Robert Zerban
Kenosha County Supervisor
from the 2nd district
In office
April 15, 2008 – April 17, 2012
Preceded byJudith Rossow
Succeeded byTerry W. Rose
Personal details
Born
Robert Zerban

Belleville, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseCornelia
ResidenceKenosha County, Wisconsin
Alma materCulinary Institute of AmericaUW-Parkside
OccupationBusinessman
WebsitePersonal site

Rob Zerban is an American entrepreneur, former Kenosha County Supervisor, and Congressional candidate. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Zerban's campaign for the United States House of Representatives in 2012 and 2014 largely focused on protecting Social Security and Medicare, his experience running two businesses, and bringing green industry to Wisconsin's 1st congressional district.[1] Zerban is active in national, state and local politics.

Early life and career

Zerban was born and raised in Belleville, Illinois.[2] He grew up in poverty as the youngest of three children in a single-parent household.[3] Zerban attended the Culinary Institute of America.[4] Zerban founded two food service companies, both of which he later sold.[2][5]

Zerban moved to Kenosha County in 2004. He would serve two terms as the Kenosha County supervisor from the 2nd district.[5] Zerban served as a member of the board of directors for the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters campaigning for the Great Lakes Compact. Zerban, and his wife, Dr. Cornelia Zerban frequently protested the union-busting and austerity measures of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's political agenda.[5] Zerban currently serves on the executive board of the Wisconsin Business Alliance.[2][5]

Congressional candidacies

Zerban ran for Congress in 2012 in Wisconsin's 1st congressional district. His opponent was Republican Congressman Paul Ryan, who was simultaneously the Republican nominee for Vice President. Zerban's campaign focused in part on Ryan's Medicare Plan and his experience as a small business owner.[6] Zerban's campaign had success using Reddit's "Ask Me Anything" chats, before such chats had become popular.[7] Ryan won just under 55 percent of the vote, his lowest share in any of his re-election bids. Zerban won Ryan's home county, municipality of residence and voting ward.[8]

Zerban chose to run once more in 2014.[9] He won the Democratic nomination on August 12, 2014, with 25,602 votes (78%) to 7313 votes (22%) for Amar Kaleka.[10] Ryan did not agree to debate Zerban in the 2012 election cycle. It was not until 2014 when the two would be on the same stage. Zerban was defeated in the general election by Congressman Ryan.

Electoral history

Year Office District Democratic Republican Other
2012 U.S. House of Representatives Wisconsin 1st District Rob Zerban 43.4% Paul Ryan 54.9% Keith Deschler (L) 2%
Year Office District Democratic Republican Other
2014 U.S. House of Representatives Wisconsin 1st District Rob Zerban 36.6% Paul Ryan 63.3% Keith Deschler (L) 0%

References

  1. ↑ "HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. And World News".
  2. 1 2 3 Moody, Chris (October 10, 2013). "From chef to candidate: Meet Rob Zerban, the other Democrat running against Paul Ryan". Yahoo News. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  3. ↑ Pierce, Charles P. (April 13, 2012). "A Man Who Looks Paul Ryan's Storm Dead in the Eye". Esquire. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  4. ↑ Logiuriato, Brett (November 5, 2012). "Meet The Man Who Is Challenging Paul Ryan To His Toughest House Race In More Than A Decade". Business Insider. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Potente, Joe (March 26, 2011). "County Board supervisor mulls run against Paul Ryan". Kenosha News. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  6. ↑ Isenstadt, Alex (July 18, 2011). "Rob Zerban's long-shot bid challenges Paul Ryan". Politico. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  7. ↑ Byers, Alex (October 10, 2012). "Political Reddit AMA chats on the rise". Politico. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  8. ↑ Gonzales, Nathan L. (October 21, 2013). "From Family Tragedy to Congress Is a Difficult Trail". Roll Call. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  9. ↑ Ramde, Dinesh (October 24, 2013). "Zerban to mount 2nd challenge to Ryan". The Journal Time. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Election Results: Congress Dist. 1 Dem Primary" WTMJ-TV website; August 13, 2014 Archived August 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
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