View source for Richard Pombo

{{Short description|American politician (born 1961)}}
{{unreliable sources|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name         = Richard Pombo
| honorific-suffix   = [[Order of Prince Henry|GOIH]]
|image        = pombo richard.jpg
|office       = Chair of the [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|House Resources Committee]]
|term_start   = January 3, 2003
|term_end     = January 3, 2007
|predecessor  = [[James V. Hansen|Jim Hansen]]
|successor    = [[Nick Rahall]]
|state1       = [[California]]
|district1    = {{ushr|CA|11|11th}}
|term_start1  = January 3, 1993
|term_end1    = January 3, 2007
|predecessor1 = [[Tom Lantos]]
|successor1   = [[Jerry McNerney]]
|birth_name=Richard William Pombo
|birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1961|1|8}}
|birth_place  = [[Tracy, California]], U.S.
|death_date   = 
|death_place  = 
|party        = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|spouse       = Annette Cole
|alma_mater   = [[California State Polytechnic University, Pomona]]
|module       = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Rep. Richard Pombo on H.R.5946, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006.ogg|title=Richard Pombo's voice|type=speech|description=Pombo on his work with Democratic members of the [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|House Resources Committee]]<br />Recorded December 8, 2006}}
}}
'''Richard William Pombo''', [[Order of Prince Henry|GOIH]] (born January 8, 1961) is an American lobbyist for mining and water-management companies and former [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] member of the [[United States House of Representatives]], having represented [[California's 11th congressional district]] from 1993 to 2007. Pombo lost a [[reelection]] bid to Democratic challenger [[Jerry McNerney]] on November 7, 2006.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/22/climate/endangered-species-act-trump-administration.html | title=Lawmakers, Lobbyists and the Administration Join Forces to Overhaul the Endangered Species Act| newspaper=The New York Times| date=2018-07-22| last1=Davenport| first1=Coral| last2=Friedman| first2=Lisa}}</ref>

On January 4, 2010, Pombo announced his candidacy for Congress in [[California's 19th congressional district]] to succeed retiring fellow Republican [[George Radanovich]],<ref name="2010 election">{{cite news |first=Ross |last=Farrow |url=http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_5c39dc26-c4bd-520f-a036-a13bd0e3911b.html |title=Richard Pombo to run for 19th Congressional seat in San Joaquin Valley |newspaper=Loni News-Sentinel |date=January 5, 2010 |access-date=November 11, 2016}}</ref> although he did not live in the district.<ref name="poms">Paul Rogers, [http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_15200771?source=rss Environmentalists' nemesis Richard Pombo returns to politics], ''San Jose Mercury News'', May 31, 2010, retrieved June 1, 2010</ref> Pombo came in third in that four-way GOP race, with 20.8 percent of the votes.

==Early life and career==
Pombo was born in [[Tracy, California]], 18 miles south of [[Stockton, California|Stockton]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Alex Breitler Record Staff |title=Back in the Beltway: Richard Pombo returns to D.C., in more ways than one |url=https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/politics/2015/08/17/back-in-beltway-richard-pombo/33672160007/ |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=The Stockton Record |language=en-US}}</ref> He attended [[California State Polytechnic University, Pomona|Cal Poly, Pomona]],<ref name="SF Chronicle">{{cite news |title=Profile: Rep. Richard Pombo |url=http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/PROFILE-REP-RICHARD-POMBO-Lawmaker-s-agenda-2784691.php |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |access-date=November 11, 2016 |first=Zachary |last=Coile |date=May 3, 2004}}</ref> for three years before dropping out to work for his family's cattle and dairy business. He is a descendant of [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] immigrants.<ref name="Distinguished">{{cite web|title=Distinguished Americans & Canadians of Portuguese Descent |url=http://www.portuguesefoundation.org/famous.htm |access-date=2008-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212161136/http://www.portuguesefoundation.org/famous.htm |archive-date=2007-12-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Pombo is married to the former Annette Cole and has three children. Even after being elected to Congress, he returned to his 500-acre (2&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) ranch near Tracy every week.<ref name="SF Chronicle" /> Pombo is a [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]].

From 1990 to 1992, Pombo served on the [[Tracy, California|Tracy]] City Council.

==House of Representatives==
===1992 election===
{{main|1992 United States House of Representatives elections in California}}
In 1992, Pombo won the Republican primary by defeating several candidates in a race for an open seat in a district newly created by [[redistricting]]. California had added seven seats in the House after the 1990 [[census]]. Pombo's strongest opponent in the Republican primary was [[moderate]] Republican Sandra Smoley, a [[Sacramento County]] Supervisor.

In November, although the district had a Democratic majority and was carried by [[Bill Clinton]], Pombo nonetheless defeated Democrat Patti Garamendi (wife of current California Congressman [[John Garamendi]]).

===1994–2000 elections===
Pombo was reelected from this district in [[1994 United States House of Representatives elections in California|1994]], [[1996 United States House of Representatives elections in California|1996]], [[1998 United States House of Representatives elections in California|1998]], and [[2000 United States House of Representatives elections in California|2000]].

===2002–2004 elections===
For his first five terms, Pombo represented a district covering almost all of [[San Joaquin County]] and a large slice of [[Sacramento County]]. However, Pombo's district was significantly altered as a result of the 2000 round of redistricting. He lost his share of Sacramento County to the 3rd district, and lost most of [[Stockton, California|Stockton]] to the 18th District. The district was pushed westward into the [[San Francisco Bay Area]] when it picked up some of the more Republican-leaning portions of [[Alameda County|Alameda]] and [[Contra Costa County|Contra Costa]] counties, which had previously been part of the East Bay–based 10th district. Pombo was reelected in [[2002 United States House of Representatives elections in California|2002]] and [[2004 United States House of Representatives elections in California|2004]] after the redistricting.

