Schmidt, Jean, 1951-

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Jeannette Mary Schmidt (born November 29, 1951) is an American banker, teacher, and politician. A member of the Republican Party, she currently serves as state representative from Ohio's 65th district. She was previously a U.S. Representative for Ohio's 2nd congressional district, serving from 2005 to 2013.

Born Jeannette Marie Hoffman in Cincinnati, Ohio, she was raised in Miami Township, Ohio. Schmidt earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Cincinnati in 1974. She worked in her father's bank, the Midwestern Savings Association, as a branch manager from 1971 to 1978. Schmidt was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1984. She was a fitness instructor from 1984 to 1986, when she began a four-year career as a schoolteacher. In 1989 Schmidt won election as one of two trustees for Miami Township, Ohio, finishing first of three candidates. In 2000 Schmidt easily won election as a Republican to the Ohio state house of representatives from Miami Township. In 2004 Schmidt decided not to seek re-election to a third term in the state house and ran instead for a vacant state senate seat, narrowly losing the Republican primary. She married Peter Schmidt.

When President George W. Bush chose Ohio Congressman Rob Portman to be his United States Trade Representative, Schmidt announced her candidacy for Portman’s vacant seat in the House. After prevailing in the Republican primary, she narrowly won the special election in August 2005. During her time in Congress, Schmidt called for reducing America's dependence on foreign oil by increasing use of ethanol and drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, supported tax cuts championed by President George W. Bush, and called for the reversal of Roe v. Wade. While in the minority after Democrats took back the House, Schmidt focused on serving her constituents and fighting Democratic proposals for comprehensive health care reform, voting against the Affordable Care Act in the spring of 2010. In the March 2012 Republican primary, Schmidt was defeated by a 6 point margin.

After leaving the House, Schmidt focused on running and teaching, and became an advocate for prison sentencing reform. In November 2020, Jean Schmidt won election to return to the Ohio state house of representatives.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
memberOf Ohio. General Assembly. House of Representatives corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. House person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf University of Cincinnati. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Cincinnati OH US
Subject
Occupation
Teachers
Bankers
County Government Official
Representatives, U.S. Congress
State Representative
Activity

Person

Birth 1951-11-29

Female

Americans

English

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