1. Early life and education

2. Jacksonville Sheriff's Office

3. U.S. House of Representatives
    2016 campaign  Tenure  Committee assignments 

4. Political positions
    Gun policy   Federal budget    Human rights    Social issues    Cannabis    Crime    Immigration and refugees    Tax reform    Offshore drilling  

5. Elections

6. Personal life

7. References

8. External links

John Henry Rutherford (born September 2, 1952) is an American law enforcement officer and politician who is the U.S. Representative for Florida's 4th congressional district. He was an officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, and served as Duval County Sheriff from 2003 to 2015. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Early life and education

John Rutherford was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1952.^[1] Rutherford's father was in the US Navy and was serving in Korea at the time of his son's birth. In the 1950s, Rutherford's family moved to Jacksonville, Florida. He worked as a grocery stock clerk after graduating high school. He surfed in his free time.^[2] In 1972, he earned his associates degree from Florida Junior College, followed by his BS in criminology from Florida State University in 1974.^[1]

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office

Rutherford joined the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office in 1974 and rose to the rank of Captain. He has commanded a number of divisions, including Arson, Burglary, the Police Academy and Patrol on the Southside. He also served as Chief of Services, Traffic and Special Operations, and Chief of Patrol.^[3]

In 1995, Rutherford was appointed as Director of Corrections under then-Sheriff Nat Glover and held that title for 8 years.{{Citation needed|date=December 2017}}

Rutherford ran for the office of Jacksonville Sheriff in 2003. A candidate for the Jacksonville City Council filed a complaint against Rutherford in February, alleging violations of the Federal Hatch Act of 1939, which prohibits employees working for federally funded agencies from running for office in partisan elections. Rutherford consulted a lawyer, and was told there was no conflict, but retired anyway, in order to remove any doubt, with 28 years of service.^[4] Rutherford subsequently won the election, becoming the Sheriff of Jacksonville on July 1, 2003.

U.S. House of Representatives

2016 campaign

Rutherford announced his candidacy for Florida's 4th congressional district on April 15, 2016.^[5] Originally he announced he would run for Florida's 6th congressional district in 2015.^[6] On August 30, 2016, he won the Republican primary with 38.7% of the vote, beating Lake Ray, Hans Tanzler III and Bill McClure.^[7] He faced David Bruderly in the general election and won, becoming only the fifth person to represent this district since its creation in 1943 (it was the 2nd District from 1943 to 1967, the 3rd District from 1967 to 1993, and has been the 4th since 1993).

Tenure

On January 11, 2017, Rutherford collapsed on the floor of the House, in what was described as an "acute digestive flare up".^[8]

He is a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership^[13] and the Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus.^[14]

Committee assignments

• Committee on Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security
  • Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs
  • Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
  • Subcommittee on Health

Political positions

Gun policy

Rutherford supports concealed carry reciprocity, voting for two such measures in the U. S. House in November 2017.^[15]

In 2017, Rutherford signed a letter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives expressing his support for legislation to ban bump stocks.^[16]

From 2015–2016, Rutherford accepted $1,000 USD in campaign donations from the NRA's Political Victory Fund.^[17]

In 2018, Rutherford sponsored a bill to "strengthen school safety and security", which required a two-thirds vote for passage, given it was brought up under an expedited process. The House voted 407-10 to approve the bill, which would provide $50 million a year for "a new federal grant program to train students, teachers and law enforcement on how to spot and report signs of gun violence". Named STOP (Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing) School Violence Act, it would "develop anonymous telephone and online systems where people could report threats of violence." At the same time, it would authorize $25 million for schools to "improve and harden their security, such as installing new locks, lights, metal detectors and panic buttons." A separate spending bill would be required to provide money for the grant program.^[18]

Federal budget

Rutherford supports a balanced budget amendment and wants to see a smaller federal government, an end to corporate welfare, and "out-of-control" federal regulatory overreach. He also wants to see a stop to new spending until the budget is balanced.^[19]

Human rights

Rutherford supports efforts regarding LGBT rights and says "I don't believe that anyone should be discriminated against because of who they are or whom they love." He believes that the federal government has a duty to implement "careful...non-discriminatory operations" including protections for LGBT people.^[19]

Social issues

Cannabis

Rutherford is against legalizing marijuana. He voted against medicinal marijuana legalization in Florida in 2014, believing after legalizing medical marijuana recreational marijuana would be next.^[1]

Crime

Rutherford is "skeptical" of shorter prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenses.^[1]

He authored the Students, Teachers and Officers Prevent (STOP) School Violence Act, that would "authorize $50 million a year in new federal grants to help educate students, faculty and law enforcement learn how to spot and report warning signs of potential gun violence." As of March 2018, he reportedly has been "pressing leadership and appropriators" to include said funding for the bipartisan bill (it has more than 75 co-sponsors) in the omnibus spending bill.^[20]

Immigration and refugees

Rutherford supports increased border security and immigration reform. He calls "immigration the lifeblood of American history." He says "ignoring illegal immigration is foolish, dangerous, and erodes public and international confidence in our rule of law." He supports providing avenues to enable immigrants and refugees to move to America, including using E-Verify. Rutherford wants the federal government to invest funding to communities to assist with refugee relocations.^[19]

Tax reform

Rutherford voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.^[21] Rutherford claims that new tax plan will benefit "hardworking Americans" and that it is "a good thing for taxpayers, it’s a good thing for business, it’s gunna be great for our economy."^[22]

Offshore drilling

Rutherford opposes offshore drilling on the Atlantic coast.^[23] Rutherford joined Democrat Jeff Van Drew to introduce the Atlantic Coastal Economies Protection Act, which would prohibit seismic air gun testing in the Atlantic Ocean.^[24]

Elections

Rutherford campaigned for Duval County sheriff, running against fellow Republicans David Anderson and Lem Sharp. In the election on April 15, 2003, Rutherford won 135,038 votes, 78 percent of the total. He took office on July 1, 2003. Rutherford was re-elected in 2007^[25] and 2011.^[26]

On August 30, 2016, he won the Republican Primary for Florida's 4th Congressional District.^[27]

Personal life

Rutherford is married to his wife, Patricia, and has two children.^[29][1] Rutherford is Catholic.^[1]

References

External links

• [https://rutherford.house.gov Congressman John Rutherford] official U.S. House website
• Campaign website
• {{Dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Florida/Government/Federal/US_House/John_Rutherford_%5BR-4%5D|John Rutherford}}
• {{ CongLinks | congbio = R000609 | fec = H6FL04105 | votesmart = 172542 | congress = john-rutherford/R000609 }}
• {{C-SPAN|johnrutherford}}

• Centro de Bachillerato Tecnologico Agropecuario No. 18
• Centro de Bachillerato Tecnologico agropecuario No. 18
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• Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica
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• Centro de Conservacion Cetacea
• Centro de Convenciones de Ponce Juan H. Cintrón
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• Centro de Conveniciones Arena Saltillo
• Centro de Desenvolvimento Comunitario Manicore
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• Centro de Documentacion Musical de Andalucia
• Centro de Documentación Musical de Andalucía
• Centro de Estudios de Emprendimientos Solidarios
• Centro de Estudios de Formación Actoral
• Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones Tecnicas de Gipuzkoa
• Centro de Estudios Puertorriquenos
• Centro de Estudios Puertorriqueños
• Centro de Estudios Superiores Royal
• Centro de Estudios Tecnicos de Materiales Especiales
• Centro de Estudios y Formación Actoral
• Centro de Formacion Actoral
• Centro de Fotografia Isla de Tenerife
• Centro de Futebol Amazônia
• Centro de Futebol da Amazônia