Ric Keller

Keller was born in Johnson City, Tennessee. He received a bachelor's degree from East Tennessee State University, where he graduated first in his class in 1986, and a J.D. degree from Vanderbilt University in 1992. He was a lawyer in Florida before being elected to the House of Representatives in 2000.

Keller served eight years in the U.S. House of Representatives. He chaired the House Higher Education subcommittee served on the Judiciary and Education committees. Keller is now a partner at law firm of Hill, Rugh, Keller & Main, P.L. in Orlando, Fla. He lives in Winter Park, Florida with his wife, Lori, and their blended family.

• Education and the Workforce Committee (now "Education and Labor")
• Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education
• Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness (Chairman and Ranking Member)
• Judiciary Committee
• Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property
• Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law
• Antitrust Task Force and Competition Policy

In Keller's first run for Congress, he finished in second place in the Republican primary with 31% of the vote, against fellow Republican Bill Sublette, who had 43%, but defeated Sublette in the runoff election, getting 52% of that vote.

In the 2000 general election, Keller won with 51% of the vote against Democrat Linda Chapin.Rachel Kapochunas, [https://www.nytimes.com/cq/2006/12/05/cq_2009.html "Keller’s Early ‘08 Opponent Focusing on Broken Term Limit Pledge"], New York Times, December 5, 2006

Keller readily won the 2002 Congressional election against Democrat Eddie Diaz, winning with 65% of the vote.

In 2004 Keller won his third term with 60% of the vote against Democratic challenger Stephen Murray.

{{Main|Florida U.S. House election, 2006}}

In 2006, Keller won the Republican primary with 72% of the vote, defeating businesswoman Elizabeth Doran. In the general election, Keller defeated Democrat Charlie Stuart, 53% to 46%.

{{See also|United States House of Representatives elections in Florida, 2008}}

In 2008, Keller won the Republican primary defeating attorney Todd Long 53% to 47%, but lost the general election 48% to 52% to Democrat Alan Grayson when the GOP presidential nominee John McCain lost the district 47% to 52% to Democrat Barack Obama.

In 2003, Keller introduced the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2004-03-26 |title=H.R.339 - 108th Congress (2003-2004): Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/108th-congress/house-bill/339 |access-date= |website=www.congress.gov}} The act "dismisses pending civil actions by any person against a manufacturer or seller of food or a trade association for any injury resulting from a person's consumption of food and weight gain, obesity, or any associated health condition". Keller received over $300,000 from the Food & Beverage Industry throughout his career.{{Cite web |title=Ric Keller |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/ric-keller/industries?cid=N00009614&cycle=CAREER&type=I |website=OpenSecrets}}

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Category:1964 births

Category:Living people

Category:Methodists from Florida

Category:East Tennessee State University alumni

Category:Politicians from Orlando, Florida

Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Florida

Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives