Dennis J. Kucinich is a United States Congressman from Ohio’s Tenth District.http://www.kucinich.us/index.phpCongressman Kucinich has also served as the Mayor of Cleveland (from 1977-1979), a member of the Ohio Senate (from 1995-1997), and a member of the Cleveland City Council (1970-1975).http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/k/dennis_j_kucinich/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=dennis%20kucinich&st=cse In addition, Dennis Kucinich ran for President of the United States in the Democratic Party Primary Elections of 2004 and 2008. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/15/AR2007121501313.html Congressman Kucinich bills himself as “America’s Most Courageous Congressman,“ and is cited by Michael Janofsky of The New York Times as being “one of the most liberal members of Congress.”http://www.kucinich.us/index.phphttp://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/10/politics/campaigns/10CND-NADER.html?scp=5&sq=dennis%20kucinich,%20most%20liberal&st=cse The Tenth District of Ohio is located in the northern part of the state along Lake Erie, west of Cleveland, incorporating the city of Lakewood.http://kucinich.house.gov/UploadedFiles/oh10map.pdf

In 2008, Dennis Kucinich ran for President of the United States in the Democratic Party’s primary election.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/15/AR2007121501313.html His campaign slogan was “Strength Through Peace,” which reflected his outspoken opposition to the United States’ wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/video?id=3471418 Dennis Kucinich sought to differentiate himself from candidates such as Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and John Edwards by recalling the fact that he was the only Democratic member of the United States Congress to vote against the invasion of Iraq. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/15/AR2007121501313.html He also campaigned on his support for a single-payer healthcare system. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/15/AR2007121501313.html On January 25, 2008, Dennis Kucinich dropped out of the election, having won no states. http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/candidates/dennis.kucinich.html

Born in Cleveland, Ohio on October 8, 1946, Dennis J. Kucinich was the first of Frank and Virginia Kucinich's seven children.http://www.kucinich.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45&Itemid=2 The Kucinich household moved over twenty times before Dennis was 18 years old.http://www.kucinich.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45&Itemid=2 He studied Speech Communications at Case Western Reserve University, and eventually earned both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree.http://www.kucinich.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45&Itemid=2

In 1977, when he was 31 years old, Dennis Kucinich was elected Mayor of Cleveland. http://www.kucinich.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45&Itemid=2 His tenure as Mayor of Cleveland was defined by a struggle between the Mayor’s Office and several banks in the city of Cleveland. http://www.kucinich.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=45&Itemid=2 When Mayor Kucinich refused to sell an electricity company to several Cleveland-area banks, the banks moved the city into default and caused financial strain on the city.http://www.kucinich.house.gov/Biography/ To this day, Dennis Kucinich is proud of his decision to “put principle above politics,” and believes his actions saved the citizens of Cleveland millions of dollars in utility bills. http://www.kucinich.house.gov/Biography/

Dennis Kucinich has been a champion of left-leaning, progressive causes over the course of his term in the U.S. Congress, which includes his opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/15/AR2007121501313.html Congressman Kucinich has campaigned against the Patriot Act and voted against the $700 billion bailout.http://kucinich.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=1555#patriotacthttp://www.clevelandleader.com/node/6995 In addition to supporting legislation for environmental protection, including measures to curtail climate change, Dennis Kucinich also advocates for more governmental emphasis on pre-kindergarten education. http://www.kucinich.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=1560#Resolution of Inquiry: Global Climate Change http://www.kucinich.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=48 As a U.S. Representative, Dennis Kucinich is on the Domestic Policy Subcommittee of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee as well as the Education and Labor Committee. http://www.kucinich.house.gov/Biography/