Kenny Yuko
{{Short description|Ohio politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Kenny Yuko
| office = Minority Leader of the Ohio Senate
| term_start = April 26, 2017
| term_end = December 31, 2022
| predecessor = Joe Schiavoni
| successor = Nickie Antonio
| state_senate1 = Ohio
| district1 = 25th
| term_start1 = January 6, 2015
| term_end1 = December 31, 2022
| predecessor1 = Nina Turner
| successor1 = Bill DeMora
| state_house2 = Ohio
| district2 = 7th
| term_start2 = January 3, 2005
| term_end2 = December 31, 2012
| predecessor2 = Ed Jerse
| successor2 = Constituency abolished
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|8|1}}
| birth_place = Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| education = Cuyahoga Community College
Kent State University
}}
Kenny Yuko (born August 1, 1950) is an American politician and union activist who served as a member of the Ohio Senate, representing the 25th District. Previously, he was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 7th District from 2005 to 2012. Yuko was a political and union activist for more than two decades.
Early life and education
Yuko grew up in Euclid, Ohio and graduated from Brush High School. He attended Cuyahoga Community College and Kent State University.
Career
File:33. Kenny Yuko (5264606281).jpg Labor Day Parade]]
Yuko began his career as a buyer for Polsky's Department Store, and went on to the Laborers’ Local #860 for 30 years, including 25 years as union organizer. He retired from that service in 2004.
Yuko first ran for the Ohio House of Representatives in 2004 to replace four-term incumbent Ed Jerse, who was unable to seek re-election due to term limits. In the 2004 primary, he defeated Kent Smith.Blackwell, Kenneth [http://www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/elections/electResultsMain/2004ElectionsResults/04-1102OHReps.aspx 2004 general election results] (2004-11-02) He won reelection in 2006, 2008, and 2010. Yuko served as Chairman of the Commerce and Labor Committee for the 128th General Assembly.
Yuko expressed interest in an appointment to the Ohio Senate after incumbent Lance Mason resigned to take a judicial position. Ultimately, the appointment went to Cleveland City Councilwoman Nina Turner.
When he was sworn into his fourth term on January 3, 2011, Yuko served as the ranking member of the Commerce and Labor Committee, as well as a member of the Health and Aging Committee, and the Veterans Affairs Committee. He was also a member of the Unemployment Compensation Advisory Council; the Permanent Joint Committee on Gaming and Wagering; and the Joint Committee on Bingo and Skill Based Gaming.
Yuko was a staunch opponent of S.B. 5 and looked to lead the cause of a referendum that would repeal the changes the bill would make upon passage.{{cite news | first = Jim | last = Provance | title = Organized labor set for final showdown | date = 2011-03-29 | url = http://toledoblade.com/State/2011/03/29/Organized-labor-set-for-final-showdown.html | work = Toledo Blade | access-date = 2011-03-30}} He believed the then current act trampled the rights of workers.{{cite news | first = Jim | last = Siegel | author2 = Joe Hardon | title = Assembly sends SB 5 to Kasich | date = 2011-03-31 | url = http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/03/31/copy/assembly-sends-sb-5-to-kasich.html?adsec=politics&sid=101 | work = Columbus Dispatch | access-date = 2011-04-01 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110510002138/http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/03/31/copy/assembly-sends-sb-5-to-kasich.html?adsec=politics&sid=101 | archive-date = 2011-05-10 }}
Yuko served the 25th senatorial district which included the cities of Beachwood, Bedford, Bedford Heights, Cleveland (partial), East Cleveland, Eastlake, Euclid, Maple Heights, Mayfield Heights, Mentor (partial), Mentor-on-the-Lake, Painesville, Pepper Pike, Richmond Heights, South Euclid, Warrensville Heights, Wickliffe, Willoughby, and Willowick; along with the villages of Fairport Harbor, Grand River, Highland Hills, Lakeline, North Randall, Orange, Timberlake, and Woodmere; as well as parts of Painesville Township.{{cite web|url=http://statisticalatlas.com/state-upper-legislative-district/Ohio/District-25/Overview|title=Overview of State Senate District 25, Ohio|work=Statistical Atlas|publisher=Cedar Lake Ventures, Inc.|location=San Francisco|access-date=July 15, 2017}}
Personal life
Yuko resides in Richmond Heights, Ohio, with his wife, Pam. They have two children: Angela and the late Kenneth ("Rocky").{{cite web |title=Kenneth A. "Rocky" Yuko |url=https://obits.cleveland.com/us/obituaries/cleveland/name/kenneth-yuko-obituary?id=32057485 |website=Cleveland.com |publisher=The Plain Dealer |access-date=January 3, 2022}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.senate.state.oh.us/index.php?option=com_displaymembers&task=detail&district=25 The Ohio Senate: Sen. Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights)]{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} official site
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20081231153605/http://www.house.state.oh.us/index.php?option=com_displaymembers&task=detail&district=07 The Ohio House of Representatives: Rep. Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights)] official site
- [http://www.kennyyuko.com/ KennyYuko.com] official campaign site
- Follow the Money - Kenny Yuko
- [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=100383 2008] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=83700 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=65394 2004] campaign contributions
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-oh-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=Joe Schiavoni}}
{{s-ttl|title=Minority Leader of the Ohio Senate|years=2017–2022}}
{{s-aft|after=Nickie Antonio}}
{{s-end}}
{{OhioSen25thDst}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yuko, Kenny}}
Category:Kent State University alumni
Category:Democratic Party members of the Ohio House of Representatives
Category:21st-century members of the Ohio General Assembly
Category:Democratic Party Ohio state senators
Category:People from Cuyahoga County, Ohio