John Rutherford (Florida politician)

Template:Short description Template:About Template:Use mdy dates {{#invoke:infobox|infoboxTemplate | bodyclass = vcard | bodystyle = {{#if:|width: {{{mainwidth}}}}} | child = {{{embed}}}

| abovestyle = font-size: 100%;

| above = {{#if:|

{{{honorific-prefix}}}

}}

{{#if:John Rutherford|John Rutherford|Template:PAGENAMEBASE}}

{{#if:|

{{{honorific-suffix}}}

}}

| subheaderstyle = font-size:125%; font-weight:bold;

| subheader = {{#ifeq:{{{embed}}}|yes||{{#if:|{{#if:|

}}{{{native_name}}}{{#if:|

}}}}}}

| image = {{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage|image=Rutherford John 119th Congress (cropped).jpg|size=|upright=1|alt=|suppressplaceholder=yes}} | image2 = {{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage|image=|size=|upright=1|alt=|suppressplaceholder=yes}} | image3 = {{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage|image=|upright=1|alt=|suppressplaceholder=yes}} | captionstyle = line-height:normal;padding-top:0.2em; | caption{{#if:|3|{{#if:|2}}}} =

| headerstyle = color: #202122; {{#ifeq:{{{embed}}}|yes|background:#eee|background:lavender}}

| data1 = {{#if:| {{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}}}Template:Infobox officeholder/office{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| {{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}

| data2 = | header3 = {{#if:John Henry RutherfordTemplate:Birth date and ageOmaha, Nebraska, U.S.RepublicanTemplate:Marriage2Florida State College at Jacksonville (AS)
Florida State University (BS)|Personal details}} | label4 = Pronunciation | data4 =

| label5 = Born | data5 = {{#invoke:Separated entries|br

  |1={{#if:John Henry Rutherford|John Henry Rutherford}}
  |2={{#invoke:person date|birth}}

|3={{#if:Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.|

Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.

}}

}}

| label6 = Died | data6 = {{#invoke:Separated entries|br

 |1={{#invoke:person date|death}}

|2={{#if:|

}}

}}

| label7 = {{#ifexpr: Template:Strfind short

   | Manner |{{#if:|Manner|Cause}} }} of death

| data7 = {{#if:||}}

| label8 = Resting place | class8 = label | data8 = {{#invoke:Separated entries|br||}}

| label9 = Citizenship | data9 =

| label10 = Nationality | data10 = {{#if:|{{#if:{{#invoke:find country|main|string=Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.}}|{{#switch:{{#invoke:delink|delink|{{{nationality}}}}}| {{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Country2nationality||{{#invoke:find country|main|string={{#invoke:delink|delink|Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.}}}}|nocat=true}}|{{#invoke:delink|delink|{{{nationality}}}}}|{{#invoke:delink|delink|{{{nationality}}}}}}} = | {{#ifeq:{{#invoke:find country|main|string=Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.}}|England|British}} = | #default = {{{nationality}}}}}|{{{nationality}}}}}|}} | label11 = Political party | data11 = {{#switch:Republican | = | Democrat | Democratic | Democrat = Democratic | Republican | United States Republican Party | Republican | Republican Party = Republican | Conservative Party | Conservative = Conservative | Labour Party | Labour = Labour | Conservative Party | Conservative = Conservative | Liberal Party | Liberal = Liberal | KMT | Kuomintang | KMT | KMT | Kuomintang | Kuomintang (KMT) | Kuomintang (KMT) = Kuomintang | DPP | DPP | Democratic Progressive Party = Democratic Progressive Party | #default = Republican }}

| label12 = Other political
affiliations | data12 =

| label13 = Height | data13 = {{#if:|Template:Infobox person/height}}

| label14 = Spouse{{#if:|s|{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize|Template:Marriage|likely=(s)|plural=s}}}} | data14 = Template:Marriage

| label15 = Domestic partner{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize||likely=(s)|plural=s}} | data15 =

| label16 = Relations | data16 =

| label17 = Children | data17 = 2

| label18 = Parent{{#if:|{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize||likely=(s)|plural=s}}|{{#ifexpr:Template:Count > 1|s}}}} | data18 = {{#if:|{{{parents}}}|{{#invoke:list|unbulleted|{{#if:|{{{father}}} (father)}}|{{#if:|{{{mother}}} (mother)}}}}}}

