Ted Celeste
Encyclopedia
Theodore S. "Ted" Celeste is an American politician and a member of the Democratic party in Ohio
. Celeste, the brother of former Ohio governor and U.S. ambassador Richard F. Celeste
, ran for the U.S. Senate
in 2000 and lost to the Republican
incumbent, U.S. Sen. R. Michael DeWine
. In 2006 Celeste was elected State Representative of the 24th district of Ohio.
Celeste is a resident of Grandview Heights, Ohio and is a successful small businessman and an active member of First Community Church. He served in the Peace Corps
in Fiji
from 1968 to 1970.
via the Peace Corps. Following that, he served as acting chief of the Bureau of Consumer Services in the Ohio Department of Public Welfare and then in the Ohio Department of Finance.
A former real estate developer, Celeste helped chair Governor and brother Dick Celeste
's gubernatorial campaigns Ted Strickland
's 2006 gubernatorial campaign. Celeste also served for nine years on The Ohio State University
Board of Trustees. In 2000, he ran for U.S. Senate against incumbent Mike DeWine
, but lost significantly.
was seen as vulnerable, and Celeste entered the Ohio House race to try and unseat him. However, despite his name recognition, Celeste faced a four-way primary in 2006. He ended up winning 67% of the electorate. In the general election of that year, Republicans began to run negatively against Celeste, yet he vowed to stay positive in his campaigning. In the end, Celeste ended up defeating Smith, winning by about 4,300 votes.
Early on in the 2008 cycle, Celeste was in considerations for leadership if the House were to go into Democratic hands. However, he faced strong opposition for caucus leader from Todd Book
and Armond Budish
. In the 2008 general election Republicans looked to take back the district, and fielded attorney Timothy Rankin to take on Celeste. Celeste won a second term by around 9,000 votes.
In the end, Budish defeated Celeste, Book, and Matt Szollosi to take the Speaker position. He went on to name Celeste Chairman of the House Alternative Energy Committee, and the Higher Education Subcommittee of the House Finance and Appropriations Committee.
Less vulnerable in 2010 but still contentious, Celeste faced Republican Nathan Larger. However, the race proved to be closer than anticipated, and Celeste won by less than 3,000 votes. Currently, he serves on the committees of Health and Aging; Economic and Small Business Development; Education; and State Government and Elections.
Along with Nickie Antonio
, Celeste has introduced legislation to end the death penalty in Ohio
. Celeste has cited the financial burden that death row brings to the taxpayers, and that there should be a discussion on the death penalty included in the upcoming budget deliberations. Celeste has pointed to evidence that the penalty has been discriminatory toward minorities.
Celeste has stated that he believes Republicans have embarked upon a "starve the beast" strategy, with their main intent being to hurt the future financial support of the Democratic Party with Senate Bill 5, and the voter-ID bill will make it harder for the traditional base to collect votes. He also stated the influence they will be able to gain through redistricting
.
With Andrew Brenner
, Celeste has sponsored a bill that aims to support children with dyslexia
. His legislation sought to demonstrate and evaluate the effectiveness of early reading assistance programs for children with dyslexia and to evaluate whether those programs can reduce future special education costs.
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...
. Celeste, the brother of former Ohio governor and U.S. ambassador Richard F. Celeste
Dick Celeste
Richard Frank "Dick" Celeste is an American politician from Ohio, and a member of the Democratic Party. He served as the 64th Governor of Ohio from 1983-1991.-Early life and career:...
, ran for the U.S. Senate
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...
in 2000 and lost to the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent, U.S. Sen. R. Michael 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 2006 Celeste was elected State Representative of the 24th district of Ohio.
Celeste is a resident of Grandview Heights, Ohio and is a successful small businessman and an active member of First Community Church. He served in the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
in Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
from 1968 to 1970.
Career
After graduating from the College of Wooster, Celeste and his wife taught school in FijiFiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
via the Peace Corps. Following that, he served as acting chief of the Bureau of Consumer Services in the Ohio Department of Public Welfare and then in the Ohio Department of Finance.
A former real estate developer, Celeste helped chair Governor and brother Dick Celeste
Dick Celeste
Richard Frank "Dick" Celeste is an American politician from Ohio, and a member of the Democratic Party. He served as the 64th Governor of Ohio from 1983-1991.-Early life and career:...
