Tom Sawyer (Ohio politician)
Tom Sawyer | |
---|---|
Kimberly Zurz | |
Succeeded by | Vernon Sykes |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 14th district | |
In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 2003 | |
Preceded by | John F. Seiberling |
Succeeded by | Steve LaTourette |
58th Mayor of Akron, Ohio | |
In office January 9,[citation needed] 1984 – December 30,[citation needed] 1986[1] | |
Preceded by | Roy Ray |
Succeeded by | Don Plusquellic |
Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from the 44th district | |
In office January 3, 1977 – December 31, 1983 | |
Preceded by | Paul Wingard |
Succeeded by | Tom Watkins |
Personal details | |
Born | Thomas Charles Sawyer August 15, 1945 Akron, Ohio, U.S. |
Died | May 20, 2023 Akron, Ohio, U.S. | (aged 77)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Joyce Handler |
Children | 1 |
Alma mater | University of Akron (B.A., M.A.) |
Profession | Educator |
Thomas Charles Sawyer (August 15, 1945 – May 20, 2023) was an American politician of the Democratic Party. During a career that spanned five decades, he represented his hometown of Akron, Ohio, across multiple levels of government.[2] He was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1977 to 1983, the Mayor of Akron from 1984 to 1986, a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 2003, and a member of the Ohio Senate from 2007 to 2016.[2][3]
Early life
Sawyer was born in Akron, Ohio.[4] After graduating from Buchtel High School in Akron,[4] Sawyer received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Akron in 1968.[4] He also joined the Alpha Phi chapter of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. Later, Sawyer earned a master of arts degree from Akron in 1970.[4] He worked as an English teacher in Cleveland before seeking political office, winning a seat in the Ohio House of Representatives in 1977.[5][6]
Mayor of Akron
In November 1983, Sawyer defeated the incumbent Republican Mayor of Akron, Roy Ray, in a close election.[5] Sawyer was the first Democrat to be elected Mayor of Akron in over 18 years.[5] No Republican has held the mayor's seat in Akron since Sawyer upset Ray in 1983.[7]
On December 20, 1984, during Sawyer's first year as mayor, an explosion at the Akron Recycle Energy System plant caused the deaths of three people.
United States Congress
Sawyer successfully ran for a seat in the U.S. Congress in the 1986 midterm elections and took office on January 3, 1987.[9] He would then serve eight terms in Congress.[9]
Congressman Sawyer gained notoriety as Chairman of the House subcommittee overseeing the
Notable votes
In 1993, Sawyer voted for President
One of the most controversial votes cast by Tom Sawyer during his time in the U.S. House of Representatives was his vote for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).[17][18][19] Sawyer called his vote "the toughest decision I've ever had to make in public life."[19]
Sawyer voted against authorization for the deployment of United States armed forces in Iraq in 2002.[20]
Exit from Congress
2002 primary campaign
A round of redistricting following the 2000 census redrew Ohio's congressional map. The state lost a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
2006 primary campaign
Sawyer again sought to return to Congress during the 2006 Democratic primary. He aimed to replace then-Congressman
Ohio Senate
When Akron-based State Senator Kim Zurz was appointed to run the Ohio Department of Commerce in Spring of 2007, Sawyer was selected by legislative leaders to fill the vacancy.[25]
As a member of the Ohio Senate Controlling Board, Sawyer voted to adopt Medicaid expansion in Ohio.[26][27] Ohio's Medicaid expansion covered thousands of Ohioans who previously did not have insurance.[28] The state share costs were offset by small insurance and sales taxes.[28]
During the 130th and 131st General Assemblies, Sawyer jointly sponsored resolutions with Republican Senator Frank LaRose to reform the drawing of legislative district lines in Ohio.[29][30][31] The House and Senate eventually passed a version of the senators' proposal and sent it to the Ohio voters as State Issue 1 in November 2015.[32] The resolution passed with 71% of the vote.[33] This law, once implemented, will end the practice of gerrymandering (partisan drawing of legislative district lines) for Ohio legislative districts.[32] Senators Sawyer and LaRose at one time were working on a measure that would end gerrymandering at the Congressional level in Ohio as well.[33][34][35]
During the 131st General Assembly, Senator Sawyer helped the legislature adopt House Bill 2, which was a version of Sawyer's Senate Bill 148,[36] to reform Ohio's charter school oversight laws.[37][38][39][40]
In the November 2008 general election, Sawyer held his Senate seat by defeating Republican James Carr.[41]
In 2012, Sawyer was elected to a second full term, defeating Republican Robert Roush 71.5% to 28.5%.[42] He served as Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee from 2012-14.