| label19 = Relatives | data19 =

| label20 = Residence{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize||likely=(s)|plural=s}} | class20 = {{#if:||label}} | data20 =

| label21 = Education | data21 = Florida State College at Jacksonville (AS)
Florida State University (BS)

| label22 = Alma mater | data22 =

| label23 = Occupation | data23 =

| label24 = Profession | data24 =

| label25 = Known for | data25 =

| label26 = Salary | data26 =

| label27 = Cabinet | data27 =

| label28 = Committees | data28 =

| label29 = Portfolio | data29 =

| label30 = {{#if:|Civilian awards|Awards}} | data30 =

| label31 = {{{blank1}}} | data31 =

| label32 = {{{blank2}}} | data32 =

| label33 = {{{blank3}}} | data33 =

| label34 = {{{blank4}}} | data34 =

| label35 = {{{blank5}}} | data35 =

| label36 = Signature | data36 = {{#if:|[[File:{{{signature}}}|{{#if:|{{{signature_size}}}|128x80px}}|class=skin-invert notpageimage|alt=|John Rutherford (Florida politician)'s signature]]}}

| label37 = Website | data37 = Template:Url
Template:Url

| label38 = Nickname{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize||likely=(s)|plural=s}} | data38 =

| header39 = {{#if:|Military service}}

| label40 = Allegiance | data40 =

| label41 = {{#if:||Branch/service}} | data41 =

| label42 = {{#if:||Years of service}} | data42 =

| label43 = {{#if:||Rank}} | data43 =

| label44 = {{#if:||Unit}} | data44 =

| label45 = Commands | data45 =

| label46 = {{#if:||Battles/wars}} | data46 =

| label47 = {{#if:|Military awards|Awards}} | data47 =

| label48 = {{{military_blank1}}} | data48 =

| label49 = {{{military_blank2}}} | data49 =

| label50 = {{{military_blank3}}} | data50 =

| label51 = {{{military_blank4}}} | data51 =

| label52 = {{{military_blank5}}} | data52 =

| data53 = | data54 = | data55 = | data56 = | data57 = | data58 = | belowstyle = border-top: 1px solid right;

