Zack Space

Former U.S. Representative (January 2007-2011)

(Congress Bio Directory)

Why He Matters

Labeled the "accidental congressman" by Republicans for succeeding scandal-tarred ex-Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) in 2006, this former public defender and consumer-rights attorney met his match in Ohio's 18th district in 2010, losing to Bob Gibbs (R).

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Background

At a Glance

Career History: Dover law director (2000-2006); Hotel developer (1995-2004); Attorney (1986-2006); Public Defender (1986-1987)
Birthday: Jan. 27, 1961
Hometown: Dover, Ohio
Alma Mater: Kenyon College, B.A., 1983; Ohio State University, J.D., 1986
Spouse: Mary

Religion: Greek Orthodox
Committees: House Energy and Commerce (subcommittees on Health; Communications, Technology, and the Internet; and Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection)
DC Office: 315 Cannon House Office Building, Washington DC, 20515, 202.225.6265.
District Offices: Dover, 330/364-4300; Zanesville, 740/452-6338; Chillicote, 740/779-1636
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Path to Power

Born in 1961 in Dover, Ohio, Space was named after his Greek grandfather Zacharias who earned his U.S. citizenship because of his service during World War I.

Space attended Kenyon College where he studied political science and played football. In 1982, he was named the school's athlete of the year. In 1986, he earned his law degree from the Ohio State University.

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That year, Space and his father started Space & Space Company, a law practice that focused on consumer rights. He also worked as a public defender and hotel developer.

In 2000 Space was appointed the law director for the city of Dover and elected to the position in 2001 and 2003.

2006 House Race

In 2006, Democrats had a chance to unseat then-Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) in Ohio's conservative 18th district with federal investigators drawing links between the incumbent and disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

National Democratic leaders threw their support behind recruited Chillicothe Mayor Joe Sulzer (D). Space was one of three Democrats who chose to challenge Sulzer for the nomination.

Space won the primary with 39 percent of the vote. With a funding disadvantage compared to Sulzer, Space attributed his win to his grassroots network.

With the investigation and eventually charges dogging Ney, the incumbent announced in August 2006 that he would drop out of the November general election, a move Republicans said would ensure the district remained in their hands.

Republicans set up a special primary election the following month. The day after state Sen. Joy Padgett (R) was nominated for the seat, Ney agreed to plead guilty to federal corruption charges.

Space campaigned by linking Padgett to Ney, a connection that hurt the Republican in polling. Additionally, Ney remained in office weeks after pleading guilty and four days before the general election, flouting GOP leadership wishes. By that time, the party had also dropped campaign funding for Padgett. Space won with 62 percent of the vote.

Republicans were quick to call Space's victory a fluke and a hangover from the Ney scandal. Months into Space's 1st term, Republicans began their campaign against him.

In 2008, Space chose not to attend the Democratic National Convention ahead of his reelection battle against cattle rancher Fred Dailey (R). Dailey complained about a lack of party help, and Space won the by 20 points even as Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) took the district with 53 percent of the vote in the presidential race.

Space sits on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

The Issues

A Blue Dog Democrat, Space has been an independent-minded voter. During the 110th Congress, he voted with his party 92.6 percent of the time.

Space's stance on the Iraq war has gradually changed since taking office. In February 2007, Space voted for a non-binding resolution opposing a surge in troops to Iraq. In May 2007, two months after voting to set a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, Space voted to kill a resolution that would have withdrawn most troops within a year.

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Space was the sponsor of a 2008 bill that sought to cut the cost of penny production. The original version of the bill included a provision that would legalize penny melting at the request of a business in Space's district. Though the bill passed the House without the penny-melting provision, it did not reach a Senate vote.

Space has supported expanded federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research, saying such research was the "only meaningful hope for a cure" for his youngest son, Nicholas, who was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at age 6.

The Economy

In 2008, Space launched his "Renew Ohio 18" project to expand economic opportunities centered on broadband, agriculture, health care and energy in his Appalachian district.

In 2007, Space that he opposed reforming subsidies in the farm bill. "I'm not in the reform camp," he said. "I'm with the farmers back home who are generally satisfied with the commodity program we have now."

The 2008 farm bill, which Space supported, included two Space-sponsored provisions. One made interstate meat shipments easier. The other opened up Agriculture Department loans to broadband Internet providers intended to open up online access in rural areas.

Space, whose district is heavy on coal mines, backed the cap-and-trade bill aimed at reducing carbon emissions, which passed the House in June 2009. Space approved the bill in an Energy and Commerce Committee vote, saying the bill would provide a boost to clean-coal technology.

Space voted for both versions of the fall 2008 $700-billion financial bailout, saying that after consultations with economists, bankers and pension managers that he "found credence in their claim that we are teetering on the edge of another depression."

Ethics

After defeating Ney, Space was enlisted in his first term to help push ethics reform. During the first week of the 110th Congress, then-Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) held a Capitol Hill news conference with Space at his side. "I am eager for the opportunity to help try to restore some of the faith that the people of my district have lost in the legislative process as a result of having been hit over the head with that scandal time and time again for the last year," Space said.

Space took the lead in corraling freshman lawmakers on the issue. But in March 2008, he was unable to insert language into a House resolution that created an independent ethics panel.

Health-Care Reform

As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Health subcommittee, Space was one of several Blue Dogs to sign a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in July 2009 urging her to slow down the debate over health-care reform.

Space voted for the House Democrats' measure that passed in November 2009. Space voted for an amendment to the bill written by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) that would bar reform measures from covering any abortion procedures.

Space credited himself with inserting measures in the bill that would protect rural hospitals by allowing healthcare providers to negotiate reimbursement rates with the public option, as it does with private insurers.

In February 2010, Space said he found the Senate's version of the bill passed the previous year unacceptable.

He ultimately voted against the March 2010 House passage of the Senate bill that became law. "Probably the most significant concern is the pay-fors in the bill," said Space. "They are opening the door to taxing employee benefits as income, which is going to create, I don't care how you slice it, a hardship for middle class families that they can't afford to endure right now."

The Network

As a member of the House Blue Dogs and House Energy and Commerce Committee, Space works closely with lawmakers who share similar roles, such as Reps. Mike Ross (D-Ark.), Parker Griffith (R-Ala.) and Marion Berry (D-Ark.).

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