Joe Cimperman
Encyclopedia
Joe Cimperman is an American
Democratic
politician who serves as a member of the City Council
of Cleveland Ohio. He is currently the chairman of the City Planning Committee, vice chairman of the Finance Committee, and a member of the Community and Economic Development and Legislation Committees.
on Cleveland's near-west side. He attended John Carroll University
, a Jesuit institution on the city's east side, where he served as the Student Union President during the 1991-1992 term. His senior year, the student body also voted Cimperman as the Beaudry Award winner, an award for Christian leadership, academic achievement, and contributions to the university. He graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA)
degree in English
.
Cimperman considered a vocation
as a Catholic
priest
. His sister is a nun
in San Antonio, Texas
.
, Payne Sterling, Midtown, Downtown, Tremont
, Ohio City/Near West, Duck Island, and Forest City Park neighborhoods of Cleveland.
In 2001, Cimperman was unopposed in the general election. In 2005, he won reelection by a wide margin of 74%/26% over Laurel Warnke-Taylor.
. Cimperman's aggressive campaign was one factor in Kucinich's decision to drop out of the Presidential election
on January 25, 2008. A few days later financial disclosure reports revealed that Cimperman had nearly a 5 to 1 lead in campaign funds.
Cimperman's campaign tapped into the growing sentiment in Greater Cleveland that Dennis Kucinich's second consecutive long-shot bid for the Presidency was distracting the Congressman from focusing on issues such as the local economy. Cimperman highlighted the votes missed by Dennis Kucinich during his run for the Presidency, as well as the fact that the vast majority of funds raised by Kucinich came from outside the State of Ohio.
Cimperman, in a crowded field of five candidates, received 35% of the vote. Kucinich received 52% of the vote total, a far lower percentage of the vote than the Congressman received in previous Democratic primaries.
In 2009, Ohio Ethics Commission reports revealed that Cimperman received more than 350 gifts in 2008, more than all of his fellow city council members combined. However, many of the gifts appear to be related to the birth of his daughter and the fire in his home.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic
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...
politician who serves as a member of the City Council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
of Cleveland Ohio. He is currently the chairman of the City Planning Committee, vice chairman of the Finance Committee, and a member of the Community and Economic Development and Legislation Committees.
Early life
Cimperman was born in Cleveland in a Slovenian family that was active in city's Slovenian community. He graduated in 1988 from St. Ignatius High School, a Jesuit college-prep schoolUniversity-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
on Cleveland's near-west side. He attended John Carroll University
John Carroll University
John Carroll University is a private, co-educational Jesuit Catholic university in University Heights, Ohio, United States, a suburb of Cleveland. The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus as Saint Ignatius College.The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus, as...
, a Jesuit institution on the city's east side, where he served as the Student Union President during the 1991-1992 term. His senior year, the student body also voted Cimperman as the Beaudry Award winner, an award for Christian leadership, academic achievement, and contributions to the university. He graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in English
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
.
Cimperman considered a vocation
Vocation
A vocation , is a term for an occupation to which a person is specially drawn or for which they are suited, trained or qualified. Though now often used in non-religious contexts, the meanings of the term originated in Christianity.-Senses:...
as a Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
. His sister is a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
in San Antonio, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Political career
Cimperman was first elected to City Council in 1997, representing the 13th Ward, which includes the areas of St. Clair-SuperiorSt. Clair-Superior
St. Clair-Superior is a near east side neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. St. Clair-Superior is one the oldest and most culturally diverse neighborhoods in Cleveland, and is the location of Cleveland's present-day AsiaTown. The neighborhood is bordered by Interstate 90 to the North, Payne Avenue to...
, Payne Sterling, Midtown, Downtown, Tremont
Tremont, Cleveland
Tremont is a neighborhood in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. Tremont is one of the oldest parts of Cleveland, and is home to restaurants and art galleries. The district sits just west of the Cuyahoga River and south of the Ohio City neighborhood. Tremont is home to numerous historic churches...
, Ohio City/Near West, Duck Island, and Forest City Park neighborhoods of Cleveland.
In 2001, Cimperman was unopposed in the general election. In 2005, he won reelection by a wide margin of 74%/26% over Laurel Warnke-Taylor.
Congressional campaign
In December 2007, Cimperman entered the race for the Democratic nomination for Ohio's 10th Congressional District, which was (and still is) represented by veteran politician Dennis KucinichDennis Kucinich
Dennis John Kucinich is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He was furthermore a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections....
. Cimperman's aggressive campaign was one factor in Kucinich's decision to drop out of the Presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
on January 25, 2008. A few days later financial disclosure reports revealed that Cimperman had nearly a 5 to 1 lead in campaign funds.
Cimperman's campaign tapped into the growing sentiment in Greater Cleveland that Dennis Kucinich's second consecutive long-shot bid for the Presidency was distracting the Congressman from focusing on issues such as the local economy. Cimperman highlighted the votes missed by Dennis Kucinich during his run for the Presidency, as well as the fact that the vast majority of funds raised by Kucinich came from outside the State of Ohio.
Cimperman, in a crowded field of five candidates, received 35% of the vote. Kucinich received 52% of the vote total, a far lower percentage of the vote than the Congressman received in previous Democratic primaries.
Controversies
Although he enjoys a strong following with his constituency, he has a frequently received threatening calls and email messages. In July 2008, a fire destroyed Cimperman's home in the Tremont neighborhood and was investigated as "suspicious" and later ruled as arson. Less than a week later, the family's garage was broken into and his wife's car was vandalized. As of May 2009, no one has been charged for the arson.In 2009, Ohio Ethics Commission reports revealed that Cimperman received more than 350 gifts in 2008, more than all of his fellow city council members combined. However, many of the gifts appear to be related to the birth of his daughter and the fire in his home.