Changes

==Political Career==

==Political Career==

When taking office, Cleveland was the first major city to declare [[bankruptcy]] since the [[Great Depression]] and the city was on the edge of financial ruin. As Mayor, Voinovich approved a referendum to extend the terms for Mayor and City Council from two years to four, and reduced the number of council members from 33 to 21. He managed the revival the city's [[economy]] and became the longest serving Mayor of Cleveland in history. The National Journal called Voinovich "one of five local and state officials who make a difference in Washington."  

When taking office, Cleveland was the first major city to declare [[bankruptcy]] since the [[Great Depression]] and the city was on the edge of financial ruin. Despite the city having eight times as many registered democrats as republicans. The election was a difficult one for Voinovich as his daughter was hit by a car and killed shortly before the election. Voinovich overcame this personal tragedy to win the election by a comfortable margin over [[Dennis Kucinich]]. As Mayor, Voinovich approved a referendum to extend the terms for Mayor and City Council from two years to four, and reduced the number of council members from 33 to 21. He managed the revival the city's [[economy]] and became the longest serving Mayor of Cleveland in history. One major success of his tenure was the restoration of the Playhouse Square theaters, three of which, the State, the Ohio, and the Palace, reopened while he was mayor. He was instrumental in getting the project to completion, and today the theaters are one of the biggest economic engines in the city. He also spurred new construction in the city, most notably when Standard Oil of Ohio (now BP America) built their 45-floor headquarters building on Public Square (the building is the headquarters of Huntington Bank). Cleveland was also selected as the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame while Voinovich was mayor, although the museum on the Cleveland lakefront did not open until the 1990s, after he left the mayorship. The National Journal called Voinovich "one of five local and state officials who make a difference in Washington." Today, Voinovich remains a fondly remembered figure in the Cleveland area.

In 1988 Voinovich ran for the United States Senate and was defeated 57% to 43%, despite Republican [[George H.W. Bush]] winning Ohio by eleven percentage points in the national presidential election. However, in 1990 Voinovich was elected Governor of Ohio with a record 72 percent of the vote. During his two terms [[unemployment]] hit a 25-year low, and curved state spending which balanced the budget. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1998 and reelected in 2004 by a landslide, winning all 88 counties.

In 1988 Voinovich ran for the United States Senate and was defeated 57% to 43%, despite Republican [[George H.W. Bush]] winning Ohio by eleven percentage points in the national presidential election. However, in 1990 Voinovich was elected Governor of Ohio with a record 72 percent of the vote. During his two terms [[unemployment]] hit a 25-year low, and curved state spending which balanced the budget. A popular Governor, he was reelected by the largest margin of victory in over a century in Ohio. His skills as a budget hawk led [[Bob Dole]] to consider him as a potential vice presidential nominee in 1996. Voinovich declined any interest in the job, and Dole instead selected [[Jack Kemp]]. He was unable to run for a third term in 1998, and he set his sites on a Senate seat. Famed astronaut [[John Glenn]], a popular incumbent Democrat, was retiring and Voinovich decided to run for the job. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1998 and reelected in 2004 by a landslide, winning all 88 counties. Voinovich gained a reputation as a party maverick in the Senate. He opposed John Bolton's nomination and sided with Democrats. However, he was against No Child Left Behind, arguing that it was a big government program that took away the rights of state and local governments to set educational policy. As Voinovich said, "the federal government is not a school board."

==Political Views==

==Political Views==