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
John Stephen Anthony Boccieri

(1969-10-05) October 5, 1969
Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseStacey Kennedy
Residence(s)Poland, Ohio, U.S.
Alma materSt. Bonaventure University (BS)
Webster University (MA, MPA)
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

John Stephen Anthony Boccieri (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.[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.[2] 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.[3] 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

Committee assignments

Notable votes

In the 111th Congress, Boccieri voted for the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act,[4] an economic stimulus package, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,[5] landmark health care reform legislation.

In his memoir, A Promise Land, Barack Obama described Boccieri as a "rising star" of the Democratic Party and one of the political neophytes who decided to support the healthcare reform bill despite political risks.[6]

Campaigns

2008

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio, 2008 § District 16

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.[7] He was the first Democrat to represent this district in 58 years.[8]

2010

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Ohio,_2010 § District 16

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.[9]

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 election cycle; Boccieri received only 41% of the vote, compared to 52% for Renacci (a Libertarian candidate took the remaining votes).[10]

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.[11] 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.

Electoral history

Ohio's 16th Congressional District election, 2008[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Boccieri 169,044 55.4
Republican Kirk Schuring 136,293 44.6
Total votes 305,337 100
Democratic gain from Republican
Ohio's 16th Congressional District House election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Renacci 144,652 52.08%
Democratic John Boccieri (incumbent) 90,833 41.26%
Libertarian Jeffrey Blevins 14,585 6.63%
Independent Robert Ross 67 0.03%
Total votes 220,137 100%
Republican gain from Democratic

References

  1. Associated Press (September 29, 2015). "John Boccieri named to vacant seat in Ohio House". Times Reporter. New Philadelphia, OH.
  2. "John Boccieri Independent Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. "BOCCIERI, John A. - Biographical Information". congress.gov. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  4. Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (January 28, 2009). "Roll Call 46 Roll Call 46, Bill Number: H. R. 1, 111th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved December 19, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (March 21, 2010). "Roll Call 165 Roll Call 165, Bill Number: H. R. 3590, 111th Congress, 2nd Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved December 19, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. Obama, Barack (November 17, 2020). A Promise Land. United States: Crown. p. 427. ISBN 978-1-5247-6316-9.
  7. "Ohio Election Results, 2008". The New York Times. December 9, 2008. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  8. Barone, Michael (October 18, 2010). "Dems Find Careers Threatened by Obamacare Votes". Rasmussen Reports. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
  9. Atassi, Leila (October 30, 2010). "U.S. Rep. Boccieri leaves campaign stage today -- his wife is in labor". cleveland. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  10. "Renacci sweeps to victory over Boccieri". The Repository. November 3, 2010. Archived from the original on November 8, 2010.
  11. 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.
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