25 Facts About Zach Wamp

Zachary Paul Wamp was born on October 28,1957 and is an American politician who was the US representative for from 1995 to 2011.

Zach Wamp attended The Lutheran School, a Lutheran elementary school.

Zach Wamp was president of the student council, active in athletics, and was the MVP of the varsity basketball team at McCallie in 1976.

Zach Wamp was baptized, raised and confirmed in the Lutheran Church.

Zach Wamp had struggled with drug and alcohol problems as a student and would eventually enter rehab.

Zach Wamp worked in his family's architectural and development business and became vice president of Charter Real Estate Corporation in 1989.

Zach Wamp began his career in politics as a precinct vice chairman and Youth Coordinator for the 1983 Chattanooga mayoral campaign of Gene Roberts.

Zach Wamp became President of the Young Republicans and was later elected chairman of the Hamilton County, Tennessee Republican Party, then regional director for the Tennessee GOP.

Zach Wamp ran for the House of Representatives as a Republican in 1992 against nine-term Democrat Marilyn Lloyd.

Zach Wamp personally committed to serve no more than six terms and further committed to not accept special interest PAC money.

Zach Wamp proposed a plan to pay congressmen the same as Lieutenant Colonels and linked his Democratic opponent, Randy Button, to Bill Clinton.

Zach Wamp likely got coattails from Bill Frist's and Fred Thompson's strong 1994 statewide elections, and was helped by Lloyd crossing party lines to endorse him.

Zach Wamp was re-elected with slightly less difficulty in 1996.

Zach Wamp explored seeking a seat in the United States Senate to succeed Bill Frist, who had promised to serve no more than two terms.

Zach Wamp decided against running for that seat in October 2004.

When he was elected to the House in 1994, Zach Wamp pledged to serve just twelve years in the House.

However, shortly after winning reelection to a sixth term in 2004, Zach Wamp announced he would run again in 2006 after all, citing his status as Tennessee's only member of the powerful Appropriations Committee.

Zach Wamp has vigorously supported the Tennessee Valley Authority, one of the largest government-owned firms in the United States.

Zach Wamp supported legislation to allow the posting of the Ten Commandments in public buildings.

Zach Wamp changed his vote from "nay" to "yea" on the bill of the Wall Street bailout, but later has said he regrets that vote.

Zach Wamp served on the Liberty Caucus, a Republican group that focuses on reducing the size of the US Government.

On January 5,2009, Zach Wamp announced that he would run for Governor of Tennessee in the Republican primaries.

Zach Wamp suggested the possibility of secession arising from opposition to the federal government, stating "I hope that the American people will go to the ballot box in 2010 and 2012 so that states are not forced to consider separation from this government", as well as expressing support for Texas Governor Rick Perry's similar statements regarding secession.

Zach Wamp's statements drew national attention, prompting Zach Wamp to state that his remarks were misinterpreted, and that he did not support secession.

Zach Wamp was unsuccessful in his bid to be the Republican candidate for Tennessee's Governor, losing to Bill Haslam in the August 5,2010 open primary.