Mary Rose Oakar
Encyclopedia
Mary Rose Oakar is an American
Democratic
politician
and former member of the United States House of Representatives
from Ohio
, the first Democratic woman elected to the United States Congress
from that state.
Oakar, who graduated with a B.A.
from Ursuline College
in 1962 and an M.A. from John Carroll University
in 1966, taught at Lourdes Academy, a Catholic high school for women, directed plays, taught at Cuyahoga Community College
from 1968 to 1975 and served on the Cleveland City Council
from 1973 to 1976 before winning election to the House from Ohio's 20th congressional district
in Cleveland
's West Side and the surrounding suburbs. She took office in 1977, succeeding James V. Stanton
.
Oakar, one of only a handful of Arab-American members of the House, became regarded as an increasingly powerful member of the House. She was a high ranking member of the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service and the House Administration Committee. Oakar's high placement on these committees allowed her to bring home to Cleveland large sums of money for urban renewal. Oakar forged strong relationships with Jewish groups in Cleveland. From 1985 to 1989, Oakar was elected to a position in the House Democratic leadership, as Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus
.
In 1991, she was one of nearly one-hundred Members of Congress in the widespread House banking scandal
involving overdrafts, even though the House Bank was not a financial institution per se.
In 1992, her district was renumbered the 10th and redrawn to include more Republicans, though it was still solidly Democratic. Oakar withstood a challenge from Cuyahoga County Commissioner Tim Hagan
in the Democratic primary — Hagan had been endorsed by Cleveland Mayor Michael R. White
— but lost to businessman Martin Hoke
in the general election.
She won a 1999 libel settlement against Cleveland's newspaper, The Plain Dealer.
Oakar unsuccessfully ran in the 2001 Cleveland Mayoral Primary and served a single term in the Ohio House of Representatives
from 2000 to 2002.
Currently, Oakar is president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
(ADC), which describes itself as the largest Arab-American grassroots civil-rights organization in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and former member of 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...
from 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...
, the first Democratic woman elected to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
from that state.
Oakar, who graduated with a B.A.
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...
from Ursuline College
Ursuline College
For the English Catholic Sports College, based in Westgate, see Ursuline College .Ursuline College is a small, Roman Catholic liberal arts women's college in Pepper Pike, Ohio. It was founded in 1871 by the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland and is one of the oldest institutions of higher education for...
in 1962 and an M.A. from John Carroll University
John Carroll University
John Carroll University is a private, co-educational Jesuit Catholic university in University Heights, Ohio, United States, a suburb of Cleveland. The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus as Saint Ignatius College.The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus, as...
in 1966, taught at Lourdes Academy, a Catholic high school for women, directed plays, taught at Cuyahoga Community College
Cuyahoga Community College
Cuyahoga Community College is a two-year college in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Founded in 1962, Cuyahoga Community College is the oldest, and largest community college in Ohio with a Fall 2009 enrollment of 31,024. * http://www.tri-c.edu/news/Pages/20100823a.aspxIn August of 2010, the college reported...
from 1968 to 1975 and served on the Cleveland City Council
Cleveland City Council
Cleveland City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Cleveland in Ohio. Its members are elected from 19 wards to four-year terms. The number of council members has decreased over the years...
from 1973 to 1976 before winning election to the House from Ohio's 20th congressional district
Ohio's 20th congressional district
The 20th Congressional district of Ohio was created after the 1840 census. It was eliminated in the redistricting following the 1990 census, and redistricted and renumbered as the 10th district.-List of representatives:-Election results:...
in Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
's West Side and the surrounding suburbs. She took office in 1977, succeeding James V. Stanton
James V. Stanton
James Vincent Stanton was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.-Biography:Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Stanton graduated from Holy Name High School in 1949 and then served in the United States Air Force from 1950 to 1954, during the Korean War. He earned an A.B. from the University of Dayton in 1958, and a...
.
Oakar, one of only a handful of Arab-American members of the House, became regarded as an increasingly powerful member of the House. She was a high ranking member of the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service and the House Administration Committee. Oakar's high placement on these committees allowed her to bring home to Cleveland large sums of money for urban renewal. Oakar forged strong relationships with Jewish groups in Cleveland. From 1985 to 1989, Oakar was elected to a position in the House Democratic leadership, as Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus
Democratic Caucus Vice-Chairman of the United States House of Representatives
The Vice-Chair of the Democratic Caucus in the United States House of Representatives is a leadership position that ranks just below the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. In addition to other duties, the Vice-Chair has a seat on the Steering and Policy Committee.The office of Secretary of the...
.
In 1991, she was one of nearly one-hundred Members of Congress in the widespread House banking scandal
House banking scandal
The House banking scandal broke in early 1992, when it was revealed that the United States House of Representatives allowed members to overdraw their House checking accounts without risk of being penalized by the House bank ....
involving overdrafts, even though the House Bank was not a financial institution per se.
In 1992, her district was renumbered the 10th and redrawn to include more Republicans, though it was still solidly Democratic. Oakar withstood a challenge from Cuyahoga County Commissioner Tim Hagan
Tim Hagan
Timothy Hagan , a Democrat, is an American politician in Ohio.-Early life:Hagan was born and grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, as one of fourteen siblings . Hagan's father, Bob, was a Trumbull County Commissioner and, later, a State Representative. After graduating from Ursuline High School...
in the Democratic primary — Hagan had been endorsed by Cleveland Mayor Michael R. White
Michael R. White
Michael Reed White is an American politician of the Democratic party and was the 55th and longest-serving mayor of Cleveland, Ohio encompassing three four-year terms, from 1990 to 2002...
— but lost to businessman Martin Hoke
Martin Hoke
Martin R. Hoke is an American Republican politician, member of the Ohio Casino Control Commission, and former member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio....
in the general election.
She won a 1999 libel settlement against Cleveland's newspaper, The Plain Dealer.
Oakar unsuccessfully ran in the 2001 Cleveland Mayoral Primary and served a single term in the Ohio House of Representatives
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....
from 2000 to 2002.
Currently, Oakar is president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee states that it is the largest Arab American grassroots civil rights organization in the United States. According to its web page it is open to people of all backgrounds, faiths and ethnicities and has over 40 chapters in 24 states and members in all...
(ADC), which describes itself as the largest Arab-American grassroots civil-rights organization in the U.S.