AN American politician with strong Manx connections made news headlines in Arizona in August as he made a bid for election to the US Congress.
Ben Quayle, 33 year old son of Dan Quayle, former Vice President of the United States, is an American lawyer, businessman and was a Republican candidate in the election which was held on November 2.
He sought to succeed the retiring U.S. Rep. John Shadegg, an eight- term Republican.
In his election campaign he said: "My generation is going to have to clean up the mess made by the politicians in Washington. The reckless spending and crushing debt burden must be stopped."
Ben Quayle's life has been linked with politics ever since he was born three days after his father was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1976, aged 29.
He found out what election campaigning is all about and was the target of the media during the election campaign and - like his father before him - had to endure over-the-top cynicism and criticism.
Dan Quayle had a colourful and eventful political career. George Bush Snr invited Dan Quayle to campaign alongside him in 1988 and the Bush - Quayle ticket won the US election and remained in the White House for one term.
Bush and Quayle again stood alongside each other in the 1992 US election campaign, but this time lost to Bill Clinton.
During Dan Quayle’s time in office he travelled to the Isle of Man, visiting relatives and friends in the Island, staying at the Castletown Golf Links Hotel as guest of Graham Ferguson Lacey.
Dan Quayle published his memoirs in 1996, entitled 'Standing Firm', but declined to run for public office in this time period due to illness.
He sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2000, but was defeated by George W. Bush. Quayle and his wife currently reside in Paradise Valley, Arizona.
Ben Quayle has opened a business with a Manx name - Tynwald Capital - which employs about 13 people. The investment company specialises in the acquisition and nurturing of small businesses and it has also opened an Arizona office of New England-based APG Security.
Quayle and his brother, Tucker, are managing partners in the security venture.
Ben Quayle was a frequent target of many of his nine election opponents - all of whom are older than him and have children - for what they called his thin resume and lack of life experience.
Quayle doesn't yet have children and his critics used this to campaign against him.
However, Ben Quayle had the last laugh as he won the election on November 2. Will he progress further? - watch this space.
