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Michael O. Leavitt




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.

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. Leavitt served as the Administrator of the EPA until January 26 , 2005 , when he became the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Leavitt also serves on the Homeland Security Advisory Council .

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.

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 .


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%



EXTERNAL LINKS



  Title Governor Of Utah
  Before Norman H Bangerter
  After Olene S Walker


  Before Marianne L Horinko
  Title Administrator Of The EPA
  After Stephen L Johnson


  Title US Secretary Of Health And Human Services
  Before Tommy Thompson


  Title United States Presidential Line Of Succession
  Before Mike Johanns
  After Alphonso Jackson