Pete Domenici facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pete Domenici
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| United States Senator from New Mexico |
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| In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Clinton P. Anderson |
| Succeeded by | Tom Udall |
| Chair of the Senate Energy Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Jeff Bingaman |
| Succeeded by | Jeff Bingaman |
| Chair of the Senate Budget Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1995 – June 6, 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Jim Sasser |
| Succeeded by | Kent Conrad |
| In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Fritz Hollings |
| Succeeded by | Lawton Chiles |
| 37th Mayor of Albuquerque | |
| In office October 1967 – March 1970 |
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| Preceded by | Ralph Trigg |
| Succeeded by | Charles E. Barnhart |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Pietro Vichi Domenici
May 7, 1932 Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Died | September 13, 2017 (aged 85) Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Resting place | Mount Calvary Cemetery Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Nancy Burk |
| Children | 9, including Adam Laxalt |
| Education | University of New Mexico (BA) University of Denver (LLB) |
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Pietro Vichi "Pete" Domenici (born May 7, 1932 – died September 13, 2017) was an American lawyer and politician. He served as a United States Senator for New Mexico from 1973 to 2009. As a member of the Republican Party, he served six terms. This made him the longest-serving U.S. Senator in New Mexico's history. He was the last Republican elected to the Senate from New Mexico. Tom Udall, a Democrat, took his place.
During his time in the Senate, Pete Domenici supported fees for using waterways. He also championed nuclear power and related causes. He led important groups like the Senate Budget Committee and the Senate Energy Committee.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Pete Domenici was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His parents, Alda and Cherubino Domenici, were from Modena, Italy.
As a child, Pete helped in his father's grocery store after school. He finished St. Mary's High School in Albuquerque in 1950. He then studied at the College of St. Joseph on the Rio Grande for two years. In 1954, he earned a degree in education from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
After college, Domenici played one season for the Albuquerque Dukes, a minor league baseball team. He also taught mathematics at Garfield Junior High in Albuquerque. He earned his law degree from the University of Denver law school in 1958. After that, he returned to Albuquerque to practice law.
Political Career Beginnings
In 1966, Domenici was elected to the Albuquerque City Commission. In 1968, he became the Commission Chairman. This role was like being the mayor of the city.
In 1970, Domenici ran for governor of New Mexico as a Republican. He lost to Democrat Bruce King.
Serving in the U.S. Senate
In 1972, Domenici won a seat in the U.S. Senate. He was the first Republican from New Mexico to be elected to the Senate in 38 years. He won with 54 percent of the votes.
He was re-elected five more times: in 1978, 1984, 1990, 1996, and 2002. He served in the Senate for 36 years, making him the longest-serving senator from New Mexico. When he retired, he was a top member of the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. He was also on the United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. He was part of the U.S. Senate Committees on Appropriations and Indian Affairs. He also led the Budget Committee.
Domenici strongly supported people with mental illnesses. He helped pass the Mental Health Parity Act in 1996. This law aimed to make sure insurance covered mental health care like other health care.
He voted to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday. He also supported the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987. In 1998, he voted to convict President Bill Clinton during his impeachment trial.
Waterway Usage Fees
One of the first issues Domenici worked on was waterway usage fees. Even though New Mexico does not have major commercial waterways, he saw this as important. The idea was that the Army Corps of Engineers built expensive waterway projects. The barge industry used these for free. In 1977, Domenici worked to create a fee for using these waterways. After two years of debate, the fee was passed in 1978. This law also included a project to rebuild a lock and dam in Illinois. Many people believed Domenici's skill helped pass this law.
This issue helped Domenici in New Mexico. The railroad industry was very important there. Railroads competed with barges and wanted to end the "free ride" for barges.
Environmental Views
Some environmental groups had concerns about Domenici's voting record. The organization Republicans for Environmental Protection gave him a low score in 2006. They criticized his efforts to allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. They also disliked his support for more drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.
The League of Conservation Voters also gave him a low environmental rating. They noted that his voting record became "anti-environmental" over time. They criticized his 1995 vote to let mining companies buy public lands cheaply. These lands could be bought for as little as $5 an acre without strong environmental rules.
Supporting Nuclear Power
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Pete Domenici was a strong supporter of nuclear power. He wrote a book called A Brighter Tomorrow: Fulfilling the Promise of Nuclear Energy. He also edited a book on advanced nuclear technologies.
Life After Politics
On October 4, 2007, Domenici announced he would not run for re-election in 2008. He made this decision due to health reasons. Tom Udall, a Democrat, won his Senate seat.
After leaving the Senate, Domenici worked as a senior fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center. He co-chaired a task force focused on reducing the national debt. This task force released a report in 2010 with ideas to lower the national debt and deficit.
The Domenici Institute is named after him. It aims to continue his "legacy of service to the state of New Mexico."
Personal Life
After law school in 1958, Pete Domenici married Nancy Burk. They had nine children: two sons and seven daughters (Lisa, Peter, Nella, Clare, David, Nanette, Paula, and Helen). One of his daughters has schizophrenia. This experience influenced his strong support for mental health insurance laws. His son, Adam Laxalt, later became a politician in Nevada.
Death
Pete Domenici passed away on September 13, 2017, at age 85. He died at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. His death was due to problems from abdominal surgery. His funeral was held in Albuquerque on September 16.
See also
- New Mexico State University's Domenici Institute.