=== Political positions ===
In Congress, Pombo had a [[American conservatism|conservative]] track record.<ref>[http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=H0275103&type=category&category=Conservative Project Vote Smart] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060921085235/http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=H0275103&type=category&category=Conservative |date=2006-09-21 }}</ref> In 1994, during the [[Republican Revolution]], he was one of the signatories of the [[Contract with America]]. He was a member of the conservative [[Republican Study Committee]]. He was given the nickname "The Marlboro Man" by President [[George W. Bush]].<ref name="poms"/>

====Private property rights====
{{multiple issues | section = yes |
{{BLP sources section|date = June 2023}}
{{POV section | date = June 2023}}
}}
Pombo co-wrote a book in 1996 with [[Joseph Farah]] of [[WorldNetDaily]] about private property issues, entitled ''This Land is Our Land: How to End the War on Private Property''.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Kazmann, Raphael G. | date = January 1, 1997 | title = Book Review—This Land Is Our Land: How to End the War on Private Property by Congressman Richard Pombo and Joseph Farah | journal = [[Foundation for Economic Education|FEE.com]] | location = Atlanta, GA | publisher = Foundation for Economic Education | url = https://fee.org/articles/book-review-this-land-is-our-land-how-to-end-the-war-on-private-property-by-congressman-richard-pombo-and-joseph-farah/ | access-date = June 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | author = Pombo, Richard & Farah, Joseph | year = 1996 | title = This Land is Our Land: How to End the War on Private Property | location = New York, NY | publisher = St. Martin's Press | isbn = 0312147473 | url =  | access-date = }}{{full citation needed|date = June 2023}}</ref>{{verify source|date = June 2023}} The San Joaquin County Citizen's Land Alliance, founded in July 1997,<ref name = "Bizpedia—SJCCLA">{{cite web | author = Bizpedia Staff | date = 2023 | title = San Joaquin County Citizens Land Alliance | format = California Non-Profit Corporation database entry | work = [[Bizpedia.com]] | url = https://www.bizapedia.com/ca/san-joaquin-county-citizens-land-alliance.html | access-date = June 2, 2023}}</ref> has been described as a group, co-founded by Pombo,{{according to whom|date = June 2023}} that included farmers and other landowners advocating for private property rights and opposing government encroachment on these rights.{{citation needed|date = June 2023}} As of March 2018 it was being led by Gary Barton as [[CEO]]  Michael Petz as [[CFO]], with Nanette Martin serving as corporation secretary, and as of that date it was listed as terminated (its registration having expired).<ref name = "Bizpedia—SJCCLA"/>

Pombo's association with the defense of [[property rights (economics)|private property rights]]{{according to whom|date = June 2023}} was spurred by the [[Southern Pacific Railroad]]'s abandonment of the [[Altamont Pass]] route through Tracy.{{citation needed|date = June 2023}} Pombo owned land adjacent to the abandoned railroad line, and argued that the abandoned [[easement]] should legally revert to the adjacent property owners (such as himself) rather than to the local park district.{{citation needed|date = June 2023}} He further argued that as the easement was granted based on a promise that the land would be used for railroad purposes only, that the easements ended entirely when they were abandoned.{{citation needed|date = June 2023}}

Pombo's case resulted in Congress passing the [[Rail trail|Rails to Trails]] Act.{{according to whom|date = June 2023}}{{when|date = June 2023}} In a ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' editorial<!-- AS STATED BELOW, CITATION INFORMATION DOES NOT GO INTO THE TEXT (October 30, 2005)-->, Pombo was called "an outspoken product of the extreme property rights movement."{{quote without source|date = June 2023}} In 2005, he proposed legislation that would allow mining companies to buy lands on which they have staked claims, even if there is no evidence of valuable minerals on that land; according to the editorial, "This has nothing to do with mining, and everything to do with stealing land that is owned by the American people."{{quote without source|date = June 2023}}

==== Iraq ====
Pombo supported the [[Iraq War]]. In August 2006, [[Opposition to the Iraq War|anti-Iraq War]] activists criticized him, citing an estimate that taxpayers in the 11th congressional district paid $974 million for the war by that time.<ref>Rebecca F. Johnson, [http://www.eastbaytimes.com/ci_4265697?source=rss "Pombo under attack from opponents of war policies: Report claims spending near $1 billion on Iraq], ''Contra Costa Times'', August 31, 2006</ref>

====Warrantless wiretapping====
In a 2006 debate, Pombo said that "intelligence agents should obtain [[surveillance]] [[Warrant (law)|warrants]] before monitoring phone calls", but "less than five months later, he voted to allow [[NSA warrantless surveillance controversy|warrantless wiretapping]]." He told the ''[[Tracy Press]]'' that his vote was consistent with his statement, and that although the bill allows a delay in obtaining a warrant, it requires that Congressional Intelligence Committees and the [[FISA Court]] be notified, this maintaining [[Separation of powers under the United States Constitution|separation of powers]] among the branches of government.<ref name="warrantless">{{cite news | url= http://www.goldenstatenewspapers.com/tracy_press/high-wire-act/article_e83fb665-1829-5895-be70-04e3c8f1760c.html | title= High wire act |newspaper=[[Tracy Press]] | date=October 12, 2006 |author= John Upton | access-date = April 2, 2015 }}</ref> An advocate for the [[Center for Democracy and Technology]] said the bill went further than Pombo acknowledged insofar as it allowed for the warrantless collection of large amounts of data as long as no specific individual was being targeted (and that the bill in fact defined "electronic surveillance" as excluding such activity). Pombo's opponent in 2006, [[Jerry McNerney]], who went on to defeat Pombo, opposed the bill.<ref name="warrantless"/>