| below =

{{#if:| As of {{{date}}}{{#if:|, {{{year}}}}}}}

{{#if:|Source: [{{{source}}}]}}

}}{{#if:|{{#ifeq:{{#ifeq:|no|yes}}|yes||}} }}{{#if:|{{#ifeq:{{#ifeq:|no|yes}}|yes||}} }}{{#if:|{{#if:||{{#ifeq:{{#ifeq:|no|yes}}|yes||}}}} }}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox officeholder with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| regexp1 = 1blankname[%d]* | regexp2 = 1namedata[%d]* | regexp3 = 2blankname[%d]* | regexp4 = 2namedata[%d]* | regexp5 = 3blankname[%d]* | regexp6 = 3namedata[%d]* | regexp7 = 4blankname[%d]* | regexp8 = 4namedata[%d]* | regexp9 = 5blankname[%d]* | regexp10 = 5namedata[%d]* | allegiance | alma_mater | regexp11 = alongside[%d]* | alt | regexp12 = ambassador_from[%d]* | regexp13 = appointed[%d]* | regexp14 = appointer[%d]* | regexp15 = assembly[%d]* | awards | battles | battles_label | birth_date | birth_name | birth_place | birthname | regexp16 = blank[%d]* | bodyclass | branch | branch_label | cabinet | candidate | caption | categories | regexp17 = chancellor[%d]* | children | citizenship | regexp18 = co%-leader[%d]* | commands | committees | regexp19 = constituency[%d]* | regexp20 = constituency_AM[%d]* | regexp21 = constituency_MP[%d]* | regexp22 = convocation[%d]* | regexp23 = country[%d]* | regexp24 = data[%d]* | date | death_cause | death_date | death_manner | death_place | demo | regexp25 = deputy[%d]* | regexp26 = district[%d]* | education | election_date | embed | father | regexp28 = firstminister[%d]* | footnotes | regexp29 = governor[%d]* | regexp30 = governor_general[%d]* | regexp31 = governor%-general[%d]* | height | honorific_prefix | honorific-prefix | honorific_suffix | honorific-suffix | image | image name | image_name_alt | image_size | imagesize | image_upright | incumbent | regexp32 = jr/sr[%d]* | regexp33 = jr/sr and state[%d]* | known_for | regexp34 = leader[%d]* | regexp35 = legislature[%d]* | regexp36 = lieutenant[%d]* | regexp37 = lieutenant_governor[%d]* | mainwidth | regexp38 = majority[%d]* | regexp39 = majority_floor_leader[%d]* | regexp40 = majority_leader[%d]* | regexp41 = majorityleader[%d]* | mawards | regexp42 = military_blank[%d]* | regexp43 = military_data[%d]* | regexp44 = minister[%d]* | regexp45 = minister_from[%d]* | regexp46 = minority_floor_leader[%d]* | regexp47 = minority_leader[%d]* | regexp48 = minorityleader[%d]* | regexp49 = module[%d]* | regexp50 = monarch[%d]* | mother | name | nationality | native_name | native_name_lang | nickname | nocat | regexp51 = nominator[%d]* | nominee | occupation | regexp52 = office[%d]* | opponent | regexp53 = order[%d]* | otherparty | parents | regexp54 = parliament[%d]* | regexp55 = parliamentarygroup[%d]* | partner | party | party_election | portfolio | regexp56 = preceded[%d]* | regexp57 = preceding[%d]* | regexp58 = predecessor[%d]* | regexp59 = premier[%d]* | regexp60 = president[%d]* | regexp61 = primeminister[%d]* | regexp62 = prior_term[%d]* | profession | pronunciation | rank | rank_label | relations | relatives | residence | resting_place | resting_place_coordinates | restingplace | restingplacecoordinates | regexp63 = riding[%d]* | runningmate | salary | serviceyears | serviceyears_label | signature | signature_alt | signature_size | smallimage | smallimage_alt | source | speaker | speaker_office | spouse | spouses | regexp64 = state[%d]* | regexp65 = state_assembly[%d]* | regexp66 = state_delegate[%d]* | regexp67 = state_house[%d]* | regexp68 = state_legislature[%d]* | regexp69 = state_senate[%d]* | regexp70 = status[%d]* | regexp71 = suboffice[%d]* | regexp72 = subterm[%d]* | regexp73 = succeeded[%d]* | regexp74 = succeeding[%d]* | regexp75 = successor[%d]* | regexp76 = taoiseach[%d]* | regexp77 = term[%d]* | regexp78 = term_end[%d]* | regexp79 = term_label[%d]* | regexp80 = term_start[%d]* | regexp81 = termend[%d]* | regexp82 = termlabel[%d]* | regexp83 = termstart[%d]* | regexp84 = title[%d]* | unit | unit_label | regexp85 = vicegovernor[%d]* | regexp86 = vicepremier[%d]* | regexp87 = vicepresident[%d]* | regexp88 = viceprimeminister[%d]* | regexp89 = assuming[%d]* | website | width | year }} John Henry Rutherford (Template:IPAc-en; born September 2, 1952) is an American politician and former law enforcement officer serving as the U.S. representative from Florida's 5th congressional district since 2017. A member of the Republican Party, his district encompasses southeast Jacksonville and all of St. Johns County.

Rutherford was an officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office for four decades, before being elected Duval County sheriff in 2003; he remained in that post until 2015. In 2016, he ran for the House of Representatives in what was at the time Florida's 4th congressional district. He won the election and was reelected in 2018, 2020, and 2022.

Early life and education

John Rutherford was born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1952.<ref name="Guide1">Template:Cite journal</ref> His father was in the U.S. 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 graduated from Nathan Bedford Forest High School in 1970.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He surfed in his free time.<ref name="Treen62715">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1972, he earned his Associate of Science in criminology from Florida State College at Jacksonville, formerly Florida Junior College, followed by his Bachelor of Science in criminology from Florida State University in 1974.<ref name="Guide1"/>

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office

File:SheriffJohnRutherford.jpg

Rutherford as Jacksonville sheriff

Rutherford spent 41 years at the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, first as a sheriff's deputy and for the final 12 years as the elected sheriff.<ref name="Treen62715"/> He joined the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office in 1974 as a patrolman.<ref name=RutherfordVeteran>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was promoted to sergeant in 1980<ref name="Treen62715"/> and ultimately rose to the rank of captain.<ref name="Treen62715"/> At various points, he commanded the Arson and Burglary divisions, led the Police Academy, and led patrol units on the Southside. He was also Chief of Services, Traffic and Special Operations, and Chief of Patrol.<ref name=RutherfordVeteran/> He was appointed director of corrections in 1995<ref name=RutherfordVeteran/> by then-Sheriff Nat Glover.<ref name="Treen62715"/> In that role, he was responsible for overseeing the jail.<ref name="Treen62715"/>

