Eric Fingerhut
Encyclopedia
Eric David Fingerhut is an American
politician of the Ohio Democratic party
. Fingerhut was appointed the Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents
on March 14, 2007 by Governor Ted Strickland
. This position makes him a member of the Ohio Governor's Cabinet. On February 22, 2011, he submitted his resignation to the Governor of Ohio John Kasich to take effect from March 14, 2011, at the end of four years since he started as Chancellor and a year before the end of his five-year term.
Fingerhut received a Bachelor of Science
degree from Northwestern University
in 1981 and a law degree from Stanford University
in 1984. He practiced law at Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP in Cleveland
until becoming associate director of Cleveland Works, a post he served in from 1987 to 1989. Fingerhut served as the campaign manager for then candidate for Cleveland Mayor Michael R. White
and then became the director of his transition team.
Fingerhut served as an Ohio state senator
from 1991 to 1993. In 1992, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 19th congressional district
and began serving in 1993 (103rd Congress). In his re-election bid in 1994, however, Fingerhut was defeated by Lake County
Prosecutor Steve LaTourette
.
After his defeat in Congress, Fingerhut easily won a seat again in the Ohio Senate, representing district 25. He served two full terms from 1999 through 2007, retiring due to term limits.
In 2004, he became the Democratic nominee to try to unseat incumbent U.S. Senator George Voinovich
, although his candidacy was overshadowed by speculation that TV show host and one time mayor of Cincinnati Jerry Springer
might enter the race. Fingerhut went on to lose to Voinovich on November 2, 2004, garnering less than 40 percent of the vote. Fingerhut was particularly hampered by the fact that Voinovich is himself from Cleveland, where he had once been Mayor, significantly cutting into Fingerhut's base in normally Democratic northeastern Ohio.
In January 2006, Fingerhut announced his candidacy for governor of Ohio, joining U.S. Representative Ted Strickland
who was also seeking the post. On February 14, 2006 Fingerhut dropped out of the race, citing his inability to raise the funds and support from the same sources that Congressman Ted Strickland's running mate Lee Fisher derived.
Fingerhut, who also worked as a consultant for the Cleveland Federation of Community Planning while in the Ohio Senate, served as the head of the Entrepreneurship program on the Business Administration faculty of Baldwin-Wallace College
before his appointment as State Chancellor of Higher Education in the Cabinet of Ohio Governor Ted Strickland
.
In April 2011, Strickland reportedly leaked Fingerhut's name as a candidate for the presidency of the University of Kentucky
. Eli Capilouto
was ultimately chosen for the vacancy.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician of the Ohio 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...
. Fingerhut was appointed the Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents
Ohio Board of Regents
The Ohio Board of Regents is the coordinating board for higher education in Ohio. The board was created in 1963 by the Ohio General Assembly to: provide higher education policy advice to the Governor of Ohio and the Ohio General Assembly; develop a strategy involving Ohio's public and independent...
on March 14, 2007 by Governor Ted Strickland
Ted Strickland
Theodore "Ted" Strickland was the 68th Governor of Ohio, serving from 2007 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the United States House of Representatives, representing ....
. This position makes him a member of the Ohio Governor's Cabinet. On February 22, 2011, he submitted his resignation to the Governor of Ohio John Kasich to take effect from March 14, 2011, at the end of four years since he started as Chancellor and a year before the end of his five-year term.
Fingerhut received a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in 1981 and a law degree from Stanford University
Stanford 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...
in 1984. He practiced law at Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP in Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
until becoming associate director of Cleveland Works, a post he served in from 1987 to 1989. Fingerhut served as the campaign manager for then candidate for Cleveland Mayor Michael R. White
Michael R. White
Michael Reed White is an American politician of the Democratic party and was the 55th and longest-serving mayor of Cleveland, Ohio encompassing three four-year terms, from 1990 to 2002...
and then became the director of his transition team.
Fingerhut served as an Ohio state senator
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...
from 1991 to 1993. In 1992, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
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...
from Ohio's 19th congressional district
Ohio's 19th congressional district
Ohio's 19th congressional district was created following the 1830 census and was eliminated after the 2000 census.From 1992-2002 it included all of Lake County and Ashtabula County together with a collection of Eastern suburbs of Cleveland...
and began serving in 1993 (103rd Congress). In his re-election bid in 1994, however, Fingerhut was defeated by Lake County
Lake County, Ohio
Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 230,041. The county seat is Painesville, and the county name comes from its location on the southern shore of Lake Erie....
Prosecutor 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:...
.
After his defeat in Congress, Fingerhut easily won a seat again in the Ohio Senate, representing district 25. He served two full terms from 1999 through 2007, retiring due to term limits.
In 2004, he became the Democratic nominee to try to unseat incumbent U.S. Senator George Voinovich
George Voinovich
George Victor Voinovich is a former United States Senator from the state of Ohio, and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he served as the 65th Governor of Ohio from 1991 to 1998, and as the 54th mayor of Cleveland from 1980 to 1989.-Personal life:Born in Cleveland, Ohio, his father was...
, although his candidacy was overshadowed by speculation that TV show host and one time mayor of Cincinnati Jerry Springer
Jerry Springer
Gerald Norman "Jerry" Springer is a British-born American television presenter, best known as host of the tabloid talk show The Jerry Springer Show since its debut in 1991...
might enter the race. Fingerhut went on to lose to Voinovich on November 2, 2004, garnering less than 40 percent of the vote. Fingerhut was particularly hampered by the fact that Voinovich is himself from Cleveland, where he had once been Mayor, significantly cutting into Fingerhut's base in normally Democratic northeastern Ohio.
In January 2006, Fingerhut announced his candidacy for governor of Ohio, joining U.S. Representative Ted Strickland
Ted Strickland
Theodore "Ted" Strickland was the 68th Governor of Ohio, serving from 2007 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the United States House of Representatives, representing ....
who was also seeking the post. On February 14, 2006 Fingerhut dropped out of the race, citing his inability to raise the funds and support from the same sources that Congressman Ted Strickland's running mate Lee Fisher derived.
Fingerhut, who also worked as a consultant for the Cleveland Federation of Community Planning while in the Ohio Senate, served as the head of the Entrepreneurship program on the Business Administration faculty of Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin–Wallace College is a liberal arts college in Berea, Ohio, founded in 1845. It is home to the Riemenschneider-Bach Institute and the Baldwin–Wallace Conservatory of Music, an internationally renowned music school. The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Students receive a...
before his appointment as State Chancellor of Higher Education in the Cabinet of Ohio Governor Ted Strickland
Ted Strickland
Theodore "Ted" Strickland was the 68th Governor of Ohio, serving from 2007 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the United States House of Representatives, representing ....
.
In April 2011, Strickland reportedly leaked Fingerhut's name as a candidate for the presidency of the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
. Eli Capilouto
Eli Capilouto
Eli Capilouto, DMD, Sc.D. is the twelfth president of the University of Kentucky. He was previously the provost of The University of Alabama at Birmingham .-Early life:...
was ultimately chosen for the vacancy.
See also
- Election Results, U.S. Representative from Ohio, 19th District
- Election Results, U.S. Senator from Ohio
- List of United States Representatives from Ohio