Capri Cafaro
Encyclopedia
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.
with a BA in American Studies and from Georgetown University
with a MALS in International Studies, and has served on the Trumbull County
Senior Services Advisory Council and was a State Policy Liaison for Ohio with the National Patient Advocate Foundation. She was also a State Advocate Representative for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and served as a councilor for the Medicare Rights Center. Cafaro has also acted as an Economic Policy Associate for Global Action on Aging, an NGO with consultative status at the United Nations. Additionally, as a participant in the Clinton Global Initiative, she developed a project on anti-corruption efforts in emerging democracies.
As a political novice, Cafaro won a surprise victory in the 2004 Democratic primary for Ohio's 14th congressional district
, topping a five-candidate field, which included 2002 nominee Dale V. Blanchard, columnist Herb Hammer, U.S. Marine Charles L. Wolfe, and Ohio state Rep. Edward Jerse
(who received the endorsement of the Akron Beacon Journal
newspaper). Cafaro polled 54% of the vote, while Jerse, the second-place finisher, managed only 19 percent. In the general election, however, she lost to Republican Steve LaTourette
by 25% of the vote.
Cafaro again ran for the Democratic nomination in the open 13th Congressional District
in 2006, placing second in a nine-candidate primary, behind future Congresswoman Betty Sutton
. That seat was vacated by U.S. Representative Sherrod Brown
, Democrat
who replaced Republican Senator
Mike DeWine
in the U.S. Senate after defeating him on November 7, 2006.
to replace Marc Dann
after Dann won the Ohio Attorney General
's race on November 7, 2006.
One year after becoming a member of the Ohio General Assembly, Cafaro secured a leadership position as the assistant minority whip for the Senate Democrats.
In addition to her leadership roles, Cafaro has previously served as the ranking member of the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee and served on the Senate Health, Human Services and Aging Committee, Highways and Transportation Committee and the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee.
In 2008, Cafaro was elected to her first full term after running unopposed in the general election. Soon after, she was elected minority leader by her colleagues for the 128th General Assembly. Cafaro again is serving as minority leader in the 129th General Assembly. Along with being minority leader, Cafaro serves as the ranking member of the Senate Rules and Reference Committee; on the Legislative Task Force on Redistricting, Reapportionment, and Demographic Research; the Health Care Coverage and Quality Council; the Unemployment
Compensation Advisory Council; the Legislative Service
Commission; the Ohio
Advisory Council for the Aging; the Unified Long-Term Care System Advisory Workgroup; the Joint Legislative Committee for Unified Long-Term Services and
Supports;
and the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee.
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...
member of the Ohio Senate
Ohio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
, 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
Cafaro graduated from Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
with a BA in American Studies and from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
with a MALS in International Studies, and has served on the Trumbull County
Trumbull County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 225,116 people, 89,020 households, and 61,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 365 people per square mile . There were 95,117 housing units at an average density of 154 per square mile...
Senior Services Advisory Council and was a State Policy Liaison for Ohio with the National Patient Advocate Foundation. She was also a State Advocate Representative for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare and served as a councilor for the Medicare Rights Center. Cafaro has also acted as an Economic Policy Associate for Global Action on Aging, an NGO with consultative status at the United Nations. Additionally, as a participant in the Clinton Global Initiative, she developed a project on anti-corruption efforts in emerging democracies.
As a political novice, Cafaro won a surprise victory in the 2004 Democratic primary for Ohio's 14th congressional district
Ohio's 14th congressional district
The 14th congressional district of Ohio is currently represented by Representative Steven C. LaTourette. This district sits in the farthest northeast corner of the state, bordering Lake Erie and Pennsylvania....
, topping a five-candidate field, which included 2002 nominee Dale V. Blanchard, columnist Herb Hammer, U.S. Marine Charles L. Wolfe, and Ohio state Rep. Edward Jerse
Ed Jerse
Edward S. Jerse of Euclid, Ohio, is an American politician of the Democratic party who served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives. In 2004, he ran for the Democratic nomination for U.S. representative for Ohio for the 14th congressional district , but lost to political novice Capri S...
(who received the endorsement of the 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...
newspaper). Cafaro polled 54% of the vote, while Jerse, the second-place finisher, managed only 19 percent. In the general election, however, she lost to Republican Steve LaTourette
Steve LaTourette
Steven C. "Steve" LaTourette is the U.S. House of Representative for , serving since 1995. He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:...
by 25% of the vote.
Cafaro again ran for the Democratic nomination in the open 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...
in 2006, placing second in a nine-candidate primary, behind future Congresswoman Betty Sutton
Betty Sutton
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.-Early life and...
. That seat was vacated by U.S. Representative 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...
, Democrat
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...
who replaced Republican Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
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...
in the U.S. Senate after defeating him on November 7, 2006.
Ohio Senate
Cafaro was appointed to the 32nd District of the Ohio SenateOhio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
to replace Marc Dann
Marc Dann
Marc Dann Marc Dann Marc Dann (born March 12, 1962, in Evanston, Illinois, is an American politician of the Democratic Party. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1984 from the University of Michigan and a law degree in 1987 from Case Western Reserve University, and practiced law in Youngstown,...
after Dann won the Ohio Attorney General
Ohio Attorney General
The Ohio Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Ohio in the United States. The office is filled by general election, held every four years. The Ohio Attorney General is Mike DeWine.-History:...
's race on November 7, 2006.
One year after becoming a member of the Ohio General Assembly, Cafaro secured a leadership position as the assistant minority whip for the Senate Democrats.
In addition to her leadership roles, Cafaro has previously served as the ranking member of the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee and served on the Senate Health, Human Services and Aging Committee, Highways and Transportation Committee and the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee.
In 2008, Cafaro was elected to her first full term after running unopposed in the general election. Soon after, she was elected minority leader by her colleagues for the 128th General Assembly. Cafaro again is serving as minority leader in the 129th General Assembly. Along with being minority leader, Cafaro serves as the ranking member of the Senate Rules and Reference Committee; on the Legislative Task Force on Redistricting, Reapportionment, and Demographic Research; the Health Care Coverage and Quality Council; the Unemployment
Compensation Advisory Council; the Legislative Service
Commission; the Ohio
Advisory Council for the Aging; the Unified Long-Term Care System Advisory Workgroup; the Joint Legislative Committee for Unified Long-Term Services and
Supports;
and the Joint Legislative Ethics Committee.
External links
- Minority Leader Capri S. Cafaro (D-Hubbard) official Ohio Senate site
- USA Today - Campaign 2004: Capri Silvestri Cafaro (D) profile
- Profile at the Ohio Ladies' Gallery, 2010