearce

Steve and his wife Cynthia raised their family in Hobbs, New Mexico. Together they owned and operated Lea Fishing Tools, an oilfield services firm. They grew that firm 10-fold in 10-years, increasing employment from four to over 40. Steve and Cynthia were honored by the Association of Commerce and Industry with the VIVA Award for outstanding business in New Mexico. The Pearce’s understand what it takes to run a successful business.

Born in 1947, Steve was raised in Hobbs, New Mexico. He attended New Mexico public schools, and graduated from New Mexico State University with a BBA degree in economics and from Eastern New Mexico University with an MBA. Steve was elected Student Body President at NMSU.

Steve was a pilot in the Air Force, serving in the Philippines, flying missions into Vietnam. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal. Returning to the U.S., he was assigned to the Strategic Air Command at Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas. He separated honorably with the rank of Captain.

Steve was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives in 1996 and re-elected in 1998. Steve served as Republican Caucus Chairman and was selected as “Outstanding Legislator” by the New Mexico Technology Showcase for his work in economic development using technology.

Steve was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002, after having won a five-way primary election, he came out on top in one of the nation’s toughest congressional battles-and one of the most contested races in Southern New Mexico’s history. In 2008, Steve sought New Mexico’s open United States Senate seat, but came up short in the wave that carried Democrats into the White House, as well as solidifying majorities in the Congress.

In 2010, Steve challenged the then first-term incumbent representative for the Second Congressional District of New Mexico. Having never lost the broad support of the voters for his honesty, experience and conservative style, Steve was solidly elected to once again go to Washington on behalf of southern New Mexico.

Upon the commencement of the 112^th Congress, Steve is currently serving his 4^th term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He sits on the House Committee on Financial Services and is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus.