Zack Space
Encyclopedia
Zachary T. "Zack" Space is an American
politician
and the former U.S. Representative
for , serving from 2007 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party
.
. In 1986, Space started a law practice with his father. Their firm, Space & Space Company, LPA, has been in business for nearly 20 years and is focused on consumer rights law. He is a member of the Tuscarawas County and State of Ohio Bar Associations. In addition to his private law practice, he has worked as a public defender and served as Special Counsel to two Attorneys General of Ohio, Anthony J. Celebrezze, Jr. and Lee Fisher
.
After the death of Dover Law Director Thomas Watson, Space was appointed to fill the vacancy. He won re-election in the 2001 general election with 70 percent of the vote. He was unopposed in the 2003 election. As law director, Space served as general counsel to the Dover city government and tried misdemeanor cases in the city's municipal court.
Space is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition.
He is an advocate for embryonic stem cell research, a position he embraced after his son Nicholas was diagnosed with Type I diabetes
at age six. Representative Space voted against the Senate version of the federal health care reform bill after voting for the House version. Rep. Space voted for the Waxman-Markey "cap and trade" bill allowing it to be brought out of committee and be passed by the House. AEP and EDF ran a commercial congratulating Rep. Space for his vote.
On May 2, 2006, Space won the Democratic primary for the House seat then held by Bob Ney
, defeating Democrats Jennifer Stewart, Joe Sulzer
, and Ralph Applegate. Space received 39 percent of the vote, Stewart 25 percent, Sulzer 24 percent, and Applegate received 11 percent.
Republican Ney said much of the primary campaign was focused on attacking him, and said he would attempt to bring the campaign back to the issues. "It has to get back to issues," he said. “We are going to run an aggressive campaign. ... We are going to stick to the issues and show the difference between me and Zack Space."
In July, a poll commissioned by the Space campaign showed Space ahead of Ney, 46 percent to 35 percent, with 19 percent undecided.
On August 7, Ney withdrew from the race, citing concerns about legal issues facing him; he pleaded guilty to charges related to the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
on October 13. In a special primary the Ohio Republican party selected State Senator Joy Padgett
to replace Ney. She was dogged by questions about a business bankruptcy
that she and her husband had filed. She was also seriously hampered by associations with Ney, as well as widespread scandals surrounding the Ohio Republican Party.
On November 7, Space defeated Padgett 62 percent to 38 percent. Although much more attention was paid to Brad Ellsworth
's 61 percent to 39 percent defeat of John Hostettler
in Indiana's 8th district, Space's victory was the largest margin of any Democrat in a Republican-held seat nationwide in 2006.
, former director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture 60-40%.
, Constitution Party Lindsey Sutton, and Libertarian Christopher Clayton. Gibbs won the election, securing 54% of the vote to 40% that went to Space.
and Developmental Disabilities and has been active as a coach in local youth baseball, softball, and football leagues. He is a member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church
of Massillon, Ohio
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and the former U.S. Representative
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...
for , serving from 2007 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party
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...
.
Early life, education and career
Space was born on January 27, 1961 in Dover, OhioDover, Ohio
Dover is a city in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, United States. The population was 12,210 at the 2000 census.-History and features:Dover was originally part of a grant to Col. James Morrison of Kentucky, who had received it from the federal government for Revolutionary War services...
. In 1986, Space started a law practice with his father. Their firm, Space & Space Company, LPA, has been in business for nearly 20 years and is focused on consumer rights law. He is a member of the Tuscarawas County and State of Ohio Bar Associations. In addition to his private law practice, he has worked as a public defender and served as Special Counsel to two Attorneys General of Ohio, Anthony J. Celebrezze, Jr. and Lee Fisher
Lee Fisher
Lee Fisher was the 64th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio, who served with Governor Ted Strickland from 2007 until 2011.He is a member of the Democratic Party.In addition to serving as Lt...
.
After the death of Dover Law Director Thomas Watson, Space was appointed to fill the vacancy. He won re-election in the 2001 general election with 70 percent of the vote. He was unopposed in the 2003 election. As law director, Space served as general counsel to the Dover city government and tried misdemeanor cases in the city's municipal court.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Energy and CommerceUnited States House Committee on Energy and CommerceThe Committee on Energy and Commerce is one of the oldest standing committees of the United States House of Representatives. Established in 1795, it has operated continuously—with various name changes and jurisdictional changes—for more than 200 years...
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer ProtectionUnited States House Energy Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer ProtectionThe House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade is a subcommittee within the Committee on Energy and Commerce. It is chaired by Mary Bono Mack of California's .-Jurisdiction:...
- Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet
- Subcommittee on Health
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection
Space is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition.