In 2015, he considered running again for Akron mayor after the abrupt resignation of longtime incumbent mayor Don Plusquellic. Sawyer eventually decided against the run.[43]
Sawyer's tenure in the Ohio Senate concluded at the end of 2016. The state's term limit rules barred Sawyer from seeking the seat for a third consecutive term.[44] He was replaced by Democrat Vernon Sykes.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Education (Ranking Member)[45]
- Committee on Finance (Previously served as Ranking Member)[45]
- Committee on Public Utilities[45]
- Joint Education Oversight Committee[45]
Legislative commissions
- Ohio Constitutional Modernization Commission[45]
- School Facilities Construction Commission[45]
- Controlling Board[45]
Personal life
Sawyer lived in Akron. He and his wife, the former Joyce Handler, had a daughter.[46] He died from complications of Parkinson's disease at a care facility in Akron on May 20, 2023, at the age of 77.[6][47]
Electoral history
This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2023) |
Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Tom Sawyer | 104,697 | 71.88% | Robert Roush | 40,952 | 28.12% | ||
2008 | Tom Sawyer | 108,168 | 68.36% | James Carr | 50,064 | 31.64% |
Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | Libertarian | Votes | Pct | Independent | Votes | Pct | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | Tom Sawyer | 149,184 | 64.80% | Rick Wood | 71,432 | 31.00% | William Mcdaniel Jr. | 5,603 | 2.40% | Walter Keith | 3,869 | 1.70% | ||||
1998 | Tom Sawyer | 106,020 | 62.73% | Tom Watkins | 62,997 | 37.27% | ||||||||||
1996 | Tom Sawyer | 124,136 | 54.34% | Joyce George | 95,307 | 41.72% | Ryan Lewis | 16 | 0.01% | Terry Wilkinson | 8,976 | 3.93% | ||||
1994 | Tom Sawyer | 89,093 | 51.90% | Lynn Slaby | 76,090 | 48.10% | ||||||||||
1992 | Tom Sawyer | 125,430 | 67.80% | Robert Morgan | 64,090 | 32.20% | ||||||||||
1990 | Tom Sawyer | 90,090 | 59.60% | Jean Bender | 66,090 | 40.40% | ||||||||||
1988 | Tom Sawyer | 159,090 | 74.70% | Loretta Lang | 50,090 | 25.30% | ||||||||||
1986 | Tom Sawyer | 86,004 | 53.70% | Lynn Slaby | 73,230 | 46.30% |
*Italics indicate incumbent
See also
References
- ^ Roberts, Sam (May 26, 2023). "Tom Sawyer, Congressman Who Challenged Census Undercount, Dies at 77". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ a b "Senator Tom Sawyer (D) - Biography | The Ohio Senate". ohiosenate.gov. Archived from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
- ^ "Ohio Senate Districts 2012-2022" (PDF). Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "SAWYER, Thomas Charles - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved June 2, 2016.
- ^ a b c "Daily Kent Stater 9 November 1983 — Kent State University". dks.library.kent.edu. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ a b c Roberts, Sam (May 26, 2023). "Tom Sawyer, Congressman Who Challenged Census Undercount, Dies at 77". The New York Times. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- ^ Jones, Bob (September 7, 2015). "Akron mayoral race will became clear after Tuesday's primary election". newsnet5. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ a b "SAWYER, Thomas Charles - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- )
- ^ )
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 199". Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. May 27, 1993. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 331". Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. July 18, 1996. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ "Roll Call: See How Your Representative Voted". partners.nytimes.com. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ a b "17TH DISTRICT 4 labor unions endorse Sen. Ryan". www.vindy.com. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ "FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 455". Office of the Clerk of The United States House of Representatives. October 10, 2002. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ a b "CNN.com - Poll: Traficant trails in re-election bid - May 13, 2002". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- ^ a b Dyer, Bob. "Wild man at heart feels need for speed". www.ohio.com. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
- )
- ^ "Ohio Silver!". NPR.org. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "Leader Publications, Akron, Ohio -- Tom Sawyer chosen for District 28 seat". www.akron.com. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "Controlling Board gives OK to use of federal money to pay for Medicaid expansion in Ohio". cleveland.com. October 22, 2013. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "Medicaid expansion funding gets approval". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ a b "A look at the numbers around Ohio's Medicaid expansion". The Morning Journal. July 20, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "Sub. S. J. R. No. 8 As Reported by the Senate State Government Oversight and Reform Committee". archives.legislature.state.oh.us. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "Am. S. J. R. No. 1 As Reported by the Senate State Government Oversight and Reform Committee". archives.legislature.state.oh.us. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "Editorial: Fix this ridiculous map". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ a b "Redistricting reform plan passes House, needs voter approval". cleveland.com. December 18, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ a b "Voters approve issue to reform Ohio's redistricting process". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "Ohio senators push for congressional redistricting". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "Reforming congressional redistricting could take time, hinge on opinions of members of Congress". cleveland.com. November 5, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "Ohio Senate leads on reform". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "Charter-school reforms unveiled in Ohio Senate need tweaks but are a significant step forward: editorial". cleveland.com. April 22, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "Ohio passes major charter school reform bill; pension controversy to have more study". cleveland.com. October 7, 2015. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "Ohio Senate bill tackles charter school reform". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ "Lawmakers pass charter school reform bill". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ Ohio Senator: November 4, 2008 Archived February 28, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Ohio Secretary of State
- ^ Husted, Jon 2012 general election results (November 6, 2012)
- ^ Stephanie Warsmith (May 23, 2023). "Akron politician Tom Sawyer dies after long illness". Akron Beacon Journal.
- ^ Warsmith, Stephanie. "Vernon Sykes plans to run for Ohio Senate, seeking state Sen. Tom Sawyer's seat; Sawyer to be term limited next year". www.ohio.com. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Antonio Remembers Tom Sawyer". Senate.
- ^ "Longtime Akron politician Tom Sawyer dies after long illness". Akron Beacon Journal. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ "Thomas C. "Tom" C. Sawyer". Billow Funeral Homes. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
External links
- Vote Tom Sawyer, official campaign website
- United States Congress. "Tom Sawyer (id: S000094)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Project Vote Smart - Senator Thomas C. 'Tom' Sawyer (OH) profile
- Follow the Money - Thomas C. Sawyer
- 2006 campaign contributions
- Appearances on C-SPAN