Jerry McNerney and Mary, his wife of 29 years, have lived and raised their children in Pleasanton since 1990. Their oldest son, Michael, is a reserve officer in the US Air Force. Daughter Windy is a graduate student at the University of New Mexico, and youngest son, Greg, is studying bio-physics at UC Davis.
Jerry grew up in a devout Catholic family and attended St. Joseph’s Military Academy in Hays, Kansas. After high school, Jerry attended West Point for two years and then attended the University of New Mexico, where he studied engineering and mathematics, earning a PhD in 1981.
Jerry served several years as a contractor to Sandia National Laboratories on Kirtland AFB working on national security programs. In 1985, Jerry accepted a senior engineering position with US Windpower, Kenetech, and in 1994 Jerry began working as an energy consultant for PG&E, FloWind, the Electric Power Research Institute, and other utility companies. He is now the CEO of a start-up company that will manufacture wind turbines.
During his career in wind energy, McNerney’s work contributed to saving the equivalent of approximately 30 million barrels of oil, or 8.3 million tons of carbon dioxide – the main greenhouse gas – as well as other harmful pollutants.
Jerry was inspired to run for the House of Representatives by his son Michael, who in response to the 9/11 attacks sought and received a commission in the Air Force. Michael alerted his father just weeks before the 2004 primary election that no Democrat was on the primary ballot and that Richard Pombo would be unopposed in the general election. Michael suggested that Jerry serve his country by running for the U.S. Congress. With a deep sense of duty, Jerry accepted the challenge and registered as a write-in candidate. Jerry went on to win the Democratic Party's nomination, and he received more votes in the general election than any previous challenger to Pombo.
Jerry is an avid reader and has written three novels and numerous essays. He has, in the past, enjoyed hunting and sport shooting. Jerry is also a runner and loves hiking in the Sierras with family and friends.
In 2006, Jerry made congressional history as he became the only candidate in California to defeat an incumbent and the only candidate in the United States to defeat a sitting House committee chairman. Congressman McNerney is now serving in his first term in the House of Representatives.