===Committee and caucuses===
{{BLP sources section|date = June 2023}}

====Committee assignments====
From 2003 to 2007, a member of the [[United States House Committee on Agriculture|House Agriculture Committee]],{{citation needed|date = June 2023}}{{verify source|date = June 2023}} and was the Chairman of the [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|House Resources Committee]],<ref>{{ cite web | author = Weiser, Matt | date = July 25, 2005 | title = Pombo's Power Grows–And So Do the Scandals | work = [[HighCountryNews.org]] | url = http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=15658 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060105042139/http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=15658 | archive-date= 2006-01-05 }}</ref>{{POV statement|date=June 2023}} which has oversight and sets policy on matters involving [[natural resources]], [[Indian Country]] and [[Native American gaming|Indian gaming]].{{citation needed|date = June 2023}} Pombo was also a co-chair of the [[U.S. House of Representatives Energy Action Team|''House Energy Action Team'']] (HEAT),{{when|date = June 2023}} whose stated goal was to find alternative energy solutions.{{citation needed|date = June 2023}}

====Caucuses====
Pombo was an early member of the [[Congressional Hispanic Conference]],{{when|date = June 2023}} a Republican caucus that promotes the interest of Hispanic and Portuguese Americans.{{citation needed|date = June 2023}} He was also a member and former Chairman of the Congressional [[Western Caucus]],{{when|date = June 2023}} which is made up of Western State members of Congress concerned about [[Endangered Species Act]] reform, [[water rights]], private property rights, and other issues affecting the western states.{{citation needed|date = June 2023}} He was also, as of 2007, co-chair of the Portuguese Caucus,<ref>{{ cite web | author = PALCUS Staff | date = 2007-06-30 | title = Portuguese American Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives  | work = [[The Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States]] | url = http://www.palcus.org/public/caucus.html | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070630153448/http://www.palcus.org/public/caucus.html | archive-date= 2007-06-30 | access-date = June 2, 2023}}</ref>{{full citation needed|date = June 2023}} a coalition of Members of Congress who promote positive Portuguese-American relations, and a group he is said to have founded.{{citation needed|date = June 2023}} In that role, he hosted prominent visitors from [[Portugal]] to the United States, and the Portuguese government bestowed Pombo with the Grand Order of Infante D. Henrique, Portugal's highest civilian honor, in recognition of his efforts to improve Portuguese-American relations.{{citation needed|date = June 2023}}

==Controversies and criticisms==
{{Criticism section|date=March 2025}}
In 2006, [[Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington]], a nonpartisan watchgroup founded in 2005 by [[Liberalism|liberal]] and Democratic Party activists<ref>Jim VandeHei and Chris Cillizza, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/16/AR2006071600882_pf.html "A New Alliance Of Democrats Spreads Funding"], ''The Washington Post'', July 17, 2006</ref> released a report naming Pombo as one of the 13 most corrupt members of Congress. Pombo issued a statement where he denied the allegations and described the group as "a liberal-activist organization masquerading as a government watchdog group."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Coile|first1=Coile|title=TRACY/Pombo under fire from watchdog group|url=http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/TRACY-Pombo-under-fire-from-watchdog-group-2498190.php|access-date=16 November 2016|agency=SFGate|date=May 5, 2006}}</ref>

===Corruption allegations===
{{main|Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal}}

Pombo and his [[political action committee]] ''RICH PAC''<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?cycle=2006&cid=N00007516 Fundraising by Pombo's campaign] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060815102004/http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?CID=N00007516&cycle=2006 |date=2006-08-15 }}, OpenSecrets.org</ref> was among a dozen leaders in the House of Representatives reportedly under investigation as part of the corruption and influence-peddling scandal centered around disgraced Washington lobbyist [[Jack Abramoff]], and his policy issues, including [[Native American gaming|Indian gaming]]. Pombo had accepted more money from Abramoff than had any other member of Congress ($500,000). Fundraisers organized by Indian gaming interests and tied to the 2005 MLB All-Star Game are among those activities under scrutiny.<ref name="AP-7-13-05">Erica Werner, [http://legacy.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/state/20050713-0004-ca-pombo-money.html "Congressman's donors linked to tribal dispute before committee"], ''San Diego Union Tribune'', Associated Press, July 13, 2005</ref>

On January 8, 2006, the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' alleged that Pombo helped one of Abramoff's clients, the [[Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe|Mashpee]] Indians in [[Massachusetts]], gain federal recognition as a tribe. In return, Pombo received campaign contributions from both the tribe and Abramoff.<ref name="LAT-1-8-06">Richard A. Serrano and Stephen Braun, [https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-banker8jan08,0,1764103.story?coll=la-home-headlines&track=morenews "A Donor Who Had Big Allies: DeLay and two others helped put the brakes on a federal probe of a businessman. Evidence was published in the Congressional Record."], ''Los Angeles Times'', January 8, 2006</ref>

In the 2006 cycle, Abramoff was one of the top donors to Pombo's political action committee.<ref>[http://www.campaignmoney.com/committee.asp?committeeID=C00387670&cycle=06 RICH PAC – Political Action Committee and Campaign Finance Details for 2006], campaignmoney.com</ref> Several of Pombo's top five donors are political influence brokers from [[Detroit]], who hosted several $5,000-per-person fundraisers for Pombo in their [[Mike Ilitch|owners box]] at [[Comerica Park]] during the 2005 MLB All-Star Game. News reports indicated contributions from the two-day fundraising event would go to RICH Political Action Committee. However, [[Federal Election Commission]] reports filed by RICH PAC show only one such contribution. Apparently contributions were diverted to some other entity making it difficult to track who attended and contributed.

