Steve Austria

Stephen Clement Austria[1] (born October 12, 1958) is the former U.S. Representative for Ohio's 7th congressional district, serving from 2009 to 2013. He is a member of the Republican Party. In December 2011, Austria announced his intention to not run for re-election for the 113th Congress in the 2012 elections.[2][3] During his 14 years in elected office, Austria never lost an election.[4]

For other people with the surname Austria, see Austria (surname).

Steve Austria
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 7th district
In office
January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2013
Preceded byDave Hobson
Succeeded byBob Gibbs
Member of the Ohio Senate
from the 10th district
In office
January 3, 2001 – December 31, 2008
Preceded byMerle G. Kearns
Succeeded byChris Widener
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives
from the 76th district
In office
January 5, 1999 – December 31, 2000
Preceded byMarilyn Reid
Succeeded byKevin DeWine
Personal details
Born
Stephen Clement Austria

(1958-10-12) October 12, 1958
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Eileen
Children3 sons
EducationMarquette University (BA)

Early life, education and career

Austria was born in Cincinnati, the son of Jean C. (née Brockman),[5] a nurse, and Dr. Clement G. Austria.[4] He grew up in Xenia, the eldest of nine children. He graduated from Carroll High School in 1977.[4] His mother was of German descent, and his father was from Tiaong, Quezon, Philippines, and had moved to Ohio to attend medical school. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University in 1982 and began a career as a financial advisor.[5] The Austria family was named the 1984 "Ohio Family of the Year" and was later presented with one of nine "The Great American Family" awards by First Lady Nancy Reagan.[6] His father sat on the Greene County Central Committee of the Republican Party.[4]

Ohio House of Representatives

Elections

Austria was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1998 until 2000. Austria won re-election in 2004 against Democratic challenger Charlie Hart in the general election with 65% of the vote.[7]

Tenure

Austria was elected to the Ohio State Senate in 2001, representing the 10th District. He served two terms as the Senate House Majority Whip.[6] In 1998, he sponsored the "Internet Child Protection Act", which was later enacted into law.[4]

Committee assignments

He served as Chairman of the Senate Highways and Transportation[8] and Senate Judiciary Committees.[9]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections
2008

Austria won the Republican nomination for the 7th District after nine-term incumbent Dave Hobson retired. He defeated Democratic challenger Sharen Neuhardt in the general election, 59% to 41%.[10] When Austria was elected, he made history by becoming the first son of a Filipino immigrant to be elected to the House of Representatives.[4]

2010

Austria was elected to a second term by defeating Libertarian John D. Anderson, Democrat Bill Conner and Constitution Party David Easton.[11]

2012

Following the 2010 United States Census, Ohio lost two seats in the House of Representatives, due to relatively slow population growth.[12] In subsequent redistricting, Austria's district, which stretched from Springfield to the southern suburbs of Columbus, was dismantled, with its territory split between three neighboring districts. Austria's home in Beavercreek was drawn into the 10th District (previously the 3rd District) of fellow Republican Mike Turner, who has served since 2003. The largest city in the district, Springfield, was drawn into the 7th District of House Speaker John Boehner. In December 2011, Austria announced his intention to retire at the 2012 elections,[2] rather than run in a primary against Turner or move to run in another district. While one proposal would have seen the 10th retain roughly half of the territory from Turner and Austria's old districts, the final map drew Austria into a district that would have been over 75 percent new to him. State House Majority Leader Matt Huffman said that the new map "essentially eliminated" any realistic chance of Austria being able to stay in Congress.[13]

Tenure

Austria is the third person of Filipino heritage (after Bobby Scott of Virginia and John Ensign of Nevada[14]) to serve in the House as a voting member.[15] He is the first first-generation Filipino to be elected to the United States Congress.[16][17]

Austria is a staunch fiscal and social conservative, which is unusual in a district that has historically elected moderate Republicans. His campaign stressed Second Amendment rights, tax relief, opposition to abortion, and eliminating waste in government. He was a member of the Republican Study Committee and the Republican Main Street Partnership.

