Robert M. Owens
Encyclopedia
Robert M. Owens is a Delaware, Ohio
lawyer
who ran as an independent candidate for Ohio Attorney General
in the November 4, 2008 election. Owens currently serves on the national council of The John Birch Society
.
, with a major
in history
and a minor
in journalism
. Owens studied history and political science
at Oxford University
. Owens obtained his law degree
with honors from the Capital University Law School
.
Marc Dann
resigned on May 14, 2008. On May 28, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland
appointed Nancy H. Rogers
, the Dean of The Ohio State University
Moritz College of Law
, to fill the post until a replacement takes office following the special election. Owens officially announced his candidacy at a press conference at the Ohio Statehouse
on June 10, 2008.
On May 27, 2008, Owens filed a nominating petition with over 1300 signatures from 44 of Ohio's 88 counties. Ohio law requires 750 valid signatures to be presented within 10 days of the office being vacated in order for an independent to appear on the ballot.
Early in the campaign, it was suggested that Owens may be ineligible to run as an independent due to previously voting in Republican primary election
s.
Owens was endorsed by the Constitution Party
, Libertarian Party of Ohio
, as well as other minor parties.
Owens received 5% of the vote.
He filed to run for Attorney General again in 2010 under a Constitution Party label.
. He is married to Teri Owens (married May 23, 1998) and has one child.
Delaware, Ohio
The City of Delaware is a city in and the county seat of Delaware County in the United States state of Ohio. Delaware was founded in 1808 and was incorporated in 1816. It is located near the center of Ohio, is about north of Columbus, and is part of the Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Area...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who ran as an independent candidate for Ohio Attorney General
Ohio Attorney General
The Ohio Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Ohio in the United States. The office is filled by general election, held every four years. The Ohio Attorney General is Mike DeWine.-History:...
in the November 4, 2008 election. Owens currently serves on the national council of The John Birch Society
John Birch Society
The John Birch Society is an American political advocacy group that supports anti-communism, limited government, a Constitutional Republic and personal freedom. It has been described as radical right-wing....
.
Education
Owens graduated with honors from Ohio Wesleyan UniversityOhio Wesleyan University
Ohio Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college in Delaware, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1842 by Methodist leaders and Central Ohio residents as a nonsectarian institution, and is a member of the Ohio Five — a consortium of Ohio liberal arts colleges...
, with a major
Academic major
In the United States and Canada, an academic major or major concentration is the academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits....
in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and a minor
Academic minor
An academic minor is a college or university student's declared secondary field of study or specialization during his or her undergraduate studies. As with an academic major, the college or university in question lays out a framework of required classes or class types a student must complete to...
in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
. Owens studied history and political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. Owens obtained his law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
with honors from the Capital University Law School
Capital University Law School
Capital University Law School is an ABA-accredited private law school located in downtown Columbus, Ohio. The law school is affiliated with Capital University, the oldest and largest independent college in Central Ohio...
.
Ohio Attorney General campaign
The special election for attorney general was created when the previous officeholder, DemocratDemocratic 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...
Marc Dann
Marc Dann
Marc Dann Marc Dann Marc Dann (born March 12, 1962, in Evanston, Illinois, is an American politician of the Democratic Party. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1984 from the University of Michigan and a law degree in 1987 from Case Western Reserve University, and practiced law in Youngstown,...
resigned on May 14, 2008. On May 28, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland
Ted Strickland
Theodore "Ted" Strickland was the 68th Governor of Ohio, serving from 2007 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the United States House of Representatives, representing ....
appointed Nancy H. Rogers
Nancy H. Rogers
Nancy Hardin Rogers is a former Attorney General of Ohio, a former Dean of the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and the current holder of the Michael E. Moritz Chair in Alternative Dispute Resolution at the Moritz College of Law....
, the Dean of The Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
Moritz College of Law
Moritz College of Law
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law is a public law school and charter member of the Association of American Law Schools. According to the 2010 U.S. News & World Report rankings, the Moritz College of Law is 35th in the nation overall and is in the top ten among public law schools. The...
, to fill the post until a replacement takes office following the special election. Owens officially announced his candidacy at a press conference at the Ohio Statehouse
Ohio Statehouse
The Ohio Statehouse, located in Columbus, Ohio, is the house of government for the state of Ohio. The Greek Revival building houses the Ohio General Assembly and the ceremonial offices of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer, and Auditor....
on June 10, 2008.
On May 27, 2008, Owens filed a nominating petition with over 1300 signatures from 44 of Ohio's 88 counties. Ohio law requires 750 valid signatures to be presented within 10 days of the office being vacated in order for an independent to appear on the ballot.
Early in the campaign, it was suggested that Owens may be ineligible to run as an independent due to previously voting in Republican primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
s.
Owens was endorsed by the Constitution Party
Constitution Party (United States)
The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
, Libertarian Party of Ohio
Libertarian Party of Ohio
The Libertarian Party of Ohio is the Ohio affiliate of the Libertarian Party. It is the fourth largest state affiliate of the Libertarian Party Nationally and the third largest political party in Ohio. The state chair is Kevin Knedler.- History :...
, as well as other minor parties.
Owens received 5% of the vote.
Political activity
Owens is a member of the Delaware City Charter Review Commission, a panel tasked with reviewing and suggesting changes to the City Charter (the City's Constitution).He filed to run for Attorney General again in 2010 under a Constitution Party label.
Personal
Owens resides in Delaware, OhioDelaware, Ohio
The City of Delaware is a city in and the county seat of Delaware County in the United States state of Ohio. Delaware was founded in 1808 and was incorporated in 1816. It is located near the center of Ohio, is about north of Columbus, and is part of the Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Area...
. He is married to Teri Owens (married May 23, 1998) and has one child.