The [[Marian Bayoff Ilitch|Ilitch family]], owners of the MLB [[Detroit Tigers]] and Detroit's [[Motor City Casino|MotorCity Casino]], are also financial backers of various Indian tribes, including the [[Shinnecock Indian Nation]], which is seeking to build a gaming casino on its reservation near [[Southampton, New York]]. Various issues and tribal disputes involving the Shinnecock were before the House Resources Committee chaired by Pombo just days after the fundraiser.<ref name="AP-7-13-05"/>

On October 11, 2006, it was reported that Pombo "says he never worked with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff in his fourteen years in Congress, but billing records suggest at least two interactions between the two in 1996".<ref name="PandAlinked">{{cite news | url=http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061011/NEWS01/610110323 | title=Pombo, Abramoff linked by records: Papers say workers for both met many times from 1996 to 2001 | newspaper=The Record | date=October 11, 2006 | first=Hank | last=Shaw | access-date=2006-10-12 | archive-date=2006-10-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018022257/http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061011/NEWS01/610110323 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Freeways that could enhance owned real estate ===
Various members of the Pombo family individually own more than {{convert|1500|acre|km2}} undeveloped near two proposed freeways. If even one of the proposed freeways is eventually built, the value of the property owned by Pombo's relatives and located near the proposed freeway will be worth far more than its currently assessed value.

Pombo led an effort to build a multilane [[freeway]] ([[California State Route 130|State Route 130]]) through the mostly uninhabited [[Diablo Range]] to facilitate [[San Francisco Bay Area|Bay Area]]-bound commuting from the greater Tracy area.<ref>{{cite news |first=Robert |last=Gammon |title=Welcome to Pombo Country: Congressman Richard Pombo always sides with property owners. Sometimes that includes his own family |url=http://www.eastbayexpress.com/news/welcome_to_pombo_country/Content?oid=289706 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730005456/http://www.eastbayexpress.com/news/welcome_to_pombo_country/Content?oid=289706 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-30 |work=East Bay Express |location=Oakland |date=2005-08-24 |access-date=2008-06-18 }}</ref><ref>Jeb Bing, [http://www.pleasantonweekly.com/morgue/2004/2004_09_03.dpombo03.shtml "Funding likely for Pombo freeway study: Money in Transportation Bill to look at Hwy. 130 corridor"], ''Pleasanton Weekly'', September 3, 2004</ref>

=== Windfarm regulations ===
Pombo's home town of Tracy is close to a large [[wind farm]] on [[Altamont Pass]]<!-- The entire wind farm is just over the border of neighboring Alameda County, and completely outside of Tracy's city limits -->. In 2004, Pombo's office sent a letter to then-Secretary of the Department of the Interior [[Gale Norton]], urging the suspension of environmental guidelines opposed by the wind power industry. Pombo's parents have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in royalties from wind-powered turbines on their {{convert|300|acre|km2|1|adj=on}} ranch. Pombo owns an interest in his parents' ranch.<ref>Lisa Vorderbrueggen, "Activists Seek Ethics Probe for Pombo", ''Contra Costa Times'', April 21, 2005</ref>

=== Payments to family ===
Between 2000 and 2004, Pombo used his campaign and PAC funds to pay his brother Randall $272,000, and his wife (between 2003 and 2004) $85,000. In that 2003–04 campaign cycle, Pombo paid more to his family members—$217,000—than his opponent, [[Jerry McNerney]], spent on his entire campaign. The two were paid for duties listed as bookkeeping, fundraising, consulting and other unspecified services.<ref>Richard Simon, Chuck Neubauer and Rone Tempest, [https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-campaign14apr14,0,2363055.story?coll=la-home-headlines "Political Payrolls Include Families"], ''Los Angeles Times'', April 14, 2005</ref>

After publicity about the payments to his family, Randall was taken off Pombo's payroll (total payments between January 2005 and mid-2006 were less than $7,000). Pombo's wife continued to be paid at the rate of $3,000 per month.<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/expendetail.asp?CID=N00007516&cycle=2006&name=Pombo%2C+Annette Payments to Annette Pombo] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930160357/http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/expendetail.asp?CID=N00007516&cycle=2006&name=Pombo,+Annette |date=2007-09-30 }}, 2005–2006 cycle, from campaign fund, per OpenSecrets.org</ref>

=== Mailings during 2004 campaign ===
In October 2004, Pombo used the franking privileges afforded members of Congress to mail approximately 175,000 copies of a two-page leaflet that openly praised the House Resources Committee and the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] for overturning [[Clinton Administration]] limits on snowmobiling in national parks. The leaflets were sent to snowmobile owners in the [[swing state]]s of [[Wisconsin]] and [[Minnesota]]. Pombo authorized the expenditure of $68,081 from House Resources Committee funds for the mailing of the leaflets as "official business." House members are required to seek prior approval and obtain advisory opinions before sending out franked mail; no such approval was obtained prior to the October mailing.<ref>Juliet Eilperin, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28038-2004Oct12.html "Bush Policy Gets a Ride on the House: Taxpayers Pay for Election-Year Mailing"], ''The Washington Post'', October 13, 2004</ref>

