Candidate for
United States Representative; District 52

Congressman Duncan Hunter represents the 52nd Congressional District of California, encompassing eastern and northern San Diego County. First elected in 1980, the voters in the 52nd district re-elected him in 2004 with over 69% of the vote. A Vietnam veteran, he served in the 173rd Airborne and 75th Army Rangers. Hunter utilized the G.I. Bill to attend Western State University Law School in San Diego and, while completing his degree, he supplemented his income by working in farming and construction. After graduating, the new attorney opened a storefront legal office where he served many in the Hispanic community, often without compensation. In 1980, he was asked to mount a challenge for the Congressional seat held by an 18-year incumbent, Lionel Van Deerlin. Despite the district having a 2-to-1 Democrat registration, Hunter won the seat in an upset.

Coming to Washington, the new Congressman immediately sought a seat on the House Armed Services Committee where he could work on America's national security needs. Hunter became Chairman of the full committee in 2002. As Chairman, Hunter oversees a $532 billion defense budget and focuses his efforts on providing President Bush with the necessary resources to win our nation's military conflicts, protecting our men and women in uniform, and developing modernization initiatives that will move new and more effective technologies into the field of battle.

Since his election, Hunter has made securing the California-Mexico border a top priority. Congressman Hunter works tirelessly to ensure that the region is safe for communities on both sides of the border and to put a stop to illegal immigration and drug trafficking. His efforts have yielded over 59 miles of fencing and border infrastructure to date, including continued construction of the Southwest Border Fence Project. His provision to extend the San Diego Fence for 700 miles across Arizona, New Mexico and Texas is now law.

Congressman Hunter's other legislative priorities include retaining and increasing jobs in the 52nd District and across this nation, providing tax relief to hard-working families, keeping our promises to America's veterans, protecting Social Security for present and future generations, and continued cleanup efforts at the New River and Salton Sea in Imperial County, an area he represented for 20 years.

In response to the needs of his district, Hunter continues working to secure funding for local projects. Accomplishments include funding for the Mission Valley East Light Rail extension and continued funding for the widening of I-15 and adding more managed lanes to meet San Diego's growing transportation needs. Also, funds were provided for enhanced emergency care at Grossmont Hospital Emergency Department and Edgemore Hospital. Youth recreational and handicapped facilities were built throughout San Diego County at the Junior Seau Sports Complex and the Sweetwater and Loveland Reservoirs. To ensure the safety of students attending Shoal Creek Elementary School in Scripps Ranch, funds were allocated for the construction of a new pedestrian bridge. Congressman Hunter worked to provide funding for the new Boys and Girls Club in Santee, the YMCA in Rancho San Diego, La Maestra Clinic in El Cajon, which provides healthcare for low-income citizens, and Phoenix House, where drug users (particularly methamphetamine) are treated. Hunter's legislation saved the Mt. Soledad Memorial by making it a national memorial.

Congressman Hunter is residing in El Cajon with his wife, Lynne. Like many of his constituents, he is in the process of re-building his Alpine home after losing it in the October 2003 wildfires. In 2006, Duncan and Lynne celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary. They have two sons, Duncan Duane, honorably discharged from the Marines Corps and now president of Boise Hunter Homes, and Sam Hunter, a business student at San Diego State University. Duncan D. and his wife, Margaret, have three children, Duncan Lee, Elizabeth Grace and Sarah Louise and reside in Boise, Idaho. Sam was married on Valentine's Day 2004 to the former Theresa Heger of Jamul and they are expecting their first child.