Tom Brinkman

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Tom Brinkman
Member of the
Ohio House of Representatives
from the 27th district
In office
January 6, 2015 – December 31, 2022
Preceded byPeter Stautberg
Succeeded byRachel Baker
In office
January 3, 2001 – December 31, 2008
Preceded byJacquelyn K. O'Brien
Succeeded byPeter Stautberg
Personal details
Born (1957-12-06) December 6, 1957 (age 66)
St. Xavier High School
Alma materGeorge Washington University

Thomas E. Brinkman, Jr. (born December 6, 1957) is a Republican politician from the state of Ohio. He represented Cincinnati in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2001 to 2008 and again from 2015 to 2022.

He is known for his opposition to higher taxes and public spending. In 2014, Brinkman defeated incumbent Peter Stautberg in the Republican primary election to retake his former seat in the Ohio House of Representatives. He went on to win the general election with 67.78% of the vote.

Background

A resident of the

John B. Anderson's presidential bid, but switched his support to Reagan following the Republican National Convention. From his graduation to 1999, he was Midwest Sales Manager for the Metroweb printing company in Erlanger, Kentucky. From 2001, he has worked in the sales department of the Curry Printing Company of Evendale, Ohio
.

He and his wife, Cathy, have six children: Will, Stephen, Daniel, Kelley, Kevin, and Michael.

Local politics

Brinkman worked for several Republicans' successful campaigns for Cincinnati City Council: Phil Heimlich, Steve Chabot, Charles Winburn, and Pat DeWine. He also worked for John Kruse's unsuccessful bid.

In 1999, he founded the Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending and Taxes (COAST), which actively opposes tax levies in southwestern Ohio. Brinkman actively worked against many tax levies and bond issues. In his Congressional campaign he declared:

General Assembly

Brinkman defeated the candidate endorsed by the Republican party in the GOP primary in 2000 for the 37th District seat in the Ohio House, which was

Natural Law
candidate Jim Donaldson. The vote was 35,245 for Brinkman (66.7%), 2,029 for Donaldson (3.8%), and 15,531 for Mann (29.4%).

Brinkman ran for reelection in 2002 to what

Anderson Township, and the municipalities of Fairfax, Newtown and Terrace Park [3]. He faced no opposition in the May 7 primary and was opposed in the November 5 general election by Democrat David Schaff, a twenty-four-year-old assistant to Hamilton County commissioner Todd Portune. Schaff said his opponent was "someone who's spent more time saying what he's against than working for what he's for."[1] Schaff was endorsed by The Cincinnati Post
, which wrote

Tom Brinkman's opposition to almost everything undercuts his credibility, and does a disservice to both the district and the region. His reflexive opposition to much government spending, his willingness to tolerate a tattered social services safety net, his advocacy of an entirely unregulated concealed carry gun permit system, we submit, are out of step even with such a thoroughly Republican constituency.

That year Brinkman called on Republican voters to cast their ballots for Democrat

liberal for the party.[2] The Cincinnati Enquirer's Peter Bronson labeled Brinkman "Kamikaze
Tom" for this action, but nevertheless, Brinkman was easily reelected over Schaff by a vote of 23,748 to 13,896.

His stands in Columbus

When University of Cincinnati law students in 2003 persuaded the General Assembly to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment, which a post-Civil War-era legislature had rejected, only one member voted against ratification: Brinkman.[3] Brinkman told The Enquirer his vote was because of how the amendment has been misused:

It's misapplied constantly by the country to get states to do things they don't want to do. Most importantly to me, 45 million babies have been murdered since judges forced Roe v. Wade down the throats of citizens.[3]

Following the repeal of Article XII of the Cincinnati city charter, which forbade the city from passing an ordinance protecting homosexuals from discrimination, the Cincinnati city council approved a hate crime ordinance that included sexual orientation. Brinkman said the ordinance "send[s] the message that you openly approve of homosexuality," citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church [4]. Brinkman had previously served as treasurer of the committee which opposed repeal of Article XII [5].

Brinkman prided himself on his perfect attendance and for coming home to Cincinnati every night from

lobbyists, and others working in the State House asking them to rate the members of the Ohio General Assembly, Brinkman was rated the single worst legislator in the 132-member General Assembly. The magazine said Brinkman was "an uncompromisingly principled man. But he's a terrible, terrible legislator." Those surveyed ranked him as least knowledgeable, least hardworking, least likeable, least compassionate, and least savvy.[4]
Brinkman, for his part, points to his principled stance on the issues as the reason lobbyists don't like him.

