Ben Konop
Encyclopedia
Ben Konop is a former Lucas County
Commissioner
. He was a candidate for Mayor
of Toledo
, Ohio
in 2009, as well as the Democratic Party
candidate in Ohio's 4th congressional district
for the United States House of Representatives
in 2004. He was a part-time law professor at Ohio Northern University, Pettit College of Law
and the University of Toledo College of Law.
to serve as a page
for the Democratic Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Konop received his Bachelor of Arts
degree in history from Emory University
in Atlanta, Georgia. During his time at Emory, Konop was a varsity letterwinning basketball player. He has also studied history and literature at Oxford University in England
. In 2000, Konop received his law degree
from the University of Michigan Law School
. After graduating from law school, Konop moved to Washington, D.C. to work for the law firm
Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP where he was an associate.
(R., Findlay) in Ohio
's heavily Republican Fourth Congressional District. Despite being outspent 10 to one, Konop garnered the highest vote total of any Congressional challenger in the state of Ohio
. He was the first federal Democratic candidate since 1932 to carry Allen County.
for Lucas County Commissioner on May 2, 2006. Konop received 47 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary. His opponents, Tim Wagener, the mayor
of Maumee
, and Phil Copeland, a Toledo
City Councilman, received 27% and 26% respectively. Konop defeated Toledo City Councilman George Sarantou by a wide margin in the general election on November 7, 2006.
After his announcement for candidacy for Lucas County Commissioner, Konop created a written pledge that is located in his office at One Government Center which includes promises that he has kept such as, being open and accessible; donating his income from teaching at the University of Toledo to a scholarship, and implementing evening meetings so working people can attend.
Konop says he is proud of being a “change agent” as he has requested accountability from the Lucas County Improvement Corporation.
Rather than attend the traditional State of the County, Konop decided to instead have an honest dialogue with working-class members of the community. Asked why he opted not to attend the State of the County, Konop stated, "“I cannot, in good conscience, pontificate on the State of the County to campaign contributors, recipients of no-bid contracts, and assorted politicians.” During his meeting with community members at The Source, Konop answered questions from residents about job creation and training in the county while also listening to comments about the economy from those seeking jobs.
Konop helped to eliminate the use of no-bid contracts by introducing a resolution that ended the practice of awarding contracts worth more than $5,000 for professional services without a formal bid process. Konop called for all county commissioners' departments to seek three proposals or qualifications for professional services. Additionally, the resolution forced all departments to submit itemized documentation for the services that were provided during each billing period.
Believing that it was time for new voices from other racial, gender, and socioeconomic backgrounds to be heard on the Lucas County Planning Board, Konop voluntarily stepped down from his position on the Planning Board to allow community members to apply for the post. Konop wanted someone who represented the working-class and middle-class Lucas County to fill his spot on the Planning Board. Adding some diversity to the board, Mr. Jim Snodgrass, Jr., was chosen to replace Konop.
Konop pushed for the passage of an anti-discrimination resolution that included protections for county employees against discrimination for sexual orientation or gender identity. Konop believed that the resolution was not only the right thing to do from a moral perspective, but it was the right thing to do from a job-creating perspective as well. He cited social science research that has shown that a community that is more diverse is more successful economically and felt that passing the resolution would be "a small step toward making our community known nationally as one that is inclusive."
Konop instituted a microchip scanning for dogs to help return lost pets to their owners. About 8,000 dogs were scanned for microchips.
Konop also fought for Toledo's Dog Warden, Tom Skeldon to resign, due to his questionable practices running the Dog Warden's office. Skeldon retired in January 2010. Since Skeldon’s exit, there have been 407 fewer dogs killed than in 2009 and 939 fewer than in 2008. In November of 2009, Konop made a successful motion to adopt a moratorium that would ban the Dog Warden from killing puppies, including Pit Bull puppies, at least through 3 months of age.
.
Konop has also taught two law courses at University of Toledo
Law, Ohio Northern University
Law, as well as political science at Bluffton University
.
Lucas County, Ohio
----...
Commissioner
County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals...
. He was a candidate for Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Toledo
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in 2009, as well as 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...
candidate in Ohio's 4th congressional district
Ohio's 4th congressional district
Ohio's 4th congressional district is currently represented by Republican Jim Jordan.The district includes the counties of Allen, Auglaize, Champaign, Hancock, Hardin, Logan, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Shelby, and part of Wyandot. The largest cities in the district include Findlay, Lima, Mansfield,...
for the United States 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...
in 2004. He was a part-time law professor at Ohio Northern University, Pettit College of Law
Ohio Northern University, Pettit College of Law
Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law, commonly referred to as ONU Law, is a private, non-profit law school located in Ada, Ohio. Also known as the Claude W...
and the University of Toledo College of Law.
Early life
Konop was raised in Lucas County. He attended Whiteford Elementary School and Ottawa Hills High School, where he played varsity basketball and baseball. Konop's father is a Toledo lawyer. "We talked about politics around the kitchen table," Konop told The Blade. "Obviously, I had a strong Democratic upbringing." Konop has Democratic political roots that trace back to his volunteering on the then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in 1992. Then at the age of 17, he was appointed by Congresswoman Marcy KapturMarcy Kaptur
Marcia Carolyn "Marcy" Kaptur is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1983. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district, anchored by the city of Toledo, includes all of Ottawa and Erie counties, and part of Lucas and Lorain counties.Serving her fourteenth term in the House of...
to serve as a page
United States House of Representatives Page
United States House of Representatives Page Program was a program run by the United States House of Representatives, under the office of the Clerk of the House, in which appointed high school juniors acted as non-partisan federal employees in the House of Representatives, providing supplemental...
for the Democratic Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Konop received his Bachelor of Arts
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 history from Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
in Atlanta, Georgia. During his time at Emory, Konop was a varsity letterwinning basketball player. He has also studied history and literature at Oxford University in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In 2000, Konop received his law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
from the University of Michigan Law School
University of Michigan Law School
The University of Michigan Law School is the law school of the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. Founded in 1859, the school has an enrollment of about 1,200 students, most of whom are seeking Juris Doctor or Master of Laws degrees, although the school also offers a Doctor of Juridical...
