Michael Wager (Ohio politician)

Last updated
Michael Keith Wager
Born(1951-05-17)May 17, 1951
DiedJuly 8, 2023(2023-07-08) (aged 72)
Alma mater American University
Columbia University
New York University
OccupationAttorney
Political party Democratic
SpousePeggy Gries Wager
ChildrenFour daughters

Michael Wager (born May 17, 1951) is an attorney for Taft Stettinius & Hollister in Cleveland, Ohio, serving as the Chair of the firm's Business & Finance Group. Wager was the 2016 Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in Ohio's 14th District; he also ran in 2014.

Contents

Personal life and education

Wager earned his B.A. from American University in 1973 and his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 1981, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of International Law and Politics. He also earned his MA from Columbia University in 1976. [1] Wager has taught courses on urban policy and the U.S. judicial system at Case Western Reserve University in the Department of Political Science. [2]

Career

During the 1970s, Wager worked as a staff member for Representatives Charles Vanik and Mary Rose Oakar of Ohio, [2] as well as Senator Lawton Chiles. [3] More recently, Wager served as Senator Sherrod Brown's campaign finance chair. [3]

Wager is an attorney with Taft Stettinius & Hollister, where he specializes in corporate governance, strategic growth, and corporate compliance and FCPA investigations. Before joining Taft, Wager was a partner at Squire Sanders & Dempsey LLP. [4] Wager has served on the boards of numerous organizations including Clean Ohio Council, Northeast Ohio Development Fund, Cuyahoga County Renewable Energy Task Force, the White House Business Council, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, West Side Ecumenical Ministry, the Gateway Economic Development Corporation of Greater Cleveland, the Quicken Loans Arena (formerly Gund Arena), Michael Anthony Holdings Inc., Reynard American Partners, L.P., American Speedy Printing Centers and Sembcorp Utilities (formerly Cascal N.V.). [1] [5]

Wager served on the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority from 2002 to 2009, serving as chairman by the end of his tenure. [6] Wager had supported an aggressive plan to redevelop the Cuyahoga River waterfront and related infrastructure investment, but was not reappointed by Cleveland Mayor Frank G. Jackson. [7]

2014 congressional candidacy

Michael Wager announced his candidacy for Congress in Ohio's 14th congressional district in December 2012. The seat is currently held by Republican Congressman David Joyce who assumed office in 2013, and prevailed over State Representative Matt Lynch in the May 6, 2014 Republican primary by a final tally of 55% to 45%. [2] On March 3, 2014, Wager, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary, was designated as an Emerging Race in the "Red-to-Blue" program of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Wager lost the November 4th election in a three-way contest with the incumbent Republican David Joyce and Libertarian David Macko. 2014 was an election cycle of historically low turnout in Ohio and the 14th Congressional District, as the campaign of Democratic candidate for Governor, Ed FitzGerald, faltered and adversely affected other democratic candidates. The final vote tallies:

Election results [8]
YearOfficeElectionSubjectPartyVotes%OpponentPartyVotes%OpponentPartyVotes%
2014 U.S. House of Representatives General Dave Joyce Republican 135,73663.26%Michael Wager Democratic 70,85633.02%David Macko Libertarian 7,9883.72%

2016 congressional candidacy

On March 15, 2016, Wager won the Democratic primary election, defeating former Ashtabula County Common Pleas Judge, Alfred Mackey.

The final vote tallies:

Election results [9]
YearOfficeElectionIncumbentPartyVotes%OpponentPartyVotes%
2016 U.S. House of Representatives General Dave Joyce Republican 219,19162.58%Michael Wager Democratic 130,90737.37%

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References

  1. 1 2 "Michael Wager (bio)". Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 Eaton, Sabrina (12 December 2012). "Attorney Michael Wager to seek 14th District congressional seat". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  3. 1 2 Giroux, Gregory (6 December 2012). "Sherrod Brown Financial Backer Plans Own Race in 2014". Bloomberg. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "Taft Welcomes Accomplished Business & Finance Partner, Michael Wager, to its Team". Taft. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  5. ↑ "Michael Keith Wager J.D." Bloomberg Businessweek. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  6. ↑ Breckenridge, Tom (24 January 2009). "Outgoing Port Authority Chairman Michael Wager sees opportunities for Cleveland waterfront". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  7. ↑ Miller, Jay (8 December 2008). "Jackson makes waves at Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority". Crain's Cleveland Business. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  8. ↑ "Election Results". Ohio Secretary of State. Archived from the original on 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  9. ↑ "Election Results". Ohio Secretary of State. Retrieved 2018-10-27.
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