In 2007, Representative Brinkman was named the chairman of the House Commerce and Labor Committee. He is one of the cosponsors on the ‘both sides of the Holocaust’ bill, HB327.

2004 reelection

In 2004, he faced a challenger in the primary, attorney Greg Delev of

Anderson Township.[5] Brinkman told the Enquirer, "I ran for office when the party wanted to dictate who my state representative was going to be. I couldn't stand for that, so I ran, and I'm proud I did. It's been a frustrating three years as I've watched Governor Taft drive the state off a cliff. But I've been fighting back."[6] Delev said he agreed with Brinkman on most of the issues, but that Brinkman's actions in Columbus had made the district "the laughingstock of the state."[7]
The Cincinnati Enquirer said both candidates were "rock-ribbed conservatives who agree on most fiscal and social issues," but endorsed Delev. "The issue here is Brinkman's lack of effectiveness," said the newspaper, echoing the Columbus Monthly article:

Few lawmakers are as honest, principled and consistent as Brinkman. But he exhibits those qualities to a fault, coming off as stubborn, ideologically rigid and unwilling to compromise. He's made many enemies in Columbus by refusing to see anyone else's side of things. This has limited his ability to work with others and get things done.[8]

Brinkman won the March 2 primary: 7,113 (63.00%) to 4,178 (37.00%).

In the general election on November 2 he faced Democrat Glenn Miller of Anderson Township, a former history teacher who worked in job training. "I think the biggest issue of this race is Tom Brinkman—how he votes and how he's against everything," Miller said.[9] The Enquirer, again citing his stubbornness, endorsed Miller [6]. Despite the criticism, Brinkman once again won the Republican district by a comfortable margin: 35,229 (60.04%) for Brinkman to 23,451 (39.96%) for Miller.

Brinkman strongly supported

constitutional right to bear arms. Larry Flynt has a right to put out smut and some people may not like that, but it's a right whether we like it or not," he said [7] [8] [9]. Brinkman sponsored legislation to allow ex-cons the right to cut hair. He called "stupid" the policy of the state regulators to deny prisoners who had taken prison-administered barber classes a license upon their release. "I'm for personal responsibility, but people do make mistakes and we should give them a second chance," Brinkman said [10]
.

Brinkman also worked to limit state spending just as he had opposed local projects. In 2003, he opposed Taft's "Third Frontier" project and the bond issue on the November ballot as Issue One which would have permitted the state to borrow money to subsidize business's research and development. "Who would have thought a Republican governor would run on this?" Brinkman said (Issue One was soundly defeated by voters).[10] When Taft proposed in 2004 the question once more be submitted to the voters, Brinkman renewed his criticism. "Corporate welfare is corporate welfare. Just because you buy off the manufacturers with more money for them, and you buy off the farmers, doesn't change what it is." [11] He said he would join Democrats in voting against its placement on the November 2005 ballot.

Brinkman in 2004 criticized state spending for Cincinnati's bid to win the 2012

Ohio House to vote against the state budget, which raised taxes and increased spending.[12] Previously, he had opposed Governor Taft's proposed personal income tax cut because it would mean higher local property taxes. He also called for funding for public libraries to be maintained.[13]

On April 28, 2005, he introduced a bill, House Bill 228, that would ban all abortions. Brinkman acknowledged that the bill was unconstitutional under Roe v. Wade, but wanted to use it as a test case to overturn the Roe decision. "We’re just positioning the state for the future," he told the Cleveland Plain Dealer.[citation needed]

Congressional bid

Second District
, which includes seven counties in southern Ohio.

Brinkman ran for Congress in 2005 to replace Portman, announcing his candidacy outside the

Anderson Township on April 14 [16]. Brinkman told the press "When I first went to Columbus, I promised my constituents that I would fight for lower taxes, limited government, and to end abortion. I will do the same in Washington." An early poll found Pat DeWine, a member of the Hamilton County Commission and the son of U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine, with a significant lead: 42 percent for DeWine, 6 percent for Brinkman.[14]

Brinkman had a strong

pro-life beliefs. Automated calls were made by DeWine's campaign featuring Joe Deters
, Hamilton County prosecutor. Deters in the recording stated:

In my career when I prosecute the worst of the worst like people who kill children, I believe the only appropriate punishment is the death penalty. Tom Brinkman is against the death penalty even for those vicious killers who prey on our kids, and he's even against the death penalty for terrorists who kill Americans. Our next congressman must go to Washington and fight to remove these murderers from society. Tom Brinkman will work to stop the death penalty just as he's done in Columbus. Pat DeWine believes these people should go. And that's one more reason I support Pat DeWine for Congress.

