Tom Tancredo

Thomas Gerard Tancredo was born December 20, 1945 in Denver, Colorado to Adeline Lombardi and Gerald Tancredo.

While in college, Tancredo was active with the College Republicans and a conservative , nonpartisan organization, Young Americans for Freedom (YAF). Tancredo was in favor of the Vietnam War and spoke in support of the conflict as a Republican student activist. He became eligible to serve in Vietnam after graduating from the University of Northern Colorado in June 1969. Tancredo has said he went for his physical, telling doctors he'd been treated for depression, and eventually got a "1-Y" deferment.

In 1976, while teaching history at Drake Junior High School in Denver, he ran for and won a seat in the Colorado House of Representatives. He served two terms (1977-1981) and was one of the leaders of a vocal group of conservative legislators opposing the policies of Colorado Governor Dick Lamm.

During the 1970s, Tancredo pioneered opposition to bilingual education , an issue that would remain a feature of his political orientation. Tancredo has been a member of the United States House of Representatives since 1999, representing the 6th Congressional District of Colorado.

A former Roman Catholic, Tancredo is now a member of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Tancredo is married to Jackie Tancredo. They met at Drake Junior High School as teachers, and married in 1977. They have two children and five grandchildren.

Politcial positions include: Tancredo is pro-life, strict enforcement of U.S. immigration laws and the deportation of all undocumented workers; and setting a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq.

Source: Wikipedia.