===2003 RV trip charged to the federal government===
In August 2003, Pombo and his family rented an RV and "spent two weeks on vacation, stopping along the way to enjoy ... our national parks".<ref>[http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/Press/editorials/ntlparkspf.htm "Purple Mountain Majesties"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060728030244/http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/Press/editorials/ntlparkspf.htm |date=2006-07-28 }}, trip report by Richard Pombo</ref> The {{convert|5000|mi|km|-3}} trip included stops in the [[Grand Canyon]], [[Yellowstone National Park|Yellowstone]], [[Joshua Tree National Park|Joshua Tree]], [[Sequoia National Park]], [[Kings Canyon National Park]] and [[Mount Rushmore]], [[Badlands National Park]], and other parks. The $4,935 cost of the rental was charged to the federal government, but was determined to be a more cost effective alternative to flying, renting a car, and staying in a hotel.

When asked in February 2006 about the trip—rules forbid government-funded travel for personal vacations, but allow lawmakers to bring family members on official trips—Pombo said that he had looked into flying into the parks by commercial air or charters, but found the costs to be excessive. After choosing to travel instead by RV, he invited his family along with him.<ref>Zachary Coile, [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/10/BAGDKH5PH51.DTL "Pombo family park tour cost taxpayers: $4,935 to rent RV—congressman says it was all business"], ''San Francisco Chronicle'', February 10, 2006</ref>

At [[Yellowstone National Park|Yellowstone]], Pombo had a lengthy meeting with the park superintendent, which a spokesman charactizered as official. Pombo's visit to the [[Badlands National Park]] is in dispute: the secretary to the superintendent said he did not show; a spokesman for Pombo said that Pombo was certain he was there and met with a group of Native American tribal leaders nearby. Reports concerning Pombo's visit to [[Joshua Tree National Park|Joshua Tree]] are also contradictory. The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' was told that Pombo had shown up for his meeting but "they were not there". The ''[[Tracy Press]]'' was told that Pombo met with the park's acting superintendent.

Officials from [[Sequoia National Park|Sequoia]] and [[Kings Canyon National Park|Kings Canyon]] national parks did not return calls seeking comment.<ref name="LAT-2-15-06">Richard A. Serrano, [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930204353/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/986873651.html?dids=986873651:986873651&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Feb+15,+2006&author=Richard+A.+Serrano&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=A.23&desc=THE+NATION "Democrats Challenge Rep. Pombo's Expenses: They say taxpayers were billed for a vacation, and question an aide's use of funds for commuting"], ''Los Angeles Times'', February 15, 2006</ref>

===Investigation of Charles Hurwitz===
One January 8, 2006, the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' reported that Pombo and Representative [[John Doolittle]] had joined with then-House Majority Leader [[Tom DeLay]] of [[Texas]] to oppose an investigation by federal banking regulators into the affairs of [[Houston]] millionaire [[Charles Hurwitz]]. The ''Times'' reported that "When the [[Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation|FDIC]] persisted, Doolittle and Pombo—both considered protegés of DeLay—used their power as members of the House Resources Committee to [[subpoena]] the agency's confidential records on the case, including details of the evidence FDIC investigators had compiled on Hurwitz." The investigation was ultimately dropped.

According to the ''Times'', "Although Washington politicians frequently try to help important constituents and contributors, it is unusual for members of Congress to take direct steps to stymie an ongoing investigation by an agency such as the FDIC." The article concluded, "in the Hurwitz case, Doolittle and Pombo were in a position to pressure the FDIC and did so."<ref name="LAT-1-8-06"/><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/custom/2005/12/28/CU2005122801183.html "The Abramoff Galaxy"], ''The Washington Post'', December 28, 2005</ref>

===Corruption at the Interior Department===
On September 23, 2006, the Central Valley ''Record'' reported that East Bay Representative [[George Miller (California politician)|George Miller]] and six other House Democrats had requested that Pombo hold "immediate" congressional hearings concerning oil lease payments to the [[United States Department of the Interior|Interior Department]]. The article noted that "Miller and his allies—including Pombo's challenger, [[wind power]] consultant [[Jerry McNerney]]—want oil companies such as [[Chevron Corporation|Chevron]] to renegotiate contracts they inked with Clinton administration officials that failed to include language requiring the firms to pay taxes when oil prices pass $36 a barrel." Pombo "had a provision written into the House's offshore drilling legislation, which passed earlier this year, that would instead levy a fee on those firms that refuse to renegotiate their contracts."<ref name="Oilymess">{{cite news | url=http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060923/NEWS01/609230327/1001/NEWS01 | title=Oily mess ahead for Pombo | newspaper=Central Valley Record | date=September 24, 2006 | first=Hank | last=Shaw | archive-date=September 27, 2007 | access-date=September 25, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927185440/http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060923/NEWS01/609230327/1001/NEWS01 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Probed oil firm linked to Pombo===
An [[Alaska]]n oil services company under federal investigation in connection with allegations of influence peddling has contributed nearly $18,000 to Pombo.<ref>[http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060907/NEWS01/609070333/1001 Probed oil firm linked to Pombo]. ''[[The Record (Stockton)|The Record]]'' September 7, 2006</ref> The investigation sparked a Washington state candidate for the Senate to return his contributions from [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]]-based [[VECO Corporation]] the day after the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] raided offices of several Alaskan state legislators.

