When John Boccieri launched his campaign for Congress in June 2007, he made a vow to Ohioans.

He promised to be a voice for change in Washington – a fighting force for working families, veterans, living wage jobs, and free and fair trade. And John vowed to always bring honesty and integrity to his work.

It’s time, John said, to renew the American spirit. It’s time to bring back hope in the promise of America, and reverse the poor decisions in Washington which are jeopardizing this promise for Ohioans today.

“To Whom Much is Given, Much is Expected”
The promise of America brought John’s grandparents from Europe more than a century ago. Through hard work and perseverance they put their children through college and opened opportunities they never would have thought possible. As a boy, John was told “to whom much is given, much is expected” and he has devoted his life to service and defense of our American way of life.

As an experienced state legislator, John has been a strong advocate for Northeast Ohio in the state House and Senate. Still a Major in the Air Force Reserve, John has served our nation in more than 40 countries and has 11 years of service in the U.S. Military. An aircraft commander aboard the C-30 Hercules, he recently deployed in four rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

An All American Ohioan
John grew up in Northeast Ohio and helped his Ursuline High School baseball team win the state championship. His dedication in the classroom and on the field earned him scholarships at St. Bonaventure University in New York where he led the NCAA Division 1 in stolen bases and graduated with honors in economics. John tried out for several Major League baseball teams and played a season in the newly formed independent professional Frontier League, before going to work as an aide to state Rep. Rich Cordray, now Ohio’s state treasurer.

John then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. While on active duty stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base, he earned master’s degrees in public administration and business from Webster University in St. Louis.

A Distinguished Record Fighting for Ohio’s Families
First elected to public office in 2000, John served three terms as a state representative, where his peers elected him assistant minority whip. In 2006, John was elected to the state Senate. In the legislature, John has been a strong advocate for Ohio’s veterans, working families and the jobs and industries that have built the state.

He worked to lower property taxes for working families and sponsored a bill to help grandparents raising their grandchildren with housing grants. John has fought for Ohio’s steel industry jobs, helped give seniors access to donated prescription drugs, co-sponsored legislation to safeguard pension funds from corporate greed, and has been an avid supporter of conservation efforts in Ohio.

John has also championed and passed numerous bills to support Ohio’s veterans and military families. Most recently, John sponsored the "Military Injury Relief Fund" bill, a tax check-off program that gives Ohioans an opportunity to help our injured soldiers transition back into civilian life and assist with their medical expenses.

John’s record of standing up for Ohioans has earned accolades from groups throughout Ohio. He received the Merle Shoemaker award for integrity in office by Ohio Democrats and was recognized as the Legislator of the Year by the AMVETS and East Central Ohio Education Association in 2004. In addition, he received the 2006 Legislator of the Year award from the Ohio League of Sportsman for state conservation efforts.