About Mary

Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack represents California’s 45th Congressional District. Mary was first elected with 64.7% of the vote in a special election on April 7, 1998, to fill the seat previously held by her late husband, the Honorable Sonny Bono, M.C. Since 2000, the Congresswoman has been reelected each term with an overwhelming majority to serve in Congress.

The Congresswoman has been assigned to the Energy and Commerce Committee. As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Bono Mack serves on the Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee, the Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee and the Environment and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee. In addition, Bono Mack serves as chair of the Congressional Salton Sea Task Force and as co-chair of the Entertainment Task Force, and Travel and Tourism Task Force.

Since coming to Washington in 1998, Congresswoman Bono Mack has proven her ability to be a consensus-builder in Congress. In 2000, Congresswoman Bono Mack succeeded in passing legislation establishing the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National Monument in the Palm Springs region with support from diverse interests including environmentalists and developers.

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In addition, Congresswoman Bono Mack has received several awards for her distinguished work in Congress. In 2001, the Congresswoman was honored by the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome for her efforts in preventing birth defects caused by alcohol use during pregnancy. In 2000, Congresswoman Bono Mack received the Guardian of Small Business Award from the National Federation of Independent Business for her work on key issues such as tax relief, pension reform and other small business issues. Every year from 1999 to 2002, Americans for Tax Reform presented Bono Mack with the Hero of the Taxpayer Award for her work in helping to reduce the tax burden on working families and eliminating wasteful government spending. Mary’s hard work on the issue of country-of-origin issue was recognized by the National Farmers Union, as they applauded her leadership by giving her an award in 2002. Also in 2002, the American Farm Bureau Federation recognized her as a ‘Friend of the Farm Bureau’ for her work on multiple agricultural issues.

Mary was born October 24, 1961, in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1963, her family moved to South Pasadena, where she enjoyed a warm family upbringing with her two older brothers, David and Stephen, and an older sister, Katherine. Mary’s father, Clay Whitaker, a retired physician, surgeon and WWII veteran passed away in 2008. Her mother Karen, a retired chemist, passed away in 2006. As a youth Mary pursued her first love, gymnastics. With her family’s support Mary became an accomplished gymnast while training with the team Gymnastics Olympica. Her dedication to fitness continues to this day. Mary is a certified personal fitness instructor who has studied martial arts (Karate, Tae Kwan Do) for over five years. A 1984 graduate of the University of Southern California, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art History Degree, Mary worked her way through college, sometimes working two jobs at once. While celebrating her graduation from USC, Mary was dining with a friend at BONO restaurant when she met the restaurant’s owner and her future husband, Sonny Bono. Their relationship blossomed, and in February of 1986, Mary Whitaker married Sonny Bono in Palm Springs, California.

Mary Bono Mack is married to U.S. Congressman Connie Mack.  She is the proud mother of, Chesare Elan, 20 , Chianna Maria, 17 and her two stepchildren Addison and Connie. She served as first lady of the City of Palm Springs, and has been active in a wide range of community charities and service organizations. Mary was named Woman of the Year in 1993 by the San Gorgonio Chapter of the Girl Scouts of America for her assistance to victims of a tragic Girl Scout bus crash in Palm Springs. In addition, Mary served on the board of the Palm Springs International Film Festival, and played a leadership role in support of the D.A.R.E. program, Olive Crest Home for Abused Children, Tiempos de Los Ninos and many other worthwhile causes. In addition to time spent with her family, Mary’s interests range from outdoor activities to a passion for computer technology.

The Congresswoman is a strong advocate of returning authority to local government, particularly in public education. Bono Mack opposes the existing federal tax structure, supports tax relief and advocates a reduction in the federal bureaucracy. A fundamental belief is the responsibility of the federal government to maintain a strong national defense and state-of-the-art armed services.

In 1999, Bono Mack was selected by GEORGE Magazine as one of the 20 most fascinating women in politics. In addition, the Congresswoman was named as one of the most Fascinating Women of 1998 by Ladies Home Journal magazine in conjunction with CBS Television. Bono Mack and other recipients of this honor were profiled on a CBS-TV special program produced by Ladies Home Journal and CBS. The Congresswoman has been the subject of numerous profile feature articles for a wide array of publications, domestically and abroad, including: GEORGE, The New York Times Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, ELLE Magazine, PEOPLE, Capital Style, HELLO Magazine, The Washington Post, and USA Today.

The 45th congressional district is located in southeastern California, in a region known as the “Inland Empire.” The region reflects the state as a whole; with deserts, mountains, agricultural and pastoral open-space, the Colorado River, and a large inland sea (the Salton Sea). Major industries include tourism and agriculture, as well as a diversity of professional and light manufacturing centers. The majority of the population resides in the Moreno Valley, the Hemet/San Jacinto valley, and the Coachella Valley.

The district includes the communities of Anza, Blythe, Cathedral City, Coachella, Hemet, Idyllwild, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Menifee, Mecca, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Thermal, portions of Temecula, portions of Wildomar and other unincorporated areas of Riverside County.