Betty Sutton
Encyclopedia
Betty Sue Sutton is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 2007. She is a member of the Democratic Party
.
The district includes most of the western and southern suburbs of Cleveland, and includes North Royalton
, Akron
, Lorain
, Elyria
, Strongsville
, Avon
and Cuyahoga Falls.
, just outside Akron. She attended public schools, going on to graduate from Kent State University
with a degree in political science. Sutton went on to study for a Juris Doctor
at the University of Akron School of Law
, where she received a Dean's Club Scholarship and earned both the American Jurisprudence Award and Federal Bar Association Award for Outstanding Performance in Constitutional Law.
City Council in 1990.
A year later, Sutton was appointed to fill an at-large seat on the Summit County
Council, where she served until 1992. Sutton was elected vice president of the council during her second year in office.
In 1993 she began serving in Ohio House of Representatives
. She served as State Representative for eight years, when she was term-limited.
At 28, she was the youngest woman ever to be elected to the Ohio State House of Representatives. In 1996, she cast the only vote in the Ohio House against a bill that she perceived as corporate welfare; the state's senate eventually rejected the bill. She served on the Committee on Commerce and Labor.
In 2006, Sutton successfully ran for the seat vacated by Sherrod Brown
in the U.S. House of Representatives in Ohio's 13th congressional district
.
Before she was appointed to the Armed Services Committee and the Natural Resources Committee, Sutton sat on the Energy and Commerce Committee in the 111th Congress, and on the Judiciary Committee and Rules Committee in the 110th Congress.
Sutton was also recognized as a "key House architect" in the American Clean Energy and Security Act
that passed the House in June 2009. An amendment she offered established the "Cash for Clunkers" program. Sutton received wide media attention in 2009 as a result of her lead sponsorship of the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act, which mandated the "Cash for Clunkers" program that went into effect during the summer of 2009. Her 2010 Republican opponent, Tom Ganley
, sold 876 cars under this program. At the time, August 2009, his only complaint was about the speed of payment.
Sutton was the lead sponsor of the Josh Miller HEARTS Act, which mandates that the Department of Education provide funding to local schools for the purchase of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The bill was named after one of Sutton's constituents, a 15-year-old honor student, football player, and wrestler from Barberton, Ohio
who collapsed and died on the football field after suffering from sudden cardiac arrest.
Other bills that Sutton has sponsored include the Protect Consumers Act of 2009, which calls for stricter action to protect consumers in the event of a product's mandatory recall by the FDA, the Disability Equity Act, which eliminates the 5-month waiting period currently in place for Social Security disability benefits, and the Contractor Accountability Act, which tightens public oversight of federal expenditures.
Sutton was a member of the all-female, bipartisan softball
team created by fellow House members Debbie Wasserman Schultz
(D-FL) and Jo Ann Emerson
(R-MO) over the summer of 2009. The team played against a team consisting of staff from the National Republican Congressional Committee
, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
, the Republican National Committee
and the Democratic National Committee
, and the game benefited the Young Survival Coalition
, a foundation dedicated to young women with breast cancer.
On July 16, 2009, Sutton came out in favor of a public option in any healthcare reform package.
of Ohio's 13th congressional district
declared his intention to run against Mike DeWine
for his seat in the U.S. Senate, Betty Sutton took part in the Democratic primary for his open seat. She defeated notables such as former U.S. Rep. Thomas C. Sawyer
, who had previously been redistricted out of Congress, and Capri Cafaro
, who had run against Rep. Steven LaTourette in the neighboring 14th District during the previous election cycle. Sutton capitalized on the anti-corruption theme of Ohio's 2006 elections to make a strong showing late in the primary season, and held it to win the primary with the strong support of organized labor.
Sutton went on to win the November general election against Craig L. Foltin
, the Republican mayor of Lorain, Ohio
. The Republicans had high hopes for Foltin, who was the popular Republican mayor of a heavily Democratic city, and despite the local newspaper Akron Beacon Journal
's reluctant endorsement of Foltin, Sutton defeated him 61.22 percent to 38.78 percent, or 135,639 votes to 85,922 votes.
