WASHINGTON — Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, filed to run for re-election to his 1st District Congressional seat Friday, the first day candidates could file for the office.

The former high school teacher has been in Congress since 2003 after he succeeded Rep. Jim Hansen, who retired. In this session of Congress, Bishop serves on the Armed Services, Natural Resources and Education and Labor committees. He is also the Outreach and Communications chairman for the Congressional Western Caucus, according to his office.

In 2006, Bishop beat Democratic challenger Steve Olsen. He has no challengers at this time, based on the list kept by Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert. Bishop won over Olsen handily, with 112,546 votes to Olsen's 57,922.

As of the last Federal Election Commission reporting period, Bishop had $149,892 cash on hand. He received $38,650 in contributions between October and December 2007 and a total of $120,650 in contributions for this election cycle, according to the report filed Feb. 1.

Bishop is a former Utah House speaker and served in the state Legislature for 16 years, representing Brigham City.

He retired from Box Elder High School in Brigham City in 2002, having started as a teacher in the school in 1974. From 1980 to 1985 he taught German and coached debate at Ben Lomond High School in Ogden before returning to Brigham City, according to his office. He was chairman of the school's history department and taught Advanced Placement classesin government and U.S. history before he retired.

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