John Boccieri

John Stephen A. Boccieri[1] (born October 5, 1969) is an American politician who was appointed to fill the 59th district seat in the Ohio House of Representatives on September 29, 2015. He left office after an unsuccessful run for Ohio State Senate in 2018. 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.[2]

John Boccieri
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 59th district
In office
September 29, 2015 – December 31, 2018
Preceded byRon Gerberry
Succeeded byDon Manning
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 16th district
In office
January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byRalph Regula
Succeeded byJim Renacci
Member of the Ohio Senate
from the 33rd district
In office
January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2008
Preceded byBob Hagan
Succeeded byJoe Schiavoni
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 61st district
In office
January 3, 2001 – December 31, 2006
Preceded byRon Hood
Succeeded byMark Okey
Personal details
Born (1969-10-05) October 5, 1969
Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Stacey Kennedy
ResidencePoland, Ohio, U.S.
Alma materSt. Bonaventure University (B.S.)
Webster University (M.A./M.P.A.)
ProfessionAir Force Officer
Politician
Military service
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch/serviceUnited States Air Force
Years of service1994–1998 (Air Force
1998-present (Air Force Reserve)
RankColonel
Unit911th Airlift Wing
Battles/warsOperation Iraqi Freedom

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.[3] 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.[4] 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.

Boccieri in U.S. Air Force uniform

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 Representative Mary Cirelli with 64% of the vote in the Democratic primary. He faced and defeated State Senator Kirk Schuring in the general election.[5] He was the first Democrat to represent this district in 58 years.[6]

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.[7]

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).[8]

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.[9] He did not run for re-election in 2018, instead opting to run for the 33rd District seat in the Ohio State Senate, losing to Michael Rulli in the general election.

References
  1. https://www.facebook.com/usairforcereserve/posts/10158670672443623
  2. Associated Press (September 29, 2015). "John Boccieri named to vacant seat in Ohio House". Times Reporter. New Philadelphia, OH.
  3. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=boccie001joh
  4. "BOCCIERI, John A. - Biographical Information". congress.gov. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  5. "Ohio Election Results, 2008". The New York Times.
  6. Barone, Michael (October 18, 2010). "Dems Find Careers Threatened by Obamacare Votes". Rasmussen Reports. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
  7. http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2010/10/us_rep_boccieri_gets_word_duri.html
  8. "Renacci sweeps to victory over Boccieri". The Repository. November 3, 2010. Archived from the original on November 8, 2010.
  9. Jo, Ingles (September 29, 2015). "New Members are Appointed to the Ohio House of Representatives: Former Congressman John Boccieri and Ottawa County Commissioner Steven Arndt are the Newest Additions to the Ohio House". WKSU Radio. Kent, OH.
U.S. 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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