Her campaign received support from the pro-choice
political action committee
EMILY's List
.
Sutton endorsed Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Democratic primaries after Clinton won the Ohio primaries, stating that she was following the lead of her constituents. Sutton went on to campaign for Barack Obama
after he secured the nomination.
.
She currently lives in Copley Township with her husband Doug Corwon, a mediator with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving since 2007. She is a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
.
The district includes most of the western and southern suburbs of Cleveland, and includes North Royalton
North Royalton, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 28,647 people, 11,250 households, and 7,695 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,345.9 people per square mile . There were 11,754 housing units at an average density of 552.2 per square mile...
, Akron
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, Lorain
Lorain, Ohio
Lorain is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie, at the mouth of the Black River, about 30 miles west of Cleveland....
, Elyria
Elyria, Ohio
-Community:Elyria has an extensive, although financially burdened, community food pantry and "Hot Meals" program administered through the Second Harvest Food Bank and several churches Elyria is served by Elyria Memorial Hospital.-Recreation and parks:...
, Strongsville
Strongsville, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 43,858 people, 16,209 households, and 12,383 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,779.6 people per square mile . There were 16,863 housing units at an average density of 684.2 per square mile...
, Avon
Avon, Ohio
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,446 people, 4,088 households, and 3,143 families residing in the city. The population density was 548.4 people per square mile . There were 4,291 housing units at an average density of 205.6 per square mile...
and Cuyahoga Falls.
Early life and education
Sutton was born and raised the youngest of six children in BarbertonBarberton, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,899 people, 11,523 households, and 7,443 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,095.2 people per square mile . There were 12,163 housing units at an average density of 1,349.4 per square mile...
, just outside Akron. She attended public schools, going on to graduate from Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
with a degree in political science. Sutton went on to study for a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
at the University of Akron School of Law
University of Akron School of Law
The University of Akron School of Law is the law school at the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, USA. Offering both the J.D. and LL.M. degrees, it was founded in 1921 as the Akron School of Law and merged with the University of Akron in 1959, becoming fully accredited by the American Bar...
, where she received a Dean's Club Scholarship and earned both the American Jurisprudence Award and Federal Bar Association Award for Outstanding Performance in Constitutional Law.
Early political career
During her first year of law school, Sutton successfully ran for her first public office, earning an at-large seat on the BarbertonBarberton, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,899 people, 11,523 households, and 7,443 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,095.2 people per square mile . There were 12,163 housing units at an average density of 1,349.4 per square mile...
City Council in 1990.
A year later, Sutton was appointed to fill an at-large seat on the Summit County
Summit County, Ohio
Summit County is an urban county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 542,899. In the 2010 Census the population was 541,781. Its county seat is Akron...
Council, where she served until 1992. Sutton was elected vice president of the council during her second year in office.
In 1993 she began serving in Ohio House of Representatives
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
. She served as State Representative for eight years, when she was term-limited.
At 28, she was the youngest woman ever to be elected to the Ohio State House of Representatives. In 1996, she cast the only vote in the Ohio House against a bill that she perceived as corporate welfare; the state's senate eventually rejected the bill. She served on the Committee on Commerce and Labor.
In 2006, Sutton successfully ran for the seat vacated by Sherrod Brown
Sherrod Brown
Sherrod Campbell Brown is the senior United States Senator from Ohio and a member of the Democratic Party. Before his election to the U.S. Senate, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Ohio's 13th congressional district from 1993 to 2007...
in the U.S. House of Representatives in Ohio's 13th congressional district
Ohio's 13th congressional district
The 13th congressional district of Ohio is represented by Representative Betty Sutton, who defeated Republican Craig L. Foltin on Nov. 7, 2006. It was formerly represented by Sherrod Brown...
.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Armed ServicesUnited States House Committee on Armed Servicesthumb|United States House Committee on Armed Services emblemThe U.S. House Committee on Armed Services, commonly known as the House Armed Services Committee, is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives...
- Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces
- Subcommittee on Strategic ForcesUnited States House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic ForcesHouse Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces is a subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee in the United States House of Representatives.-Jurisdiction:The Strategic Forces Subcommittee exercises oversight and legislative jurisdiction over:...
- Committee on Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral ResourcesUnited States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral ResourcesThe United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources is one of the five subcommittees within the House Natural Resources Committee-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:*...
- Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public LandsUnited States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public LandsThe United States House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands is one of the five subcommittees within the House Natural Resources Committee-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:*...
- Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
Before she was appointed to the Armed Services Committee and the Natural Resources Committee, Sutton sat on the Energy and Commerce Committee in the 111th Congress, and on the Judiciary Committee and Rules Committee in the 110th Congress.
111th Congress
American Clean Energy and Security Act
The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 was an energy bill in the 111th United States Congress that would have established a variant of an emissions trading plan similar to the European Union Emission Trading Scheme...
that passed the House in June 2009. An amendment she offered established the "Cash for Clunkers" program. Sutton received wide media attention in 2009 as a result of her lead sponsorship of the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act, which mandated the "Cash for Clunkers" program that went into effect during the summer of 2009. Her 2010 Republican opponent, Tom Ganley
Tom Ganley
Thomas D. Ganley is a Northeast Ohio business man and Republican politician in Ohio. Originally a candidate for the Ohio Senate Republican nomination on February 17, 2010 he announced he would drop out of the primary and switched races to run against Betty Sutton in Ohio's 13th congressional...
, sold 876 cars under this program. At the time, August 2009, his only complaint was about the speed of payment.
Sutton was the lead sponsor of the Josh Miller HEARTS Act, which mandates that the Department of Education provide funding to local schools for the purchase of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The bill was named after one of Sutton's constituents, a 15-year-old honor student, football player, and wrestler from Barberton, Ohio
Barberton, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,899 people, 11,523 households, and 7,443 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,095.2 people per square mile . There were 12,163 housing units at an average density of 1,349.4 per square mile...
who collapsed and died on the football field after suffering from sudden cardiac arrest.
Other bills that Sutton has sponsored include the Protect Consumers Act of 2009, which calls for stricter action to protect consumers in the event of a product's mandatory recall by the FDA, the Disability Equity Act, which eliminates the 5-month waiting period currently in place for Social Security disability benefits, and the Contractor Accountability Act, which tightens public oversight of federal expenditures.
Sutton was a member of the all-female, bipartisan softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
team created by fellow House members Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Debbie Wasserman Schultz is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. She is a member of the Democratic Party and the Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. She previously served in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate...
(D-FL) and Jo Ann Emerson
Jo Ann Emerson
Jo Ann Emerson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1996. The district consists of Southeast and South Central Missouri and includes the Bootheel, the Lead Belt and the Ozarks. Emerson is a member of the Republican Party....
(R-MO) over the summer of 2009. The team played against a team consisting of staff from the National Republican Congressional Committee
National Republican Congressional Committee
The National Republican Congressional Committee is the Republican Hill committee which works to elect Republicans to the United States House of Representatives....
, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Democrats to that body. They play a critical role in recruiting candidates, raising funds, and organizing races in districts that are expected to yield...
, the Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
and the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
, and the game benefited the Young Survival Coalition
Young Survival Coalition
Young Survival Coalition is an international organization focusing on women ages 40 and under who are diagnosed with breast cancer. Major programs offered by the Coalition include the YSC Tour de Pink, a series of bike rides sponsored by The Hershey Company raising funds for the coalition; annual...
, a foundation dedicated to young women with breast cancer.
On July 16, 2009, Sutton came out in favor of a public option in any healthcare reform package.