=== Environmental record ===
[[File:20061003-13 George W. Bush and Richard Pombo d-0019-3-714v.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Pombo with President [[George W. Bush]] as he signs the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act into law]]
Pombo proposed legislation to sell roughly a quarter of the land managed by the [[National Park Service]]. In November 2005, Pombo and [[Jim Gibbons (U.S. politician)|Jim Gibbons]] (R-[[Nevada|NV]]) co-authored an amendment to the Federal Budget Reconciliation Bill easing restrictions of sale of federal lands to mining companies. This amendment was opposed by [[environmentalism|environmentalists]], anti-growth advocates, and even some Republican Senators concerned about the measure's effects on hunting and fishing.<ref>Darren Goode, [http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/1105/112805cdpm3.htm "GOP senators wary of provision on federal land sales"], ''Government Executive'' magazine, November 28, 2005</ref> The amendment narrowly passed the House, but was defeated in the Senate. The legislation was later described by his chief of staff as a "bureaucratic exercise" designed to evaluate the costs of not drilling in the [[Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]] (ANWR).

Pombo supported oil drilling in the ANWR, despite concerns about the [[ecosystem]] and opposition from moderate Republicans.<ref name="McClatchy">{{cite news|last1=Hall|first1=Kevin G|title=BP's woes spark a new debate over Arctic oil drilling|url=http://www.mcclatchydc.com/latest-news/article24456898.html|access-date=16 November 2016|work=McClatchyDC|publisher=[[The McClatchy Company]]|date=June 13, 2007}}</ref>

In September 2005, Pombo helped write a revision of the 1973 [[Endangered Species Act]]. The proposed revision "was widely denounced by environmentalists as a disturbing retreat from habitat protection and a paperwork nightmare for agencies seeking to revive the 1,268 threatened and endangered plants and animals in the country, 186 of which are in California."<ref>David Whitney, [http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/15052922.htm "Rewriting species act is his: Rep. Pombo of Tracy, a powerful environmental legislator, explains why the act isn't working"]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''San Luis Obispo Tribune'', July 16, 2006</ref> The bill did not pass.<ref>{{cite web |title=H.R.3824 - Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005 |publisher=United States Congress |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/03824|date=2005-09-30 }}</ref>

By March 2006, ''Environmental Science & Technology'' reported that Pombo was coordinating efforts with Pac/West Communications to weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Pac/West created the [[Save Our Species Alliance]], an anti-environmental front group that campaigned for Pombo's bill to change the ESA.<ref>Paul D. Thacker, [http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/esthag-w/2006/mar/policy/pt_bigindustry.html "Hidden ties: Big environmental changes backed by big industry: Lobbyists and industry officials who once pushed for the president's Healthy Forests legislation now collaborate with Rep. Pombo to alter the Endangered Species Act"] ''Environmental Science & Technology'', March 8, 2006</ref>

The [[League of Conservation Voters]], a nonpartisan [[Political action committee|PAC]], assigned Pombo a lifetime average rating of 7 on a scale of 0 to 100. In 2005, he scored a 6. Subsequently, the organization named Pombo as one of the "Dirty Dozen" in 2006.<ref>[http://www.lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/LCV-Names-Next-7-Dirty-Dozen-Members.html LCVAF Names Next 7 "Dirty Dozen" Members<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108213216/http://www.lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/LCV-Names-Next-7-Dirty-Dozen-Members.html |date=2006-11-08 }}</ref> LCV released an ad on October 31, 2006, citing Pombo's acceptance of $120,000 from oil companies and his ties to indicted lobbyist [[Jack Abramoff]].<ref>[http://www.lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/page.jsp?itemID=30668390 "League of Conservation Voters Action Fund Releases 'Pombo Mambo' Ad"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061101201527/http://www.lcv.org/newsroom/press-releases/page.jsp?itemID=30668390 |date=2006-11-01 }}</ref>

''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked him one of the worst congressmen and called him "Enemy of the Earth".<ref>[https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-ten-worst-members-of-the-worst-congress-ever-20120112 "The 10 Worst Congressmen"] ''Rolling Stone''</ref> The [[Sierra Club]] called him an "eco-thug".<ref name="poms"/>

As the chairman of the [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|House Resources Committee]], Pombo blocked legislation that would have created the [[Wild Sky Wilderness]] area in [[Washington (state)|Washington]] state, despite broad support for the bill.<ref>Goldfarb, Sam, [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2003561443_webwildsky08.html "Wild Sky wilderness bill back in Congress"], ''[[The Seattle Times]]'', February 7, 2007</ref>

His political revival was characterized as giving environmentalists "fits" by the ''[[San Jose Mercury News]]'' in addition to describing his perception by that community as similar to that of Exxon-Valdez [[Joseph Hazelwood|Captain Joseph Hazelwood]] or the hunter that shot [[Bambi]]'s mother.<ref name="poms"/>

The [[League of Conservation Voters]] added him to their Dirty Dozen list in 2010, even though this list is typically reserved for sitting members of Congress; and Warner Chabor, the organization's CEO, stated, "Having Pombo represent a district that includes [[Yosemite National Park]] is like electing [[Godzilla]] as mayor of [[Tokyo, Japan|Tokyo]]".<ref name="poms"/>

==2006 re-election campaign==
{{main|2006 California's 11th congressional district election}}

