James V. Hansen

Who is James V. Hansen?

James Vear "Jim" Hansen was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Utah.

Hansen was born in Salt Lake City, graduating from the city's East High School. From 1951 until 1955 he served in the United States Navy. He attended the University of Utah, receiving a business degree from the school in 1961. The same year that he left college, Hansen was elected to the Farmington City Council. He also worked as an insurance agent.

From 1973 until 1980, Hansen was a member of the Utah House of Representatives and served as speaker of the house from 1979 until 1980. He was elected to Congress in 1980 and represented Utah's 1st congressional district from January 3, 1981.

In 1990 Hansen was one of the two main House sponsors of a resolution calling on the George H. W. Bush administration to stop pressure on Thailand to allow the sale of U.S. cigarettes.

Hansen retired on January 3, 2003. When the Republicans regained control of Congress in 1994, Hansen became chairman of the Committee on Resources. Hansen ran for the governorship in 2004, but was defeated in the Republican primaries by Jon Huntsman, Jr. who went on to win the election.