2006
After sitting Rep. Sherrod BrownSherrod Brown
Sherrod Campbell Brown is the senior United States Senator from Ohio and a member of the Democratic Party. Before his election to the U.S. Senate, he was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Ohio's 13th congressional district from 1993 to 2007...
of Ohio's 13th congressional district
Ohio's 13th congressional district
The 13th congressional district of Ohio is represented by Representative Betty Sutton, who defeated Republican Craig L. Foltin on Nov. 7, 2006. It was formerly represented by Sherrod Brown...
declared his intention to run against Mike DeWine
Mike DeWine
Richard Michael "Mike" DeWine is the Attorney General for the state of Ohio. He has held numerous offices on the state and federal level, including Ohio State Senator, four terms as a U.S. Congressman, Ohio Lt. Governor, and was a two-term U.S. Senator, serving from 1995 to 2007.- Biography :Born...
for his seat in the U.S. Senate, Betty Sutton took part in the Democratic primary for his open seat. She defeated notables such as former U.S. Rep. Thomas C. Sawyer
Thomas C. Sawyer
Thomas Charles Sawyer, usually known as Tom Sawyer, is a Democratic member of the Ohio Senate, who has represented the 28th District since his appointment in February 2007. He served as a U.S. representative from Ohio from 1987 to 2003.- Career :...
, who had previously been redistricted out of Congress, and Capri Cafaro
Capri Cafaro
Capri Silvestri Cafaro is a Democratic member of the Ohio Senate, representing the 32nd District since her appointment in 2007. In 2009, Cafaro became minority leader after serving as assistant minority whip for the Senate.-Career:...
, who had run against Rep. Steven LaTourette in the neighboring 14th District during the previous election cycle. Sutton capitalized on the anti-corruption theme of Ohio's 2006 elections to make a strong showing late in the primary season, and held it to win the primary with the strong support of organized labor.
Sutton went on to win the November general election against Craig L. Foltin
Craig L. Foltin
L. Craig Foltin is a Republican politician who served as mayor of Lorain, Ohio from 2000 to 2007. At the age of 32, Foltin upset incumbent Joe Koziura 51.5% to 48.5% in 1999 to win the Mayoral seat in the City of Lorain where Democrats outnumber Republicans five to one. Kozuira had previously won...
, the Republican mayor of Lorain, Ohio
Lorain, Ohio
Lorain is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie, at the mouth of the Black River, about 30 miles west of Cleveland....
. The Republicans had high hopes for Foltin, who was the popular Republican mayor of a heavily Democratic city, and despite the local newspaper Akron Beacon Journal
Akron Beacon Journal
The Akron Beacon Journal is a four-time Pulitzer Prize-winning morning newspaper in Akron, Ohio, United States, and published by Black Press Ltd.. It is the sole daily newspaper in Akron and is distributed throughout Northeast Ohio. The paper places a strong emphasis on local news and business...
's reluctant endorsement of Foltin, Sutton defeated him 61.22 percent to 38.78 percent, or 135,639 votes to 85,922 votes.
Her campaign received support from the pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
political action committee
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
EMILY's List
EMILY's List
EMILY's List is a political action committee in the United States that aims to help elect female candidates to office. It was founded by Ellen Malcolm in 1984....
.
2008
Sutton won against Republican nominee David Potter.Sutton endorsed Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Democratic primaries after Clinton won the Ohio primaries, stating that she was following the lead of her constituents. Sutton went on to campaign for Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
after he secured the nomination.
2010
Sutton defeated Republican nominee car dealer Tom GanleyTom Ganley
Thomas D. Ganley is a Northeast Ohio business man and Republican politician in Ohio. Originally a candidate for the Ohio Senate Republican nomination on February 17, 2010 he announced he would drop out of the primary and switched races to run against Betty Sutton in Ohio's 13th congressional...
.
Personal life
Sutton is by trade an attorney specializing in labor law. Between her time in the Ohio and United States legislatures, Sutton worked as a labor lawyer with the firm of Faulkner, Muskovitz & Phillips LLP (FMP).She currently lives in Copley Township with her husband Doug Corwon, a mediator with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
External links
- Representative Betty Sutton official U.S. House site
- Betty Sutton for Congress official campaign site
- Profile on the Ohio Ladies' Gallery website