He is an advocate for embryonic stem cell research, a position he embraced after his son Nicholas was diagnosed with Type I diabetes
Diabetes mellitus type 1
Diabetes mellitus type 1 is a form of diabetes mellitus that results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. The subsequent lack of insulin leads to increased blood and urine glucose...
at age six. Representative Space voted against the Senate version of the federal health care reform bill after voting for the House version. Rep. Space voted for the Waxman-Markey "cap and trade" bill allowing it to be brought out of committee and be passed by the House. AEP and EDF ran a commercial congratulating Rep. Space for his vote.
2006
Bob Ney
Robert William Ney is an American politician from the U.S. state of Ohio. A Republican, Ney represented Ohio's 18th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 until November 3, 2006, when he resigned...
, defeating Democrats Jennifer Stewart, Joe Sulzer
Joe Sulzer
Joseph P. Sulzer is an American Democratic politician, and is mayor of Chillicothe, Ohio.Sulzer served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He earned a bachelor's degree from Ohio University and was awarded a law degree by Capital University....
, and Ralph Applegate. Space received 39 percent of the vote, Stewart 25 percent, Sulzer 24 percent, and Applegate received 11 percent.
Republican Ney said much of the primary campaign was focused on attacking him, and said he would attempt to bring the campaign back to the issues. "It has to get back to issues," he said. “We are going to run an aggressive campaign. ... We are going to stick to the issues and show the difference between me and Zack Space."
In July, a poll commissioned by the Space campaign showed Space ahead of Ney, 46 percent to 35 percent, with 19 percent undecided.
On August 7, Ney withdrew from the race, citing concerns about legal issues facing him; he pleaded guilty to charges related to the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal
The Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal is a United States political scandal relating to the work performed by political lobbyists Jack Abramoff, Ralph E. Reed, Jr., Grover Norquist and Michael Scanlon on Indian casino gambling interests for an estimated $85 million in fees. Abramoff and Scanlon...
on October 13. In a special primary the Ohio Republican party selected State Senator Joy Padgett
Joy Padgett
Joy Padgett is a former Republican member of the Ohio Senate, representing the 20th district until the end of 2008. In 2006, dogged by personal scandals, she ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and for Congress in...
to replace Ney. She was dogged by questions about a business bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
that she and her husband had filed. She was also seriously hampered by associations with Ney, as well as widespread scandals surrounding the Ohio Republican Party.
On November 7, Space defeated Padgett 62 percent to 38 percent. Although much more attention was paid to Brad Ellsworth
Brad Ellsworth
John Bradley "Brad" Ellsworth is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2007 until 2011, and was the unsuccessful 2010 Democratic nominee for the United States Senate seat currently held by Dan Coats...
's 61 percent to 39 percent defeat of John Hostettler
John Hostettler
John Nathan Hostettler , was a Republican candidate for the open U.S. Senate seat in the state of Indiana held by retiring Senator Evan Bayh. On December 3, 2009, Hostettler announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, but lost to former Senator Dan Coats.Hostettler served in the U.S...
in Indiana's 8th district, Space's victory was the largest margin of any Democrat in a Republican-held seat nationwide in 2006.
2008
Space defeated Fred DaileyFred Dailey
Fred L. Dailey is a former director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, and was the Republican nominee for U.S. Congress in Ohio's 18th congressional district...
, former director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture 60-40%.
2010
Space was challenged by Republican State Senator Bob GibbsBob Gibbs
Bob Gibbs is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life and education:Gibbs was born on June 14, 1954 in Peru, Indiana. His family moved to Cleveland in the 1960s, and Gibbs graduated from Bay Village Senior High School...
, Constitution Party Lindsey Sutton, and Libertarian Christopher Clayton. Gibbs won the election, securing 54% of the vote to 40% that went to Space.
Personal life
Space is a managing member of several closely held companies that have constructed and operated three hotels in Tuscarawas County. He has served as a board member of the Tuscarawas County Board of Mental RetardationMental retardation
Mental retardation is a generalized disorder appearing before adulthood, characterized by significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors...
and Developmental Disabilities and has been active as a coach in local youth baseball, softball, and football leagues. He is a member of St. George Greek Orthodox Church
Greek Orthodox Church
The Greek Orthodox Church is the body of several churches within the larger communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity sharing a common cultural tradition whose liturgy is also traditionally conducted in Koine Greek, the original language of the New Testament...
of Massillon, Ohio
Massillon, Ohio
Massillon is a city located in Stark County in the U.S. state of Ohio, approximately 8 miles to the west of Canton, Ohio, 20 miles south of Akron, Ohio, and 50 miles south of Cleveland, Ohio. The population was 32,149 at the 2010 census....
.
External links
- Zack Space for U.S. Congress official campaign site
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...
- Photos from Zack Space's first day in office