DENNIS KUCINICH- BOLD VISION FOR AMERICA

Dennis John Kucinich was born on October 8, 1946 in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Cleveland State University and Case Western Reserve University, graduating in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in communications. He married his third wife, Elizabeth Harper, in 2005. He has one daughter from a previous marriage. He was raised a Roman Catholic.

In 1969 Kucinich was elected to the City Council in his native Cleveland. He subsequently ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1972 and 1974 as a Democrat and as an independent respectively. Kucinich served as mayor of Cleveland from 1977 to 1979. At the time of his election he was the city’s youngest mayor ever, (31). His term as mayor was controversial, and reportedly the mafia even tried to assassinate him. After living in California and New Mexico for a time, Kucinich returned to Cleveland and won election to the House of Representatives in 1996. He continues to serve Ohio’s 10th district.

Kucinich has shown himself to be an open-minded Democrat who votes his conscience rather than simply the party line. He voted against the Patriot Act and has been critical of attempts to introduce a Constitutional amendment against flag burning. His position on abortion has been mostly pro-life, though he refused to be labeled on the issue until 2003, when he stated he was pro-choice. Kucinich has been highly critical of the Iraq War and President Bush, calling for an immediate, phased withdrawal of troops. He has stated his opposition to NAFTA, and supports US withdrawal. He is also involved in environmental issues. He supports the abolition of the death penalty in the US and the strengthening of gun control.

Kucinich’s vision is a powerful argument for his election to the office of President of the United States.