Charles W. Larson Jr. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Ambassador to Latvia | |
| In office February 12, 2008 –January 20, 2009 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Catherine Todd Bailey |
| Succeeded by | Judith G. Garber |
| Member of the Iowa Senate from the 19th district | |
| In office January 13,2003 –January 8,2007 | |
| Preceded by | Sheldon L. Rittmer [1] |
| Succeeded by | Rob Hogg |
| Member of the IowaHouseofRepresentatives from the 55th district | |
| In office January 1993 –January 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Mark Shearer [2] |
| Succeeded by | Clarence Hoffman [3] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Newton,Iowa |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Des Moines,Iowa |
| Education | University of Iowa (BA) University of Iowa College of Law (JD) |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Website | Larson's website |
Charles W. 'Chuck' Larson Jr. (born April 1,1968,in Newton,Iowa [4] ) is the former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the US to the Republic of Latvia. [5] Prior to his appointment,Ambassador Larson was the Iowa State Senator from the 19th District from 2003 to 2007,was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 1993 to 2001,and is a former chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa. [6] He was succeeded in the Iowa Senate by Democrat Rob Hogg.
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During his most recent term of office,Larson served on several committees in the Iowa Senate –the Commerce committee;the Education committee;the Judiciary committee;the Ways and Means committee;and the Ethics committee,where he was co-chair. In 2003,President George W. Bush appointed Larson to the President's Advisory Commission for Drug Free Communities,on which he continues to serve. [7]
On November 30,2007,the White House announced that Larson would be nominated to become Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the US to the Republic of Latvia in 2008,replacing Catherine Todd Bailey. [8]
In May 2008,Latvian President Valdis Zatlers awarded Ambassador Larson the Order of the Three Stars,which is Latvia's highest award for his service to the country. [9]
In June 2009,President Barack Obama announced he was nominating Judith Gail Garber to replace Larson as U.S. Ambassador to Latvia.