Article from CONGRESSPEDIA 

Biography

Bono was born October 24, 1961 in Cleveland, Ohio, but has lived in Southern California since 1963. She worked her way through the University of Southern California, graduating in 1984. Soon after leaving Southern California, she married singer-turned politician Sonny Bono and moved to Palm Springs.

Sonny Bono died in a skiing accident on January 5, 1998. Mary easily won the Republican nomination for the special election to succeed him, which is tantamount to election in the heavily Republican district. She took office on April 7, 1998. She won a full term in November and has been re-elected without serious opposition.

Unlike her husband, who was a loyal supporter of Newt Gingrich, Bono is one of the more moderate-to-liberal House Republicans. She chose not to attend the 2004 Republican National Convention because she felt her district and state were not in strong contention and her objection to the platform's opposition to any legal benefits for same-sex couples, as well as opposition to gays in the military, anti-discrimination laws and so on. She is a member of several moderate and pro-choice Republican coalitions.

Bono sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee. Her work on the Committee "has ranged from helping pass a prescription drug benefit for seniors to protecting Medicaid funding for Disproportionate Share Hospitals in the 45th District. Bono has passed clean energy legislation through Committee, and is currently working to address copyright, piracy and intellectual property issues." [1]

She was married to Palm Springs businessman Glenn Baxley (2001 to 2005) and has a son and a daughter from her marriage to Sonny Bono: Son; Chesare Elan Bono (b. 1988), Daughter; Chianna Maria Bono, (b. 1991). Recently, Mary Bono has been romantically linked to fellow congressman Connie Mack from Florida. (Note:  Bono married Mack on Saturday, December 15th at Mary Bono's North Carolina home in Asheville.)

To know where Bono-Mack stands on the issues, please go to her website, http://bono.house.gov/  

April 03, 2008

By Alex Isenstadt Tags: Shirley Walton, Paul Clay, Mary Bono Mack, Julie Bornstein, George W. Bush, Dianne Feinstein, Dave Hunsicker, CA-45, Barbara Boxer

Democrat Julie Bornstein, running for U.S. Congress in District 45, has won the endorsements of the California Democratic Party, and U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.

“Julie Bornstein has the know-how and knowledge to make Riverside County count in Congress. We need an effective, active Representative and Julie will be that kind of Member,” said Riverside County Democratic Central Committee District Chair Shirley Walton.

Bornstein, a former Member of the California State Assembly, is running for the seat currently occupied by Republican Mary Bono Mack. The district, which spans part of Riverside County, is largely conservative. In the 2004 presidential election George W. Bush won 56% of the district’s vote.

Also running for the Democratic nomination is Paul Clay, a teacher, and Dave Hunsicker, a realtor.

To know where Bornstein stands on the issues, please go to http://www.juliebornstein.com/