Mary Bono Mack
US Representative of California’s 45th District
Politico recently reported that Mary Bono Mack, who normally “glides to reelection”, is facing a formidable opponent in challenger Raul Ruiz. Member of the Week Mary Bono Mack’s seat is seen by Democrats as an opportunity to regain control of the house, but she’s remained extremely popular with voters across the political spectrum for her entire fourteen-year legislative career.
Born Mary Whitaker on October 24, 1961, in Cleveland, Ohio, Mack’s family moved to Pasadena, California when she was a child. She worked her way through the University of Southern California, graduating in 1984 with a BA in art history.
Mary and Sonny Bono
In 1986, she married Sonny Bono, duo from “Sonny and Cher”, and together they had two children, Chesare Elan and Chianna Marie. Soon after, Sonny Bono became interested in politics, serving as Mayor of Palm Springs from 1988 to 1992 before being elected to Congress in 1994. Tragically, Bono died in a skiing accident in 1998. Mary decided to run for his seat and won the Republican nomination special election. She won the special selection in April 1998 before being elected to a full term in November of that year. She has been reelected in every subsequent election since.
As a congresswoman, Mack currently serves on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and chairs the subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade. Mack was a leading proponent of the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, dubbed “The Mickey Mouse Act,” which extended the terms of copyright. She has also sponsored legislation funding obesity research, autism research, and for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Act. Co-founded the Congressional Caucus on Prescription Drug Abuse to draft policies to tackle prescription drug abuse. She’s been supportive step-mother for Chaz Bono, the son of Cher and Sonny Bono. But has voted twice to against a federal constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage.
In 2007, Mack married fellow Congressman Connie Mack IV (R-FL) in Asheville, North Carolina. Thus changing her name from Mary Bono to Mary Bono Mack. Mary has been an outspoken supporter of 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
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