Mark Okey
Encyclopedia
Mark Okey is a Democratic member of the Ohio House of Representatives
, representing the 61st District since 2007.
opted to run for the Ohio Senate
in 2006 and forgo a fourth term in the Ohio House, Okey sought to succeed him. Unopposed in the primary, Okey went on to face Republican Brant Luther in the general election, and won with 56.95% of the electorate. In his first term, Okey served as a member of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, Education Committee, Judiciary Committee, and the Public Utilities Committee.
In 2008, Okey ran for a second term, and won with 60.6% of the vote against Republican Kirk Susany and independent Paul Ray. With Democrats now in the majority, Speaker of the House Armond Budish
appointed Okey as Chairman of the Civil and Commercial Law Committee, and Vice Chairman of the Elections and Ethics Committee, as well as a member of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the Judiciary Committee and the Public Utilities Committee.
Again running for reelection in 2010, Okey faced primary opposition in fellow Democrat Brian Simeone, but won the nomination with 72.97% of the vote. In his toughest campaign yet, Okey defeated Republican Michael Foit by only 1,600 votes, or with 52.3% of the electorate. He was sworn into his third term on January 3, 2011, and is serving on the committees of Judiciary and Ethics; and Local Government.
estate tax, the sole Democrat to do so.
He has become an opponent of Matt Huffman
's proposal to ask voters in the November 8 election to raise Ohio's retirement age for judges seeking election from 70 to 75. "I don't think the system is broken," he said. "If the system is not broken why does this warrant a change in the Constitution?"
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
, representing the 61st District since 2007.
Career
Okey graduated from Glenwood High School, then from Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in history. He went on subsequently to earn a law degree from Ohio Northern University in 1976, and went on to establish the Okey Law Firm, LLC.Ohio House of Representatives
When John BoccieriJohn Boccieri
John Boccieri is a one-term U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. He was defeated by Republican Jim Renacci on November 2, 2010. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served in the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives.-Early life and career:Boccieri...
opted to run for the Ohio Senate
Ohio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
in 2006 and forgo a fourth term in the Ohio House, Okey sought to succeed him. Unopposed in the primary, Okey went on to face Republican Brant Luther in the general election, and won with 56.95% of the electorate. In his first term, Okey served as a member of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, Education Committee, Judiciary Committee, and the Public Utilities Committee.
In 2008, Okey ran for a second term, and won with 60.6% of the vote against Republican Kirk Susany and independent Paul Ray. With Democrats now in the majority, Speaker of the House 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...
appointed Okey as Chairman of the Civil and Commercial Law Committee, and Vice Chairman of the Elections and Ethics Committee, as well as a member of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the Judiciary Committee and the Public Utilities Committee.
Again running for reelection in 2010, Okey faced primary opposition in fellow Democrat Brian Simeone, but won the nomination with 72.97% of the vote. In his toughest campaign yet, Okey defeated Republican Michael Foit by only 1,600 votes, or with 52.3% of the electorate. He was sworn into his third term on January 3, 2011, and is serving on the committees of Judiciary and Ethics; and Local Government.
Positions and initiatives
In his third term, Okey has signed on to repeal the OhioOhio
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...
estate tax, the sole Democrat to do so.
He has become an opponent of Matt Huffman
Matt Huffman
Matt Huffman is a Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 4th District since 2007. Prior to his service in the House, he served as president of Lima City Council for seven years and as an attorney with the Lima law firm Huffman, Kelley, Becker & Brock...
's proposal to ask voters in the November 8 election to raise Ohio's retirement age for judges seeking election from 70 to 75. "I don't think the system is broken," he said. "If the system is not broken why does this warrant a change in the Constitution?"