Amid these growing scandals, Pombo faced serious primary opposition for the first time since his initial race in 1992. His leading opponent was former congressman [[Pete McCloskey]], a leading moderate Republican. Earlier, McCloskey had led an effort to find a viable primary challenger to Pombo. Pombo defeated McCloskey in the primary with 61 percent of the vote. McCloskey had been endorsed by ''[[The Sacramento Bee]]'', the ''[[San Jose Mercury News]]'', and the [[League of Conservation Voters]]. Seven weeks later, McCloskey endorsed Pombo's Democratic opponent, [[Jerry McNerney]], who had won the Democratic primary over [[Steve Filson]] and Steve Thomas. McNerney received just over half of the Democratic vote and faced Pombo in the 2006 general election in November.<ref>{{cite news |author=Brian Foley |title=Pombo to face McNerney in November; Zone 7 candidates tight |newspaper=Tri-Valley Herald |location=Pleasanton |url=http://www.eastbaytimes.com/trivalleyherald/ci_3909538 |date=June 7, 2006}}</ref> McNerney had been Pombo's opponent in 2004.

On October 3, 2006, a Democratic-commissioned poll was released with McNerney leading Pombo 48 percent to 46 percent.<ref name="poll3">{{cite news | url=http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061003/NEWS01/610030336 | title=Poll shows Pombo, McNerney just 2 points apart | newspaper=[[The Record (Stockton)|The Record]] | date=October 3, 2006 | first=Dann | last=Dulin | access-date = 2006-08-18}}</ref> There were two polls commissioned by the NRCC, but results weren't released. Based on these events, in early October, ''[[Congressional Quarterly]]'' changed their rating of this race from ''Republican Favored'' to ''Leans Republican''.<ref>{{cite news | title=Competitive Race Lies Beneath Flurry of GOP Activity in Calif. 11 | author=Ryan Kelly | date=October 3, 2006 | url=http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/10/competitive_race_lies_beneath.html | publisher=CQPolitics.com | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026120841/http://www.cqpolitics.com/2006/10/competitive_race_lies_beneath.html | archive-date=October 26, 2006 }}</ref> This was a significant development; Pombo had soundly defeated McNerney in 2004, taking 61 percent of the vote.

On November 7, 2006, Pombo was defeated by McNerney.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/kcra/20061108/lo_kcra/10274159 |title=McNerney Unseats Pombo; Doolittle Beats Brown |publisher=[[KCRA]] |date=November 8, 2006 |access-date=2006-11-08 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> McNerney got 53.1 percent of the vote to Pombo's 46.9 percent. Apart from prevailing national Democratic trends and the corruption allegations dogging him, Pombo was also the number one national target of environmental groups. Washington, D.C.–based [[Defenders of Wildlife]] spent more than $1 million on the race and commissioned the first poll in 2005 that showed Pombo to be vulnerable in his re-election bid. The [[Sierra Club]] sent over 300 volunteers and organizers to work for McNerney in the final weeks of the campaign. The group, allied with the League of Conservation Voters, also aired issue ads attacking Pombo. Pombo and [[Heather Wilson]] were the two Representatives targeted by the [[Humane Society of the United States|Humane Society]], which spent over $100,000 in Pombo's district, including organizers.<ref>Philip Brasher, [http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061112/BUSINESS03/611120329/1001/NEWS "Animal activists step up political pressure"]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Des Moines Register'', November 12, 2006</ref><ref>Brody Mullins, [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB116287026723215246 "Puppy Power: How Humane Society Gets the Vote Out"], ''The Wall Street Journal'', November 2006, accessed November 17, 2006</ref> Since Pombo left office, no other Republican has represented a significant part of the Bay Area in Congress.

In a letter dated November 29, 2006, from [[PAC/West Communications]], Pombo states, "I have accepted a position as Senior Partner at Pac/West, a full service political public relations firm with offices from California to Washington, D.C."

==2010 Congressional campaign==
On January 4, 2010, Pombo announced his candidacy for Congress in [[California's 19th congressional district]] after Congressman [[George Radanovich]], a fellow Republican, announced he wouldn't run for reelection.<ref name="2010 election"/> The 19th neighbors Pombo's former 11th district and leans more Republican than the 11th. Pombo said he "didn't think [he] would ever run again, but when George Radanovich announced he wasn't running, my phone rang off the hook". Pombo faced Radanovich-backed state Senator [[Jeff Denham]] and former [[Fresno, California|Fresno]] mayor [[Jim Patterson (mayor)|Jim Patterson]] in the primary,<ref>[http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14120445?nclick_check=1 "Former congressman Pombo of Tracy to join race for Fresno area seat"], ''San Jose Mercury News'', January 4, 2010</ref> which Jeff Denham won.

Pombo followed up his candidacy for Congress announcement by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge sponsored by [[Americans for Tax Reform]] on January 5, 2010. This marks the second time that Pombo signed the Pledge. He previously signed it as Representative of [[California's 11th congressional district]]. According to ATR, Pombo has a lifetime rating of 91% from their annual Congressional Scorecards.<ref>{{cite press release | title=Richard Pombo Returns in California's 19th Congressional District | publisher=Americans for Tax Reform | date =7 January 2010 | url=http://www.atr.org/richard-pombo-returns-californias-th-congressional-a4376 | access-date =June 4, 2010 }}</ref>

Primary opponent Jeff Denham stated that Pombo was a liability to the Republican Party who has "given them a lot of material over the years", a reference to his various scandals and notoriety among environmentalists.<ref name="poms"/>