Rutherford ran for 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 said that a lawyer had told him there was no conflict, but he retired in March 2003 anyway, in order to remove any doubt, with 28 years of service.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The Florida Times-Union reported in 2015, "Supporters and even those who criticize him say Rutherford has been steadfast and unwavering in his faith and his convictions as a lawman, a trait some say has brought success while others say is to his detriment."<ref name="Treen62715"/> Rutherford's tenure was marked by rises and falls in crime: from 2002 to 2005, Jacksonville suffered an increase in murder and other violent crime; murders briefly declined in 2005, but then rose again each year until 2008, when another decline began.<ref name="Treen62715"/> In 2007, the Florida Times-Union endorsed Rutherford for reelection—saying that he was generally moving his department "in a positive direction"—but criticized the pace and inadequacies of key initiatives, such as reducing the murder rate, tackling illegal guns, and initiating a management audit.<ref name=Slow>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Overall, the Jacksonville crime rate was about the same at the beginning and end of Rutherford's tenure.<ref name="Treen62715"/>

As sheriff, Rutherford was a staunch critic of State Attorney Harry Shorstein and an ally of his successor, Angela Corey.<ref name="Treen62715"/> He was credited with improving the sheriff's department's capacities to deal with mental health matters and his oversight of a prisoner reentry program, but was criticized for enduring tensions and a lack of trust between the local African American community and police, as well as a high number of police shootings by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.<ref name="Treen62715"/> According to a Wall Street Journal report, Jacksonville had the ninth-highest rate of justifiable homicides among the U.S.'s 105 largest police department efforts between 2007 and 2012.<ref name="Treen62715"/>

U.S. House of Representatives

File:Mike Pence and John Rutherford.jpg

Rutherford meeting with Vice President Mike Pence on board Air Force Two, March 2017

Elections

2016

After initially considering a run for the state House,<ref name="Piggott" /> Rutherford announced his candidacy for Florida's 4th congressional district on April 15, 2016, for the open seat created by the retirement of the Republican incumbent, Ander Crenshaw.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Originally he announced he would run for Florida's 6th congressional district in 2015.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Because the 4th district is a Republican safe seat, Rutherford was heavily favored in each election.<ref name="Monroe2017">Nate Monroe, Eight months in office, U.S. Rep. Rutherford backs Trump, laments partisanship, Florida Times-Union (September 5, 2017).</ref><ref name="Bauerlein">David Bauerlein, Race between Rutherford and Deegan pits two well-known candidates for Congress, Florida Times-Union (October 21, 2020).</ref><ref name="Lopsided">David Bauerlein, Rutherford powers to lopsided win in congressional race Template:Webarchive, Florida Times-Union (November 7, 2016).</ref>

In the August 2016 Republican primary, Rutherford faced State Representative Lake Ray, St. Johns County Commissioner Bill McClure and former St. Johns Water Management District executive director Hans Tanzler III.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rutherford won the nomination with 38.7% of the vote, to Ray's 20.1%, Tanzler's 19.0%, and McClure's 9.8%.<ref>August 30, 2016 Primary Election: Republican Primary, Florida Division of Elections.</ref> In the general election, Rutherford defeated Democratic nominee David Bruderly,<ref name=Lopsided/> 70.2% to 27.6%.<ref>November 8, 2016 General Election, Florida Division of Elections.</ref>

2018

In 2018, Rutherford was challenged by Democratic nominee Ges Selmont, a Ponte Vedra Beach attorney.<ref>Melissa Ross, Selmont Hoping To Unseat Rutherford In District 4 Congressional Race, WJCT (October 9, 2018).</ref> He was reelected, 65.2% to 32.4%.<ref>November 6, 2018 General Election, Florida Division of Elections.</ref>

File:John Rutherford official photo.jpg

Rutherford during the 115th United States Congress (2017)

