Eugene Branstool
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = (Eugene Branstool) Ohio Senate 116th General Assemby 1985-1986 - DPLA - 1067a3f05164f49faaff516e6b39e41b (page 16) (cropped).jpg
| imagesize =
| name = Eugene Branstool
| image name =
| state_senate = Ohio
| state = Ohio
| district = 31st
| term = January 3, 1983 – December 31, 1990
| preceded = Tim McCormack
| succeeded = Steven O. Williams
| state_house2 = Ohio
| state2 = Ohio
| district2 = 1st
| term2 = January 3, 1975 – December 31, 1982
| preceded2 = Raymond Luther
| succeeded2 = Marc Guthrie
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democrat
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1936|12|13}}
| birth_place = Mount Vernon, Ohio{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OWNmAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Branstool,+Charles+Eugene%22|title = Who's who in the Midwest|year = 1986}}|
}}
Charles Eugene Branstool (born December 13, 1936) is an American politician from Ohio. He was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1975 to 1982 and the Ohio Senate from 1983 to 1990 and part of the Democratic Party. He was originally a farmer from Utica, Ohio,[https://books.google.com/books?id=fB-Te8d5hO8C&dq=Eugene+Branstool+Utica+Ohio&pg=PA9 Ohio Legislators debate data cross-checks] and defeated Republican Raymond Luther in 1974 for his Ohio House seat.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P99RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_4MMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3798,2320870&dq=eugene+branstool+ohio&hl=en Democrats take both Houses] He won reelection in 1976, 1978, and 1980.
Career
Following redistricting in 1982, Branstool opted to make a run for the Ohio Senate, running for a newly drawn district against Sam Speck, whose home had been drawn out of his former district.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PRpEAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yrAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1457,4058138&dq=eugene+branstool+ohio&hl=en Ohio candidates hurl challenges] One of the most contested races of that cycle, Branstool defeated Speck, who ultimately returned to his old district, which wasn't up for reelection.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yPU_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=SFgMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5849,568213&dq=eugene+branstool+ohio&hl=en Dems win edge in Ohio Senate] In 1986, Branstool was mentioned as a potential candidate for Ohio Lieutenant Governor, running with Governor Richard Celeste. However, this never went forward.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rQpEAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kLAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2345,421175&dq=eugene+branstool+ohio&hl=en Riffe spurns Celeste's offer for lieutenant governor] He went on to win reelection to his Senate seat in a slim margin.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=08NPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TFIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3835,3168195&dq=eugene+branstool+ohio&hl=en Republicans hold lead in Ohio Senate] Soon after, he was elected Senate minority whip by his colleagues.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=z0VPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HgMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5409,5162501&dq=eugene+branstool+ohio&hl=en Shakeup in Senate]
In 1990, Branstool was chosen as the running mate of Democratic gubernatorial nominee Tony Celebrezze, who lost the election to George Voinovich.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EWpcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0VYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4934,5280865&dq=eugene+branstool+ohio&hl=en Celebrezze will name running mate] Following the defeat, Branstool opted to become Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, and succeeded.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BeNRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uIYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5554,3975019&dq=eugene+branstool+ohio&hl=en Branstool gets post of Ohio party chairman] He would serve in the capacity until 1993, when he stepped down and was replaced by Harry Meshel.
Branstool went on to serve under President Bill Clinton as an assistant Secretary of Agriculture. However, he would only serve in the capacity for seven months, citing his desires to return home.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oSRDAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xKwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2706,4632380&dq=eugene+branstool+ohio&hl=en Former Ohio party chief quits government job] However, he soon was appointed to the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation's Board of Trustees.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qcpFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=os8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5131,2315073&dq=eugene+branstool+ohio&hl=en Branstool appointed to board]
In a surprise move, Branstool opted to run in 1998 against Jay Hottinger for his former seat in the Senate.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nzZEAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CbAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1521,185131&dq=eugene+branstool+ohio&hl=en Branstool looks to make comeback] However, he lost in what was now a solidly Republican district. He since has retired to Utica.
Branstool made a return to the news in 2011 as an opponent of new legislation to curb collective bargaining. “An individual worker who does his 40 hours or whatever, it’s hard for him to represent himself alone, and this is a way that he can do that – and sometimes they need leaders,” Branstool said. “Other elements of our society, whether it’s the pharmaceutical companies, the banks, the insurance companies, payday lenders, all these guys have people looking after their interests. And this is a way that working people have a chance to look after theirs.”{{cite news | first = Julie | last = Carr Smyth | title = OH Senate OKs union wage bargaining | date = 2011-02-23 | url = http://news.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20110223/NEWS/302230033/1196/rss1212/OH-Senate-OKs-union-wage-bargaining?odyssey=nav/head | agency = Associated Press | accessdate = 2011-02-25}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
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{{s-bef|before=Paul Leonard}}
{{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Ohio|years=1990}}
{{s-aft|after=Peter Lawson Jones}}
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{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Branstool, Eugene}}
Category:Members of the Ohio House of Representatives