==Electoral history==
<div style="overflow: auto; width: 100%;">
{|class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ {{ushr|California|11|}}: Results 1992–2006<ref name="clerkresults">[http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html Election Statistics] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080730201058/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |date=July 30, 2008 }} from the Clerk of the House of Representatives</ref>
!|Year
!|Office
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|3rd Party
!|Party
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|3rd Party
!|Party
!|Votes
!|Pct
|-
|[[United States House elections, 1992|1992]]
|House
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Richard Pombo'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |94,453
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |48%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} | Patti Garamendi
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |90,539
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |46%
|
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Christine Roberts
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |13,498
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |7%
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
|-
|[[United States House elections, 1994|1994]]
|House
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Richard Pombo'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |99,302
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |62%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Randy A. Perry
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |55,794
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |35%
|
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Joseph B. Miller
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |4,718
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |3%
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
|-
|[[United States House elections, 1996|1996]]
|House
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Richard Pombo'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |107,477
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |59%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Jason Silva
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |65,536
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |36%
|
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Kelly Rego
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |5,077
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |3%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Selene Bush
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Natural Law Party (United States)|Natural Law]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |3,006
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |2%
|-
|[[United States House elections, 1998|1998]]
|House
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Richard Pombo'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |95,496
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |61%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Robert L. Figueroa
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |56,345
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |36%
|
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Jesse Baird
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |3,608
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |2%
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
|-
|[[United States House elections, 2000|2000]]
|House
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Richard Pombo'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |120,635
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |58%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Tom Y. Santos
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |79,539
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |38%
|
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Kathryn A. Russow
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |5,036
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} align="right" |2%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Jon A. Kurey
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |[[Natural Law Party (United States)|Natural Law]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |3,397
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |2%
|-
|[[United States House elections, 2002|2002]]
|House
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Richard Pombo'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |104,921
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |60%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |Elaine Shaw
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |69,035
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |40%
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
|-
|[[United States House elections, 2004|2004]]
|House
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''Richard Pombo'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |163,582
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |61%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Jerry McNerney]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |103,587
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |39%
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
|-
|[[United States House elections, 2006|2006]]
|House
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |Richard Pombo
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |96,396
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |47%
|
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''[[Jerry McNerney]]'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |109,868
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |53%
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
|-
|}
</div>

==Honours==
*[[File:PRT Order of Prince Henry - Grand Officer BAR.svg|80px]] Grand Officer of the [[Order of Prince Henry]], [[Portugal]] (8 June 1996)<ref>{{cite web|title=Cidadãos Estrangeiros Agraciados com Ordens Portuguesas|url=http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=154|website=Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas|access-date=1 August 2017}}</ref>

==References==
<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags-->
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|Richard Pombo}}

===Congressional===
{{CongBio|P000419}}
* {{C-SPAN|26481}}
* [http://pomboforcongress.com/ Richard Pombo for Congress] ''official 2010 campaign site''

===Profiles/voting records===
* [http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060219/news_lz1n19pombo.html Profile] ''San Diego Union Tribune''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060314204629/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/p000419/ Voting record], [[The Washington Post]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061101211219/http://www.lcv.org/images/client/pdfs/LCV_2006_Scorecard_final.pdf League of Conservation Voters gives Pombo a lifetime score of 7 on a scale of 0 to 100]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927213015/http://www.politicalfriendster.com/showPerson.php?id=2548&name=Richard-Pombo PoliticalFriendster – ''originally a Stanford University student project'']

===Criticism===
* [http://www.citizen.org/documents/FrankingComplaintwithexhibits.pdf Complaint against Pombo's franked mail]
* [http://www.indianz.com/News/2006/012253.asp Tribe's backers are Pombo's Donors] by ''Indianz.com''

===News articles===
* [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB113781040852752707 Pombo's position as public enemy number 1 for environmental groups] m ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''
* [https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/print?id=932857 Congressman's donors tied to tribal dispute], ''[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060714002000/http://www.hcn.org/servlets/hcn.Article?article_id=15648 "Will the Real Mr. Pombo Please Stand Up?"], profile of Pombo by ''[[High Country News]]''
* [http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060907/NEWS01/609070333/1001 Probed oil firm linked to Pombo]. ''[[The Record (Stockton)|The Record]]'' September 7, 2006

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Tom Lantos]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[California's 11th congressional district]]|years=1993–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jerry McNerney]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[James V. Hansen|Jim Hansen]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States House Committee on Natural Resources|House Natural Resources Committee]]|years=2003–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Nick Rahall]]}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Cal Dooley]]|as=Former US Representative}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States order of precedence|Order of precedence of the United States]]<br>''{{small|as Former US Representative}}''|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Mary Bono]]|as=Former US Representative}}
{{s-end}}

{{US House Natural Resources chairs}}
{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 103rd–109th [[United States Congress]] |state=[[California]]}}
{{USCongRep/CA/103}}
{{USCongRep/CA/104}}
{{USCongRep/CA/105}}
{{USCongRep/CA/106}}
{{USCongRep/CA/107}}
{{USCongRep/CA/108}}
{{USCongRep/CA/109}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pombo, Richard}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:21st-century Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:American people of Azorean descent]]
[[Category:American people of Portuguese descent]]
[[Category:American Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:California Republicans]]
[[Category:California State Polytechnic University, Pomona alumni]]
[[Category:Catholic politicians from California]]
[[Category:Farmers from California]]
[[Category:Members of Congress who became lobbyists]]
[[Category:People associated with the Jack Abramoff controversies]]
[[Category:People from Tracy, California]]
[[Category:Ranchers from California]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from California]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]