Biography:

Jerry Costello was born in East St. Louis, Ill., and resides in Belleville, Ill. He received an associate's degree from Belleville Area College in 1971, and a bachelor's degree in political science from Maryville College in 1973.

He was chief investigator for the St. Clair County state's attorney office, 1971-74, and was director of court services and probation for the five-county 20th Judicial Circuit, 1974-80.

Costello was elected to a two-year term as St. Clair County Board chairman in 1980 and was re-elected to four-year terms in 1982 and 1986.

Costello won a seat in the U.S. House in an August 1988 special election to fill a vacancy left by the death of Democratic Rep. Melvin Price. He won a full term in November 1988 and is serving his 9th consecutive term.

Costello and his wife, Georgia, have three grown children.

Past Campaigns:

Jerry Costello won a seat in the U.S. House in an August 1988 special election to fill a vacancy left by the death of Democratic Rep. Melvin Price. He defeated Republican Robert H. Gaffner with 51 percent of the vote. Costello then went on to win a full term in November 1988 against Gaffner with 53 percent of the vote and has been re-elected ever since.

In 1990, he defeated Gaffner again with 66 percent of the vote. He won re-election in 1992 with 71 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Mike Starr.

He was re-elected in 1994 with 66 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Jan Morris. In 1996, he was re-elected with 72 percent of the vote, defeating Republican Shapley Hunter.

Costello was re-elected in 1998, defeating Republican Bill Price with 60 percent of the vote. Price, the son of Costello's predecessor, had switched parties. In 2000, Costello was re-elected in an uncontested race.

He was re-elected in 2002 with 69 percent of the vote against Republican David Sadler.

Costello was elected in 1980 to a two-year term as St. Clair County Board chairman, and won re-election, to four-year terms, in 1982 and 1986.

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