2020

In 2020, Rutherford won re-nomination in a low-key Republican primary, defeating retired Navy chief petty officer Erick Aguilar<ref>David Bauerlein, Congressman John Rutherford faces GOP challenger as he eyes match-up with Donna Deegan, Florida Times-Union (August 8, 2020).</ref> with 80.2% of the vote to Aguilar's 19.8%.<ref>August 18, 2020 Primary Election, Florida Division of Elections.</ref> In the general election, Rutherford defeated Democratic nominee Donna Deegan, a former local TV anchor and breast cancer awareness advocate,<ref name="Bauerlein" /> 61.1% to 38.9%.<ref>November 3, 2020 General Election, Florida Division of Elections.</ref>

2022

Rutherford won the Republican primary with 65.6% of the vote.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was uncontested in the general election.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2024

Rutherford ran for re-election in 2024.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Tenure

On January 11, 2017, Rutherford collapsed on the floor of the House, in what his staffers described as an "acute digestive flareup";<ref name="Winkle11217"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> he was taken to the hospital, and released ten days later.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Dead link</ref>

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
• Committee on Ethics

Caucus memberships

• Republican Main Street Partnership<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Republican Governance Group<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Congressional Coalition on Adoption<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Rare Disease Caucus<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Investigation

In February 2021, Rutherford joined the House Committee on Ethics. The Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) board filed a February 2022 report stating that there was "substantial reason to believe"<ref name=FACES /> Rutherford had not filed timely disclosure reports as required by federal law and House rules.<ref name="LAW">Template:Cite news</ref> The House Committee on Ethics released a report on May 31, 2022, indicating that it was investigating one of its members over repeated reporting violations of the STOCK Act, enacted in 2012 to prevent insider trading using non-public information by members of Congress and other government employees. Members of Congress are required to report any stock transaction over $1,000 within 45 days. Violations are subject to a $200 fine. Between January 2017 and December 2021, Rutherford had 157 late reports involving trades worth between $652,000 and $3.5 million.<ref name=FACES /><ref name="LAW" /> Most were from his first term, but the violations continued thereafter. The OCE report noted an $800 fine payment in November 2021 but asked whether Rutherford had been "properly penalized for his repeated violations of federal law and House rules".<ref name=FACES /> The OCE report also said that Rutherford and Jen Bailey, his chief of staff, were uncooperative by refusing to meet and answer questions. The fine for 157 violations would be $31,400. During his time in Congress, Rutherford had "several trainings on his disclosure obligations" for reporting stock transactions, according to the OCE report.<ref name="FACES">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Rutherford initially contended that the stock trades are made by the manager of his IRA, so he should have been exempt from the reporting requirements. One of his lawyers, Kate Belinski, sent the OCE a letter on March 18, 2022, insisting that the late reports were "an entirely inadvertent oversight" based on a "simple misunderstanding of the requirements".<ref name=FACES /> She wrote that Rutherford had cooperated by providing the documents OCE requested. Belinski also claimed that Rutherford has a new system to track and file STOCK transactions.<ref name=FACES /> Rutherford said, "Everything is done, as far as I know. I paid the fine that they asked for, and I'm done with it."<ref name=FACES />

Political positions

Rutherford aligned himself with President Donald Trump,<ref name=Monroe2017/> voting in line with Trump's position 96.6% of the time.<ref name=538Tracker>Tracking Congress in the Age of Trump: John Rutherford, Republican representative for Florida's 4th DistrictTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore, FiveThirtyEight (2021).</ref> He voted against a majority of fellow Republicans approximately 3.9% of the time.<ref>John Rutherford (R-Fla.), Represent Project, ProPublica (2020).</ref>Template:When

Gun policy

In 2017, Rutherford signed a letter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives expressing his support for legislation to ban bump stocks.<ref name="Dean 2017">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

From 2015 to 2016, Rutherford received $1,000 in campaign donations from the NRA Political Victory Fund.<ref name="Grinberg 2018">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2018, Rutherford sponsored a bill, the STOP (Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing) School Violence Act, that authorized $50 million a year to create a federal grant program "to train students, teachers and law enforcement on how to spot and report signs of gun violence"; the House approved the bill, 407–10. The bill authorized funding for the development of "anonymous telephone and online systems where people could report threats of violence" and $25 million for schools to "improve and harden their security, such as installing new locks, lights, metal detectors and panic buttons."<ref name=Zanona>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A separate spending bill would be required to provide money for the grant program;<ref name=Zanona/> Rutherford sought to include such funding as part of an omnibus spending bill.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Environment

