World Biography Dennis Kucinich (b. 1946)
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Dennis Kucinich (b. October 8 ,1946) is an American politician currently representing the 10th Congressional District of Ohio in the United States House of Representatives. He is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in the 2008 election.
Kucinich grew up poor, one of seven children, the son of Croatian immigrants. At times in his childhood in the 1950s, the Kucinich family resorted to living in their car. His political career began with his surprise win in the 1969 Cleveland City Council election. He was 23 years old at the time. He later leaped to relative political fame by winning the Mayoral election to lead Cleveland in 1976 and becoming the youngest mayor of a major city in the United States. He survived a bitter recall election but then lost his re-election bid in 1978. The major controversy involved his refusal to sell the municipally-owned electrical utility to private industry.
Kucinich ran for Congress in 1996, winning the 10th Congressional District as a Democrat. In 2004, he entered the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination, and though he stood little chance against better known and better financed opponents such as Howard Dean, John Edwards, and the eventual winner, John Kerry, Kucinich made a name for himself as an outspoken progressive touting a very liberal stance on issues such as environmental protection, gay rights, worker rights, the War in Iraq, and women's issues. Kucinich also stood out from all other candidates through his vegan lifestyle, refusing to eat meat/animal products or wear leather or any animal product/clothing.
In January, 2007, Kucinich entered the 2008 race for the Democratic nomination. In Iowa, New Hampshire and the other caucus and primary states, he never took more than 2% of the vote, and was kept out of several crucial debates. His constant campaigning for president helped make him seem vulnerable in his home district, Ohio's 10th Congressional District. Four challengers to his congressional seat appeared, and that, along with his lackluster showing in the Democratic primaries, caused Dennis Kucinich to drop out of the Presidential race on January 25, 2008.
Kucinich won his congressional race handily and continues to speak out against war, poverty, and injustice.
The Kucinich 2008 platform includes:
--Creating a single-payer system of universal health care that provides full coverage for all Americans.--The immediate withdrawal of all U.S. Forces from Iraq and replacing them with an international security force.
--Guaranteed quality education for all, including free Pre-K and college for all who want it.
--Immediate withdrawal from the WTO (World Trade Organization)and NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement).
--Repealing the USA PATRIOT Act.
--Fostering a world of international cooperation.
--Abolishing the death penalty.
--Environmental renewal and clean energy.
--Preventing the privatization of social security.
--Providing full social security benefits at age 65.
--Creating a cabinet-level "Department of Peace"
--Ratifying the ABM Treaty and the Kyoto Protocol.
--Introducing reforms to bring about instant-runoff voting.
--Protecting a woman's right-to-choose while decreasing the number of abortions performed in the U.S.
--Ending the war on drugs.
--Legalizing same-sex marriage.
--Creating a balance between workers and corporations.
--Restoring rural communities and family farms.
Contact Information:
DC Office:
1730 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-3510
Phone: 202-225-5871
Fax: 202-225-5745
District Office - Lakewood:
14400 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
Phone: 216-228-8850
Fax: 216-228-6465
District Office - Parma:
5983 West 54th Street
Parma, OH 44129
Phone: 440-845-2707
Fax: 440-845-2743
Published Works:
Kucinich, Dennis J. and Studs Turkel. A Prayer for America. Nation Books, 2003
Lee, R. "World Biography: Dennis Kucinich (b. 1946)"
http://www.worldbiography.net/kucinich_dennis.html
Family, Career, and Personal Highlights
Frank Kucinich--Father
Virginia Kucinich --Mother
Elizabeth Harper Kucinich- 3rd Wife (Married August 21, 2005)
Sandra Lee McCarthy--1st Wife (Married January 15, 1977. Divorced, August, 1986)
Jacqueline "Jackie" Kucinich--Daughter (by Sandra Lee McCarthy )
Religion:
Roman CatholicEducation:
1973: BA and MA, Speech Communications, Case Western Reserve UniversityCareer/Occupation:
1979-Present :Consultant, Publicly Owned Electric Systems1985-1995: President, Marketing and Communications Firm
1991-1994: Teacher, Communications and Political Science, Case Western Reserve University and Cleveland State University
1982-1992: Professor, Political Science, Case Western Reserve University
1982-1992: Communications Entrepreneur, Software and Public Relations
Military Service:
NonePolitical Career:
1970-1975: Cleveland City Council1972: Lost Congressional election1974: Lost Congressional election
1976-1977: Clerk of Courts for the Cleveland Municipal Court
1977-1979: Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio
1981-1982: Cleveland City Council
1985: Ran for governor as a third party candidate. Kucinich withdrew from the race prior to the election.
