Ben Konop

Infobox Officeholder


name=Ben Konop
order=Lucas County Commissioner, Ohio
term=2007–2011
predecessor=Maggie Thurber
successor=Incumbent
birth_date=birth date|1976|3|1|mf=y
birth_place=Sylvania, Ohio
party=Democratic
profession=Visiting Professor, University of Toledo Law School

Ben Konop was the Democratic Party candidate in Ohio's Fourth Congressional District for the United States House of Representatives in 2004, and received the highest percentage vote total of any House challenger in congressional races in Ohio that year: 41%. His opponent, Representative Mike Oxley, announced his retirement a year later. Presently, Ben Konop is serving as a Lucas County Commissioner.

Konop was born and raised in Lucas County, attending Ottawa Hills public schools. At age 17, he became a page in the U.S. Congress. He received his B.A. in history from Emory University and attended Oxford University in England, studying history and literature. He received his Law Degree from the University of Michigan School of Law.

Konop, in his race against Mike Oxley, was named one of the Kos Dozen, a group of progressive Democratic politicians endorsed by the website Daily Kos in 2004. ["Donate, get Lakoff's book," "Daily Kos", October 7, 2004, [http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2004/10/7/152319/064] .] Despite being outspent approximately $1.9 million to $175,000, Konop held Oxley to his lowest percentage since being first elected in 1981. Mike Oxley defeated Konop 59% to 41%. Konop also outperformed Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, who received only 34 percent of the vote in the heavily Republican district.

After the 2004 election, Konop returned to Lucas County, where he defeated two challengers in a Democratic primary for Lucas County Commissioner on May 2, 2006. Konop received 47 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary. His opponents, Tim Wagener, the mayor of Maumee, and Phil Copeland, a Toledo City Councilman, received 27% and 26% respectively. In a landslide, he defeated Toledo City Councilman George Sarantou in the general election on November 7, 2006.

Konop's campaign for County Commissioner was notable for his pledge to serve a full term, a promise he is now open to breaking as he considers a bid for mayor of Toledo. ["Konop Open to Running for Mayor" [http://swampbubbles.com/bubble/troy-neff-show-breaking-newskonop-open-idea-running-mayor] .]

Controversy

Konop's brief tenure as a politician has been shrouded in controversy.

-Konop has been labeled by some a carpet bagger since he ran for commissioner in Lucas County in 20006, despite running for Congress two years earlier in an entirely different district. ["Blog referring to Konop as carpetbagger," [http://blog.buckeyepayroll.com/wordpress/?p=397] .] Ironically, Konop had questioned Congressman Mike Oxley's residence in his 2004 campaign. ["Konop attacks Oxley on issue of residency," Toledo Blade [http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?Avis=TO&Dato=20041026&Kategori=NEWS09&Lopenr=410260343] .]

-In one of his earliest votes as commissioner, Konop voted in favor of a tax increase on Lucas County hotels and motels. ["Hotel-motel tax going up to 10% to fund arena," Toledo Blade [http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070118/NEWS33/701180349/-1/NEWS] .]

-In December, 2007, Commissioner Konop was caught driving without auto insurance when he caused a traffic accident. He was forced to settle out-of-pocket. ["Konop thought he paid for his auto insurance, but discovered his policy had lapsed," "Toledo Blade", January 18, 2007, [http://nbc24.com/News/news_story.aspx?id=75687] .]

-In April, 2008, Konop skipped the Lucas County State of the County event and instead opted to hold his own event. ["Konop skips board event to hold one of his own," "Toledo Blade", April 9, 2008, [http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080409/NEWS33/804090450/-1/NEWS ] .]

References

Persondata
NAME= Konop, Ben
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=
DATE OF BIRTH=March 1, 1976
PLACE OF BIRTH=Sylvania, Ohio
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=