's gubernatorial campaigns 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 ....
's 2006 gubernatorial campaign. Celeste also served for nine years on The Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
Board of Trustees. In 2000, he ran for U.S. Senate against incumbent 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...
, but lost significantly.
Ohio House of Representatives
In 2006, incumbent Republican Geoffrey C. SmithGeoffrey C. Smith
Geoff Smith is a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the western part of Columbus from 1999-2006. Originally appointed, he went on to win re-election in 2000, 2002, and 2004 until he was defeated in the 2006 general election by Ted Celeste.-References:...
was seen as vulnerable, and Celeste entered the Ohio House race to try and unseat him. However, despite his name recognition, Celeste faced a four-way primary in 2006. He ended up winning 67% of the electorate. In the general election of that year, Republicans began to run negatively against Celeste, yet he vowed to stay positive in his campaigning. In the end, Celeste ended up defeating Smith, winning by about 4,300 votes.
Early on in the 2008 cycle, Celeste was in considerations for leadership if the House were to go into Democratic hands. However, he faced strong opposition for caucus leader from Todd Book
Todd Book
Todd Book is a former Democratic member of the Ohio House of Representatives who was first elected in 2002. He served the 89th House District, which includes all of Scioto County, the western half of Lawrence County and the eastern half of Adams County in Southern Ohio.Book was born and raised in...
and Armond Budish
Armond Budish
Armond D. Budish is the Democratic representative for the 8th district of the Ohio House of Representatives. First elected into service during the 127th General Assembly of 2007, he was re-elected in the 128th, where he served as Speaker of the House...
. In the 2008 general election Republicans looked to take back the district, and fielded attorney Timothy Rankin to take on Celeste. Celeste won a second term by around 9,000 votes.
In the end, Budish defeated Celeste, Book, and Matt Szollosi to take the Speaker position. He went on to name Celeste Chairman of the House Alternative Energy Committee, and the Higher Education Subcommittee of the House Finance and Appropriations Committee.
Less vulnerable in 2010 but still contentious, Celeste faced Republican Nathan Larger. However, the race proved to be closer than anticipated, and Celeste won by less than 3,000 votes. Currently, he serves on the committees of Health and Aging; Economic and Small Business Development; Education; and State Government and Elections.
Initiatives, policies and positions
Celeste has been vocal about concerns regarding a bill to replace overtime with comp time. "I think we've gone in the wrong direction," he said before voting against the bill.Along with Nickie Antonio
Nickie Antonio
Nickie J. Antonio is a politician from Lakewood, Ohio. A Democrat, she serves in the Ohio House of Representatives representing the 13th district, which is located entirely within Cuyahoga County and contains all of the city of Lakewood as well as parts of Cleveland...
, Celeste has introduced legislation to end the death penalty 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...
. Celeste has cited the financial burden that death row brings to the taxpayers, and that there should be a discussion on the death penalty included in the upcoming budget deliberations. Celeste has pointed to evidence that the penalty has been discriminatory toward minorities.
Celeste has stated that he believes Republicans have embarked upon a "starve the beast" strategy, with their main intent being to hurt the future financial support of the Democratic Party with Senate Bill 5, and the voter-ID bill will make it harder for the traditional base to collect votes. He also stated the influence they will be able to gain through redistricting
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
.
With Andrew Brenner
Andrew Brenner
Andrew O. Brenner is a member of the Ohio House of Representatives representing the Second District since 2011.-Life and career:A graduate of Ohio State University, Brenner was elected as Delaware County Recorder in 2004.-Recorders Office:...
, Celeste has sponsored a bill that aims to support children with dyslexia
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a very broad term defining a learning disability that impairs a person's fluency or comprehension accuracy in being able to read, and which can manifest itself as a difficulty with phonological awareness, phonological decoding, orthographic coding, auditory short-term memory, or rapid...
. His legislation sought to demonstrate and evaluate the effectiveness of early reading assistance programs for children with dyslexia and to evaluate whether those programs can reduce future special education costs.
External links
- The Ohio House of Representatives: Rep. Ted Celeste (D-Grandview Heights) official site
- "Notable Former Volunteers / Education". Peace Corps official site. Accessed 5 January 2007.