Most civil service lawmakers win reelection

Most of the lawmakers who oversee the civil service retained their seats on Nov. 4, but an upset and a retirement will affect the makeup of the House panel on government reform.

Democrat Jim Himes edged out longtime GOP Rep. Christopher Shays. A moderate dealmaker and New England's sole Republican House member, Shays was next in line to assume the ranking membership of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia, currently the top Republican on the committee, is retiring after seven terms.

Shays' departure makes it easier for Rep. Darrell Issa of California to plead his case as the panel's next top Republican. Issa, a fiery conservative, has been lobbying for the ranking member position, sources told Government Executive. In recent months he has raised his profile on the committee, issuing a handful of reports and public statements together with Davis.

But Issa has had a contentious relationship with the committee's chairman, Democrat Henry Waxman of California. A blistering confrontation between Issa and Waxman occurred in May during a committee hearing on Environmental Protection Agency oversight in which Waxman threatened to have Issa physically removed from the hearing room.

The race to succeed seven-term Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia, whose district is home to a number of federal workers, was not much of a surprise. Democrat Gerry Connolly, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, easily defeated Republican businessman Keith Fimian. The Northern Virginia district also is a hub for many high-tech information technology companies and government contractors. Connolly currently serves as director of community relations for SAIC, one of the largest federal contractors.

In Maryland's 4th District, Democrat Rep. Donna Edwards cruised to victory against Republican Peter James. Edwards previously defeated James in a special election in June, which was held after Edwards beat incumbent Rep. Albert Wynn in the Democratic primary. Wynn, who was active in pushing for more diversity in the Senior Executive Service, resigned his seat after the primary.

Democrat Rep. John Murtha staved off a late-surging campaign by Republican William Russell, an Iraq war veteran and former Pentagon employee, to capture an 18th term. The race tightened considerably in recent weeks after Murtha described parts of his Western Pennsylvania district as "racist" and "really redneck." The chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Murtha often ranks among the top recipients of congressional earmarks. His district includes a number of powerful Defense contractors.

In an upset, Democrat Alan Grayson beat Rep. Ric Keller, a Florida Republican serving his fourth term in Congress. An Orlando businessman and lawyer, Grayson based much of his campaign on his fight against "war profiteers." In 2006, he won a $10 million claim against contractor Custer Battles for providing defective equipment to U.S. soldiers in Iraq. But last year a judge set aside the verdict and the case remains on appeal.

In the Senate, Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., is not up for reelection but is in jeopardy of losing his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Lieberman has alienated Democratic leadership with his outspoken support for the Iraq war and endorsement of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for president. After he spoke at the Republican National Convention in September, rumors circulated that Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada might strip Lieberman of his chairmanship. Lieberman's survival will depend on how many seats the Democrats win on Nov. 4.

If Lieberman loses his chairmanship, his most likely replacement is Sen. Thomas Carper of Delaware, who has focused on financial management and information technology issues during his tenure on the committee. Carper is the third senior Democrat on the panel, behind Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan and Daniel Akaka of Hawaii. But Levin is chairman of the Armed Services Committee and Akaka is head of the Veterans Affairs Committee; neither is expected to give up those posts. Carper recently sponsored a bill to improve disability benefits for federal firefighters and an amendment to increase training on certain contracting issues.

The committee's ranking member, GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, was reelected to a third term.

Senate Democrats also will have to replace President-elect and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., on the committee. Other changes on the Homeland Security committee include the spots left open by retiring GOP Sens. John Warner of Virginia and Pete Domenici of New Mexico. Democrat and former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner defeated Republican Jim Gilmore for Warner's seat. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., edged out Republican Rep. Steve Pearce in the contest to replace Domenici.

It remains unclear which senators will be assigned to the reshuffled committee.

"I think some younger blood on that committee might bring a different perspective on management," said Paul Light, a professor at New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, in a pre-election interview.