Jim Lamon
Jim Lamon was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1957. He grew up in the small town of Livingston, Alabama where his father worked at a paper mill. From a young age, Lamon was interested in engineering and construction. He received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Alabama in 1979.
Military Service
After graduating from college, Lamon served for six years in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Germany for much of his military service. His time in the Army helped shape Lamon’s conservative political views and gave him skills in leadership and logistics.
Professional Career
Founding DEPCOM Power
After completing his service in the Army, Lamon moved to Arizona and began working in the energy industry. He saw a need for more power infrastructure to support Arizona’s rapidly growing population. In 1998, Lamon founded DEPCOM Power, an energy development company focused on building utility-scale solar power plants and electricity substations.
Under Lamon’s leadership as CEO, DEPCOM Power grew into one of the largest privately held companies in Arizona with over 500 employees. The company has constructed hundreds of megawatts of solar energy projects across the Southwestern United States. Lamon stepped down as CEO in 2017 but remained chairman of the board until 2021.
Entering Politics
2022 Arizona Senate Race
In 2021, Lamon announced he was running as a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate seat from Arizona held by Democrat Mark Kelly. Lamon positioned himself as a staunch conservative and political outsider.
Republican Primary
Lamon campaigned on issues like border security, election integrity, energy independence, and opposing Covid vaccine mandates. He spent millions of his own money trying to win the Republican nomination. However, Lamon ended up losing the August 2022 Republican primary to Blake Masters. Masters won 40% of the vote compared to Lamon’s 28%.
General Election
After his primary defeat, Lamon endorsed Masters for the general election. Masters went on to lose to incumbent Senator Mark Kelly in the November 2022 election. This dashed Republican hopes of flipping the Arizona Senate seat.
Political Views and Positions
Border Security and Immigration
Lamon made border security and illegal immigration central issues in his Senate campaign. He supported President Trump’s border wall and called for more advanced technology to secure the border. Lamon opposed sanctuary cities and providing social services to undocumented immigrants.
Economy and Government Spending
Fiscally, Lamon campaigned as a conservative who wanted to cut federal spending, balance the budget, and pay down the national debt. He called for eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs. Lamon supported tax cuts for individuals and businesses to stimulate economic growth.
Energy Independence
As a longtime energy executive, Lamon pushed for boosting domestic fossil fuel production and opposed restrictions like the Green New Deal. He touted his experience building hundreds of megawatts of solar power in the Southwest. Energy independence was a key plank of Lamon’s campaign.
Covid-19 Vaccine Mandates
Lamon strongly opposed any Covid vaccine or mask mandates, calling them unconstitutional government overreach. He criticized his Republican primary opponent Brnovich for not doing enough to fight Biden’s federal contractor vaccine mandate.
Jim Lamon’s Personal Life
Family and Religion
Jim Lamon is married to his wife Cathy and they have four adult children together. The Lamons are devout Christians and active in their church community in Paradise Valley, Arizona.
Hobbies and Interests
Outside of work and politics, Lamon enjoys golfing, cycling, and taking hiking trips with his family. He is an avid fan of University of Alabama football. Lamon also collects rare Bibles and ancient biblical texts, owning one of the largest private collections in the world.
Jim Lamon’s Legacy and Impact
Legacy in Business
Jim Lamon leaves behind an impressive business legacy as the founder of DEPCOM Power. The company helped transform Arizona’s energy landscape by scaling up solar power and battery storage. Lamon proved solar energy could be a viable, mainstream power source. DEPCOM also created many skilled jobs for Arizona.
Impact on Arizona Republican Party
Lamon’s 2022 Senate run raised his profile and influence within the Arizona Republican Party. He ran hard to the right and brought more attention to issues like border security and vaccine mandates. This could pull the Arizona GOP further in a populist direction.
Future in Politics
It remains to be seen if Lamon will run for political office again after losing his Senate bid. Some speculate he may try for a U.S. House seat or statewide position in Arizona. However, at 65 years old, Lamon may decide to retire from politics altogether and focus on his extensive business and philanthropic activities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Jim Lamon led a successful career as an Army veteran, business executive, and entrepreneur but fell short in his first political campaign. While Lamon lost in the 2022 Republican Senate primary, he leaves a lasting impact through his energy company DEPCOM Power. His strong conservative stances also pulled Arizona politics farther right. At an age when many retire, Lamon took a bold risk by running for Senate. Though he lost his bid, he fought hard for principles he believed in and his legacy continues.
FAQs
Q: Where is Jim Lamon originally from?
A: Jim Lamon was born in Chicago and grew up in Livingston, Alabama before moving to Arizona as an adult.
Q: How long did Jim Lamon serve in the Army?
A: Lamon served for 6 years in the U.S. Army, with much of that time spent stationed in Germany.
Q: What company did Jim Lamon start and run as CEO?
A: Lamon founded and was CEO of the energy company DEPCOM Power based in Arizona.
Q: When did Lamon run for U.S. Senate in Arizona?
A: Lamon ran for Senate in 2022 but lost the Republican primary to Blake Masters.
Q: What are some of Jim Lamon’s hobbies outside work and politics?
A: Lamon enjoys golfing, cycling, hiking, and collecting rare Bibles in his spare time.