1994-1996: Ohio State Senator (D)
1997-Present: United States House or Representatives (D)
2004: Ran for President, failed to win Democratic nomination2007: Began race for 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination
Jan. 25, 2008: Ended race for Democratic Presidential nomination
Elections involving Dennis Kucinich
2006 Election U.S. House of Representatives—Ohio 10th District
Dennis J. Kucinich (D), 66.41%Michael D. Dovilla (R), 33.59%
2004 Election U.S. House of Representatives—Ohio 10th District
Dennis J. Kucinich (D), 60%Edward F. Herman (R), 34%
Barbara Ferris (I), 6%
2002 Election U.S. House of Representatives—Ohio 10th District
Dennis J. Kucinich (D), 74%Jon A. Heben (R), 24%
Judy Locie (L) 2%
2000 Election U.S. House of Representatives—Ohio 10th District
Dennis J. Kucinich (D), 75%Bill Smith (R), 22%
Ron Petrie (L) 3%
1998 Election U.S. House of Representatives—Ohio 10th District
Dennis J. Kucinich (D), 66.8%Joe Slovenec (R), 32.2%
1996 Election U.S. House of Representatives—Ohio 10th District
Dennis J. Kucinich (D), 49.1%Martin R. Hoke (R), (incumbent) 46.3%
Robert B. Iverson (N) 4.6%
(D)= Democrat, (R)= Republican, (L)= Libertarian, (N)= Natural Law Party, (I)= Independent
Links and Resources on Dennis Kucinich.
Representative Dennis Kucinich- Representative for Ohio's 10th Congressional District. Official House site
Dennis Kucinich--Wikipedia Article
Dennis Kucinich for President--Official election website.
Dennis Kucinich Blog--Official Kucinich blog.
Official Ohio Congressional Election Results , 2000 Race
Kucinich gets theatrical at Nevada forum-Cleveland Plain Dealer Political Blog-by Sabrina Eaton, February 21, 2007
Elizabeth Harper Kucinich
How Kucinich Found Love --by Evelyn Theiss
Imagine Elizabeth Kucinich As First Lady--From the Irregular Times blog, 12/14/2006
Kucinich recommends Obama & Clinton--February 1st, 2008 by Jill Miller Zimon of the Moderate Voice
Cleveland mayor endorses Kucinich challenger--January 17, 2008
North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O'Grady makes it official: he's running for Kucinich's seat--December 06, 2007
Alone on the left wing: Liberal America deserves a champion, yet the only candidate was too far out in the presidential race--by Joe Queenan of the Guardian, Feb. 2, 2008--An interesting look at Kucinich's presidential campaigns and a harsh critique of the Democratic Party and how it treated Dennis Kucinich.
Five's A Crowd: There Are Four Contenders For Dennis Kucinich’s Congressional Seat. Do Any Of Them Stand A Chance? Do Any Of Them Deserve It?--The Cleveland Free Times, Jan. 30, 2008
Callahan’s Cleveland Diary: Thinking about economics, politics and real life in Cleveland, Ohio--blog on Cleveland Politics. This post is on the Congressional race.
Ohio Valley Politics: Democratic News And Opinion From Southeastern Ohio--Democratic blog on Ohio politics.
Kucinich's Wilton numbers wrong--by Michael Cleveland of Cabinet.com, Friday, Feb. 1, 2008
Site Map--revision in progress
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