John Boccieri

John Boccieri
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 59th district
Assumed office
September 29, 2015
Preceded by Ron Gerberry
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 16th district
In office
January 3, 2009  January 3, 2011
Preceded by Ralph Regula
Succeeded by Jim Renacci
Member of the Ohio Senate
from the 33rd district
In office
1 January 2007 – 31 December 2008
Preceded by Bob Hagan
Succeeded by Joe Schiavoni
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 61st district
In office
January 3, 2001 – December 31, 2006
Preceded by Ron Hood
Succeeded by Mark Okey
Personal details
Born (1969-10-05) October 5, 1969
Youngstown, Ohio
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Stacey Kennedy-Boccieri
Residence Poland, Ohio
Alma mater St. Bonaventure University (B.S.)
Webster University (M.A./M.P.A.)
Profession Air Force Officer
Politician
Religion Roman Catholic
Military service
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service 1994–1998 (Air Force
1998-present (Air Force Reserve)
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Unit 773d Airlift Squadron
Battles/wars Operation Iraqi Freedom

John Boccieri (born October 5, 1969) is an American politician who has represented the 59th district in the Ohio House of Representatives since being appointed to fill a vacancy on September 29, 2015. He served as the U.S. Representative for Ohio's 16th congressional district from 2009 to 2011, and lost his 2010 bid for reelection to Republican Jim Renacci. He is a member of the Democratic Party, and previously served in the Ohio State Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives. Boccieri resides in Poland, Ohio.[1]

Early life and career

Boccieri was born in Youngstown where he graduated from Ursuline High School in 1988. He attended St. Bonaventure University in New York, graduating with a B.S. in 1992, after which he played minor league baseball in the Frontier League. Following one season of baseball, he began his career in government. After working as staff for several members of the Ohio House of Representatives, Boccieri joined the United States Air Force as a second lieutenant. He also earned two master's degrees (M.A. 1992, M.P.A. 1996) from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.[2] Boccieri flew the C-130 Hercules as a member of the Air Force Reserve. He has been forward deployed several times and served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, causing him to take leaves of absence from the Ohio Legislature.

After leaving the active duty Air Force, he re-entered politics, running for and winning the 61st District of the Ohio House of Representatives in 2000. In 2006, he won a seat in the Ohio State Senate in District 33; he was unopposed.

United States Congress

There had been speculation throughout 2007 that Boccieri would challenge U.S. Representative Ralph Regula to represent the 16th District in the U.S. House, a seat Regula had held for 36 years. When Regula announced his retirement in late 2007, Boccieri faced an open field. He defeated State Legislator Mary Cirelli with 64% of the vote in the Democratic primary. He faced and defeated State Senator Kirk Schuring in the general election.[3] He was the first Democrat to represent this district in 58 years.[4]

On October 30, 2010, Boccieri ran offstage while former President Bill Clinton was giving a speech after learning that his pregnant wife was in labor.[5]

On November 2, 2010, Boccieri lost his bid for a second term in Congress after being defeated by Republican businessman Jim Renacci. He was defeated handily in an overwhelmingly Republican year; Boccieri received only 40% of the vote, compared to 52% for Renacci (a Libertarian candidate took the remaining votes).[6]

Return to Ohio House of Representatives

On September 29, 2015 Boccieri was appointed to the Ohio House of Representatives, filling the 59th District vacancy caused by the resignation of Ron Gerberry.[7]

References

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by
Ralph Regula
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 16th congressional district

2009 – 2011
Succeeded by
Jim Renacci
Ohio Senate
Preceded by
Bob Hagan
Ohio state Senator from 33rd district
January 3, 2007 – December 31, 2008
Succeeded by
Joe Schiavoni
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