Oliver Robert Ocasek was an American politician of the Democratic party who served as President of the Ohio State Senate from 1979–1981 and serving as Senator from Summit County

Summit County, Ohio

Summit County is an urban county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 542,899. In the 2010 Census the population was 541,781. Its county seat is Akron...

 and the Twenty Seventh District from 1959 until 1986.

A former high school principal, he won election over the incumbent Senator Fred Danner in 1958, and again defeated Danner to hold his seat in 1960. In 1962, Ocasek opted to run for Congress against Congressman William H. Ayres, but lost. He again unsuccessfully challenged Ayres in 1968.

When Democrats took the majority in the Senate in 1974, Ocasek was elected as President pro tempore after serving in lesser leadership roles for a number of years. In 1979, with the Ohio Constitution

Ohio Constitution

The Ohio Constitution is the basic governing document of the State of Ohio, which in 1803 became the 17th state to join the United States of America. Ohio has had two constitutions since statehood was granted....

 revised to allow for the majority leader of the Senate to now preside, Ocasek was sworn in as the first President of the Ohio Senate to also be a sitting Senator. However, when Democrats lost the majority in 1980, Ocasek was replaced as the top Senate Democrat by Harry Meshel

Harry Meshel

Harry Meshel is a former American Democrat politician who served as the president of the Ohio State Senate and chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party...

.

In 1986, Ocasek announced that he would seek election to Congress instead of running for another term in the Senate. Facing Thomas C. Sawyer

Thomas C. Sawyer

Thomas Charles Sawyer, usually known as Tom Sawyer, is a Democratic member of the Ohio Senate, who has represented the 28th District since his appointment in February 2007. He served as a U.S. representative from Ohio from 1987 to 2003.- Career :...

 in the primary, he lost the election. As a result, he had relinquished his Senate seat, and was replaced by Roy Ray

Roy Ray

Roy Lee Ray was a member of the Ohio Senate, serving the 27th district from 1987 to 2001. His district encompassed portions of Akron. In 2001, he resigned and was succeeded by Kevin Coughlin.-External links:***...

 in 1987. He went on to teach at the University of Akron

University of Akron

The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...

 and Kent State University

Kent State University

Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...

 in his retirement. In 1992, he won a seat on the Ohio School Board, serving on the board until 1998. Citing health difficulties, Ocasek did not seek reelection in 1998. He died from complications of cancer on June 25, 1999.

See also:

• Election Results, U.S. Representative from Ohio, 14th District