In interviews in 2016<ref>Ellen Cranley, These are the 130 current members of Congress who have doubted or denied climate change, Business Insider (April 29, 2019).</ref> and 2019,<ref name=Rivers>Brendan Rivers, Rutherford: Green New Deal A 'Socialist Manifesto' Dressed As Environmental Proposal, WJCT (February 21, 2019).</ref> he acknowledged the existence of climate change but questioned the scientific consensus that human activity has caused the increase in warming.<ref name=Rivers/> Rutherford has expressed concern over sea level rise, which would adversely impact St. Augustine.<ref name=Rivers/><ref>Sheldon Gardner, Rutherford says sea level rise, health care are among priorities, St. Augustine Record (February 1, 2020).</ref> He has criticized the Green New Deal proposal as a "socialist manifesto".<ref name=Rivers/>

Rutherford and Representative Jeff Van Drew introduced the Atlantic Coastal Economies Protection Act, which would prohibit seismic air gun testing in the Atlantic Ocean.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2019, in a break with Trump's position, Rutherford voted in favor of legislation to ban offshore drilling along the Atlantic coast, Pacific coast, and eastern Gulf of Mexico coast.<ref name=538Tracker/> In 2019, he introduced bipartisan legislation (cosponsored by eight Florida Democrats and nine Florida Republicans) to extend a moratorium on oil and gas drilling in federal waters off Florida's Gulf Coast until 2029, and to create a similar moratorium on offshore drilling in federal waters off Florida's South Atlantic coast and in the Straits of Florida.<ref>Steve Patterson, Rutherford aims to ban offshore drilling around Florida, Florida Times-Union (June 28, 2019).</ref>

Health care

Rutherford supported the unsuccessful 2017 effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act.<ref name="Monroe2017" /> In 2021, he sponsored legislation seeking to block the government from asking passengers on domestic flights whether they had been vaccinated against COVID-19.<ref>Sydney Boles, Florida Legislators Lead Federal Push To Ban Vaccine Passports at Airports, WJCT (July 1, 2021).</ref>

LGBT rights

Rutherford voted against the Equality Act in 2019<ref>Steve Contorno, How Florida members of Congress voted on historic LGBTQ protection bill, Tampa Bay Times (May 17, 2019).</ref> and 2021.<ref>Congressional Votes: Rutherford, Waltz vote against Equality Bill, Targeted News Service/St. Augustine Record (February 27, 2021).</ref>

Policing and criminal justice

Being one of two former sheriffs in Congress,<ref name=Monroe2017/>Template:When Rutherford is "skeptical" of shorter prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenses.<ref name="Guide1" /> During his campaign for Congress, he called Black Lives Matter a "hate group".<ref name=Monroe2017/>

Rutherford opposes capital punishment,<ref name=Monroe2017/><ref name=Piggott>Jim Piggott, Sheriff speaks out against death penalty, may run for state House seat, WJXT (January 24, 2015).</ref> citing his Catholic faith.<ref name=Piggott/>

Economy, trade, and taxation

Rutherford voted for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017,<ref name="Almukhtar122017">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> a measure he praised as good for the economy.<ref name="Brown121917">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Foreign and military policy

Rutherford's district includes two major U.S. Navy bases (Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport), and he has pressed issues important to the bases. Like other members of Florida's delegation, he pressed for two squadrons of the F-35 Lightning II to be based with the 125th Fighter Wing of the Florida Air National Guard in Jacksonville.<ref name=Monroe2017/>

Donald Trump

Rutherford defended some of Trump's most controversial statements and actions as president, including his pardon of ex-sheriff Joe Arpaio and his comments after a deadly far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.<ref name=Monroe2017/> Rutherford voted against both Trump's first impeachment (in 2019, on articles of obstruction of Congress and abuse of power) and his second impeachment (in 2021, on an article of incitement of insurrection).<ref name=538Tracker/>