Austria co-wrote a letter with Rep. Steve Rothman in the wake of the Itamar attack claiming that any peace attempt in the Middle East had to recognize that "Palestinian incitement continues and there is almost no effort by them to promote coexistence and peace."[18]

Committee assignments

Post-congressional career

Austria has a consulting business, and serves on an advisory board for the Republican National Committee and remains active in politics.[20] As of 2014, Austria is on the Republican State Central Committee, representing the 10th District,[21] and sits on the Republican National Committee's Asian American Advisory Council.[22]

Personal life

Austria has lived in Beavercreek, a suburb of Dayton, for more than 20 years with his wife Eileen, and their three sons Brian, Kevin and Eric.[6] Austria is a Catholic.[23]

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See also

References
  1. Ohio Filipino American running for US Congress | GMA News Online | The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere
  2. Steve Austria to retire – POLITICO.com
  3. Rachel Weiner (December 30, 2011). "Ohio Republican Rep. Steve Austria retiring". Washington Post. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
  4. Mary McCarty (December 31, 2012). "Steve Austria looks back on career in Congress". Dayton Daily News. Cox Media Group. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
  5. LARIOSA, JOSEPH (August 3, 2008). "Ohio Filipino American running for US Congress". GMA News. Retrieved September 1, 2008.
  6. Austria, Steve (2008). "Steve Austria for Congress". Archived from the original on March 9, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 27, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "OHIO SENATE JOURNAL" (PDF). State of Ohio. State of Ohio.
  9. "Rep. Steve Austria". Peerless Technologies Corporation. Peerless Technologies Corporation. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  10. "Ohio Secretary of State Unofficial Election Results". Ohio Secretary of State. November 4, 2008. Archived from the original on April 13, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2008.
  11. "In the States". New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  12. Ohio will lose two congressional seats, Census Bureau says | cleveland.com
  13. Joe Cogliano (December 30, 2011). "Austria drops bid for re-election". Dayton Business Journal. Retrieved December 30, 2011.
    Strong, Jonathan (January 17, 2012). "How Rep. Steve Austria Became a Sacrificial Republican". Roll Call. Economist Group Business. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  14. "Ensign Commemorates Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month". Archived from the original on June 20, 2009. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
  15. Melegrito, Jon (May 2009). "Rep. Steve Austria, A Fil-Am in the U.S. Congress" [A Father's Legacy]. Filipinas Magazine. 18 (205): 61. ISSN 1063-4630. Retrieved August 26, 2009.
  16. "AUSTRIA STATEMENT FOR EVENT AT PHILIPPINES EMBASSY". Official House of Representatives website of Rep. Steve Austria. Archived from the original on March 20, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  17. "Fil-Am lawmaker decides not to seek reelection in Ohio". ABS-CBN news. January 19, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2012. He was first Filipino-American elected in 2008 and handily won re-election last year, after taking over the old seat of Republican Rep. David Hobson
  18. HILARY LEILA KRIEGER, "J Street opposes House letter bashing Palestinian incitement. Lobby's stance saying PA has taken political risks for peace seen as increasing congressional support for measure," Jerusalem Post, March 23, 2011.
  19. "Former Congressman, Steve Austria shares experience for successful defense communities". Greene County Daily Word. Linton, Indiana. September 14, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  20. Cogliano, Joe (April 7, 2014). "Former U.S. Rep. Steve Austria: Politics back on the horizon". Dayton Business Journal. American City Business Journal. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
    Wilkins, Emily (September 10, 2012). "No campaign, lots of funds". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  21. Amanda Crowe (May 7, 2014). "Austria, Lewis win State Central Committee seats". Xenia Gazette. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  22. Mary Tablante. "Asian America (May 2014)". Asian Fortune News. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
    "Fil-Am appointment to Republican nat'l body hailed". Philippine Daily Inquirer. March 6, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  23. "Rep. Steve Austria (R-Ohio)". CQ-Roll Call, Inc. Economist Group Business. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
    "Faith on the Hill: The Religious Composition of the 112th Congres" (PDF). The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. Pew Research Center. January 5, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
    "List of Catholic senators, representatives in 112th Congress". Catholic Sentinel. Portland: Oregon Catholic Press. Catholic News Service. December 14, 2010. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Dave Hobson		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 7th congressional district
2009–2013		 Succeeded by
Bob Gibbs
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