One of Brinkman's mailings said "Tom Brinkman believes all life is precious and must be protected. He has a 100%

pro-life all the way" [18]
.

Brinkman also complained about DeWine taking advantage of his father's name in raising money, but publicly distancing himself from his father's positions, such as Senator DeWine's role in the "Gang of 14" judicial filibuster compromise in May 2005 with six other mostly center-leaning Republicans and seven mostly center-leaning Democrats. "He seems to have no problems riding his father's coattails when it comes to raising money and getting name recognition; he's willing to take all the good from it and none of the bad." [19]

In one mailing to voters Brinkman did not mince words:

I am sick and tired of watching politicians promise to cut taxes in October—then raise them in March.

I have had it with candidates who campaign against big government and later give in to the money hungry bureaucrats.

I will not tolerate ideologically bent liberals trying to shift our educational focus from English and math to 'safe sex' and homosexual acceptance. [His emphasis]

In another mailing, he declared "He meant what he promised. He promised what he meant. Brinkman is faithful 100% ... 100% Against Higher Taxes ... 100% Committed to Limited Government ... 100%

Pro-life ... 100% Pro-Second Amendment
... 100% Attendance Record," the latter referring to his never missing a roll call vote in the Ohio House.

Brinkman was endorsed by the Ohio Taxpayers Association, the

Ohio House
, writing of her substantial record. Schmidt, said the Enquirer, the measures "successfully sponsored were remarkable in number and quality for a neophyte lawmaker". The paper contrasted her to Brinkman, who

has kept close touch with people and has been conscientious in constituent service. We admire the consistency of the principles he operates under. But he has earned a reputation as one of Ohio's least effective legislators, too often an uncompromising, anti-any-tax "no" vote. It's hard to see how he could effectively serve
this district [20]
.

Brinkman ran well in the June 14 primary but finished third behind former state representative Schmidt with 9,211 (20.3%) of the vote.

Brinkman had considered a challenge to Schmidt in the May 2006 primary but chose instead to run for re-election to the Ohio House.

In 2008, Brinkman declared his candidacy for Ohio's 2nd Congressional District, challenging incumbent Schmidt. He lost in a landslide defeat to Congresswoman Schmidt.

Return to the Ohio House of Representatives

In 2014, Brinkman decided to run again for his former seat in the Ohio House of Representatives. However, incumbent Peter Stautberg did not want to give up his seat, so Brinkman opted to challenge him in the primary.[17] He would defeat Stautberg to take the seat. He won the general election easily to take the seat.

See also

References

  1. ^ Hostman 2002
  2. ^ Bronson 2002
  3. ^ a b Davis 2003
  4. ^ Williamson 2003
  5. ^ Edwards 2004
  6. ^ "Candidate Q&A: Ohio 34th District state House seat". Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati. 2004-02-20. Retrieved 2014-12-02.
  7. ^ Horstman 2004
  8. ^ "Endorsements in GOP legislative races". Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati. 2004-02-29. Retrieved 2014-12-02.
  9. ^ Kemme 2004
  10. ^ Gentile 2003
  11. ^ Klepal 2001
  12. ^ "$51.2B state budget passed". Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati. 2005-06-21. Retrieved 2014-12-02.
  13. ^ "Brinkman, Mallory: Save library funding". The Cincinnati Post. E. W. Scripps Company. 2005-05-19. p. A12. Archived from the original on 2005-10-27.
  14. ^ Andrews 2005
  15. ^ "Promises Made, Promises Kept". Tom Brinkman for Congress. 2005-10-18. Archived from the original on 2005-10-18.
  16. ^ "Anderson Twp. GOP gives top rating to pair". Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati. 2005-06-02. Retrieved 2014-12-02.
  17. ^ "Tom Brinkman Tops Incumbent Despite Ohio GOP Smear Campaign". MediaTrackers. 2014-05-07. Retrieved 2014-12-02.

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