Matthew Berry (politician)

Matthew B. Berry (born September 27, 1972) is a Republican Party politician and attorney. He challenged Military veteran Patrick Murray in the 2010 Republican primary election in Virginia's 8th congressional district, a Congressional seat in Northern Virginia then held by 10-term Democratic incumbent Jim Moran.[1] He was defeated narrowly by Murray in a June 8 primary.[2]

Matthew Berry
Born
Matthew B. Berry

(1972-09-27) September 27, 1972
Alma materDartmouth College
Yale Law School
OccupationAttorney
Political partyRepublican

Early life and career

Berry holds degrees from Dartmouth College and Yale Law School. After graduating from college, Berry clerked for Clarence Thomas at the United States Supreme Court. After serving in the judicial branch, he joined the United States Department of Justice, where he helped to gain reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT act, and crafted legislation to follow the recommendations of the 9/11 commission. During his time at the Justice Department, Berry won the John Marshall award; the department's highest award for legal performance by attorneys.

Following his tenure at the Department of Justice, Berry served as Deputy General Counsel and then General Counsel for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).[3] As the Commission's highest legal officer, Berry was responsible for providing legal advice, as well as defending the Commission's orders in court.

Congressional campaign
See also: Virginia's 8th congressional district election, 2010

Berry, who had never run for political office before 2010, raised more campaign funds than any other Republican candidate to run in the 8th district in recent years, with US$124,000 as of May 26, 2010.[4] The Congressional seat that Berry ran for lies directly south of Washington, D.C. and includes all of Arlington County, the city of Alexandria, Virginia and part of Fairfax County. The district has been won by Democratic candidates in the past three presidential elections by margins often exceeding ten points, and Jim Moran, the former mayor of Alexandria, held the district for nearly twenty years prior to retirement.[5]

Berry is pro-life, and supported overturning the United States Supreme Court decision in Roe vs. Wade. He also claimed on his website to believe that "All Americans should be seen as equal under the eyes of the law".[6] He also supports Second Amendment rights. Berry said that he wanted to end Congressional earmarking as well as to eliminate the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Berry's support of same-sex marriage and of repealing the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy drew some criticism from conservative bloggers in Virginia.[7]

In closing remarks at a debate with Patrick Murray at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Berry said his campaign was better organized to run against Moran and could attract crossover Democrats and independent voters. "I don’t want us to be in a situation again where we’re bringing a knife to a gunfight," he said.[8]

Berry was defeated by Murray narrowly on June 8, 2010. Prior to his defeat Berry had been the subject of mailers and calls sent out by the Murray campaign attacking his stance on gay rights issues.[2]

Personal life

Berry, who is openly gay, lives in Arlington, Virginia with his partner.[9]

See also
  • List of law clerks of the Supreme Court of the United States

References
  1. McCaffrey, Scott (April 16, 2010). "In the 8th, GOP Primary Is a Go, Democratic One Is a No". The Arlington Sun Gazette. Archived from the original on February 22, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
  2. Weigel, Dave (June 8, 2010). "A good night for the GOP establishment in Virginia". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
  3. "Matthew Berry, General Counsel". Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
  4. Flook, William C. (May 26, 2010). "Out-of-state donations pour into Va. congressional races". The Washington Examiner. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
  5. Benton, Nicholas F. (May 26, 2010). "2 Area GOP Primaries Loom, Spirited Campaigns in Each". The Falls Church News-Press. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
  6. "Issues - Individual Rights". Matthew Berry for Congress. Archived from the original on June 7, 2010. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
  7. Weigel, David (June 8, 2010). "A gay marriage GOP spat in Virginia". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
  8. Trompeter, Brian (May 25, 2010). "At Convention, 8th District Republican Contenders Take Aim at Moran". The Arlington Sun Gazette. Archived from the original on January 12, 2013. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
  9. "About Matthew". Matthew Berry for Congress. Archived from the original on May 22, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
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