Effort to overturn 2020 election result

Template:Further Rutherford refused to accept the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Trump lost to Joe Biden. He echoed Trump's false claims of election fraud and suggested that Republican-controlled state legislatures in swing states Biden won could hold a "decertification vote" that would lead to the U.S. House selecting the next president, though he acknowledged that this was unlikely to succeed.<ref>Anne Schindler, John Rutherford to reject Electoral College results showing Joe Biden won the election, First Coast News (January 1, 2021).</ref> On January 7, 2021, after the Capitol was attacked by a pro-Trump mob in an attempted insurrection, Rutherford was one of 138 House Republicans who voted not to count the electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania, despite a number of audits and recounts confirming the election outcome in those states.<ref>Joshua Ceballos, Here Are the 13 Florida Republicans Who Objected to Biden's Vote Certification, Miami New Times (January 7, 2021).</ref>

In December 2020, Rutherford was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the U.S. Supreme Court that sought to overturn the election results.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

After Trump was impeached for his role in inciting a pro-Trump mob to storm the Capitol over false claims of election fraud, Rutherford condemned Representative Liz Cheney for voting to impeach Trump, accusing her of not being a "team player."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Immigration

In 2018, Rutherford defended the Trump administration policy of separating parents and children at the U.S.-Mexico border, and opposed legislation that would end the practice.<ref>A.G. Gancarski, Father's Day message: Florida Republicans defend family separations at Mexican border, FloridaPolitics.com (June 17, 2018).</ref> After coming under pressure, Trump reversed his policy, a move Rutherford welcomed.<ref>Kent Justice, Lawson, Rutherford react to Trump signing executive order to end family separations, WJXT (June 21, 2018).</ref>

In 2017, Rutherford introduced legislation to create a path to citizenship for holders of E-2 Treaty Investor Visas, a special visa for business owners.<ref>Lindsey Kilbride, Jacksonville Business Owner Could Get Path To Citizenship Under Rep. Rutherford Bill, WJCT (August 4, 2017).</ref>

Social issues

Rutherford opposes abortion.<ref name=Gilliam>Derek Gilliam, Sheriff Rutherford talks about his future, crime, abortion and a 'culture of death' Template:Webarchive, Florida Times-Union (January 22, 2015).</ref> In interviews in 2015, he contended that the U.S. had a "culture of death" he attributed to Roe v. Wade<ref name=Piggott/><ref name=Gilliam/> and violent video games and movies.<ref name=Piggott/>

Marijuana

Rutherford opposes the legalization of marijuana. He voted against the 2014 ballot initiative to legal medicinal marijuana in Florida, believing that it would ultimately lead to the legalization of recreational marijuana<ref name="Guide1" /> and to marijuana "in every backpack in every high school in Duval County."<ref>Max Marbut, Sheriff John Rutherford supports use of medical marijuana but not Amendment 2, Jacksonville Daily Record (September 22, 2014).</ref>

Veterans

Rutherford voted against the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022 which expanded VA benefits to veterans exposed to toxic chemicals during their military service.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Other

Rutherford has supported the use of earmarks and has called for the elimination or restriction of the U.S. Senate rule that requires 60 Senate votes to invoke cloture (i.e., end debate on bills); he described both proposals as a way to facilitate compromise between the parties and reduce gridlock.<ref name=Monroe2017/><ref>Jon Blauvelt, Rep. Rutherford calls for procedural changes at Chamber luncheon to promote bipartisanship in Congress, Ponte Vedra Recorder (November 2, 2017).</ref> Rutherford has said that he supports local referendums to resolve disputes over the fate of public Confederate monuments.<ref name=Monroe2017/>

Elections

Rutherford campaigned for Duval County sheriff, running against fellow Republicans David Anderson and Lem Sharp. In the election on April 15, 2003, he received 135,038 votes, 78% of the total. He took office on July 1, 2003. Rutherford was reelected in 2007 and 2011.<ref>Dana Treen, John Rutherford wins re-election as Jacksonville sheriff, Florida Times-Union (March 22, 2011).</ref>

On August 30, 2016, he won the Republican primary for Florida's 4th Congressional District.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

Rutherford is married to his wife, Patricia, and has two children<ref name="Winkle11217">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Guide1" /> and six grandchildren.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He and his wife are Catholic.<ref name=Piggott/><ref name="Guide1" />

External links

• Congressman John Rutherford official U.S. House website
• Campaign website
• Template:CongLinks
• Template:C-SPAN

Template:S-start Template:S-par Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft |- Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-inc |- Template:S-prec Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft Template:S-end