. After graduating from law school, Konop moved to Washington, D.C. to work for the law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
Fulbright & Jaworski, LLP where he was an associate.
Representative campaign
In 2004, Konop ran against incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike OxleyMike Oxley
Michael Garver "Mike" Oxley is an American politician of the Republican party who served as a U.S. representative from the 4th congressional district of Ohio....
(R., Findlay) in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
's heavily Republican Fourth Congressional District. Despite being outspent 10 to one, Konop garnered the highest vote total of any Congressional challenger in the state of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. He was the first federal Democratic candidate since 1932 to carry Allen County.
Commissioner Campaign
After the 2004 election, Konop returned to Lucas County to teach at the University of Toledo College of Law. In 2006, he defeated two challengers in a Democratic primaryPrimary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
for Lucas County Commissioner on May 2, 2006. Konop received 47 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary. His opponents, Tim Wagener, the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Maumee
Maumee, Ohio
Maumee is a city in Lucas County, Ohio, United States. It is a suburb of Toledo along the Maumee River. The population was 14,286 at the 2010 census. Maumee was also declared an All-America City by the National Civic League in June 2006.-Geography:...
, and Phil Copeland, a Toledo
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
City Councilman, received 27% and 26% respectively. Konop defeated Toledo City Councilman George Sarantou by a wide margin in the general election on November 7, 2006.
After his announcement for candidacy for Lucas County Commissioner, Konop created a written pledge that is located in his office at One Government Center which includes promises that he has kept such as, being open and accessible; donating his income from teaching at the University of Toledo to a scholarship, and implementing evening meetings so working people can attend.
Konop says he is proud of being a “change agent” as he has requested accountability from the Lucas County Improvement Corporation.
Commissioner Achievements
During his time in office, Commissioner Konop fought for change in Lucas County.Rather than attend the traditional State of the County, Konop decided to instead have an honest dialogue with working-class members of the community. Asked why he opted not to attend the State of the County, Konop stated, "“I cannot, in good conscience, pontificate on the State of the County to campaign contributors, recipients of no-bid contracts, and assorted politicians.” During his meeting with community members at The Source, Konop answered questions from residents about job creation and training in the county while also listening to comments about the economy from those seeking jobs.
Konop helped to eliminate the use of no-bid contracts by introducing a resolution that ended the practice of awarding contracts worth more than $5,000 for professional services without a formal bid process. Konop called for all county commissioners' departments to seek three proposals or qualifications for professional services. Additionally, the resolution forced all departments to submit itemized documentation for the services that were provided during each billing period.
Believing that it was time for new voices from other racial, gender, and socioeconomic backgrounds to be heard on the Lucas County Planning Board, Konop voluntarily stepped down from his position on the Planning Board to allow community members to apply for the post. Konop wanted someone who represented the working-class and middle-class Lucas County to fill his spot on the Planning Board. Adding some diversity to the board, Mr. Jim Snodgrass, Jr., was chosen to replace Konop.
Konop pushed for the passage of an anti-discrimination resolution that included protections for county employees against discrimination for sexual orientation or gender identity. Konop believed that the resolution was not only the right thing to do from a moral perspective, but it was the right thing to do from a job-creating perspective as well. He cited social science research that has shown that a community that is more diverse is more successful economically and felt that passing the resolution would be "a small step toward making our community known nationally as one that is inclusive."
Konop instituted a microchip scanning for dogs to help return lost pets to their owners. About 8,000 dogs were scanned for microchips.
Konop also fought for Toledo's Dog Warden, Tom Skeldon to resign, due to his questionable practices running the Dog Warden's office. Skeldon retired in January 2010. Since Skeldon’s exit, there have been 407 fewer dogs killed than in 2009 and 939 fewer than in 2008. In November of 2009, Konop made a successful motion to adopt a moratorium that would ban the Dog Warden from killing puppies, including Pit Bull puppies, at least through 3 months of age.
Post Commissioner
After deciding not to run for reelection in 2010, Konop served the remainder of his term and then traveled to Southeast Asia to study Buddhism. Later, Konop was employed as a columnist for the Pulitzer Prize winning Toledo Blade newspaper where he covered the Detroit Tigers, Bob Dylan’s first ever concerts in China and Vietnam, and the first 2011 Republican Presidential debate in New Hampshire.Personal life
Konop is a fan of the Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
Konop has also taught two law courses at University of Toledo
University of Toledo
The University of Toledo is a public university in Toledo, Ohio, United States. The Carnegie Foundation classified the university as "Doctoral/Research Extensive."-National recognition:...
Law, Ohio Northern University
Ohio Northern University
Ohio Northern University is a private, United Methodist Church-affiliated university located in the United States in Ada, Ohio, founded by Henry Solomon Lehr in 1871. ONU is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. ONU is a sister...
Law, as well as political science at Bluffton University
Bluffton University
Bluffton University, located in Bluffton, Ohio, United States, is a Christian liberal arts college affiliated with Mennonite Church USA.It was founded in 1899 as Central Mennonite College and became Bluffton College in 1913...
.