Ron Klein | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromFlorida's22nd district | |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Clay Shaw |
| Succeeded by | Allen West |
| Minority Leader of theFlorida Senate | |
| In office November 2002 – November 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Tom Rossin |
| Succeeded by | Les Miller |
| Member of theFlorida Senate | |
| In office November 5, 1996 – November 7, 2006 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Wexler |
| Succeeded by | Ted Deutch |
| Constituency | 28th district (1996–2002) 30th district (2002–2007) |
| Member of theFlorida House of Representatives from the89th district | |
| In office November 3, 1992 – November 5, 1996 | |
| Preceded by | Benjamin Graber |
| Succeeded by | Barry Silver |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ronald Jason Klein (1957-07-10)July 10, 1957 (age 68) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Dori Dragin |
| Education | Ohio State University (BA) Case Western Reserve University (JD) |
Ronald Jason Klein (/ˈklaɪn/KLYNE; born July 10, 1957) is an American politician and lawyer who is a former member of theUnited States House of Representatives forFlorida's 22nd congressional district. He is a member of theDemocratic Party and chairs theJewish Democratic Council of America.[1] He previously served in theFlorida House of Representatives and theFlorida Senate. He is currently employed by thelaw firmHolland & Knight.[2]
Klein was born inCleveland, Ohio. He graduated fromCleveland Heights High School in 1975, and attendedOhio State University, graduating with aBachelor of Artsdegree inpolitical science in 1979. While at Ohio State, Klein became a member of theAlpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. Klein also spent time during college as anintern at theOhio General Assembly. Klein attendedCase Western Reserve University School of Law and graduated with aJ.D. degree in 1982.
In 1992, Klein defeated ten-year incumbentSteve Press in the Democratic primary to win a seat in theFlorida House of Representatives.[3] Klein was elected to theFlorida Senate in 1996, and served as minority whip in 1998 and asminority leader in 2002–2004.[4]
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On September 29, 2008, Klein voted for theEmergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008[5] During the 111th Congress, he voted for theAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, and both healthcare bills,Affordable Health Care for America Act which was the House bill andPatient Protection and Affordable Care Act which was the Senate bill. He also voted for the reconciliation bill and Dodd-Frank.
Klein ran for a seat in theU.S. House of Representatives in Florida's 22nd congressional district against 13-term Republican incumbentClay Shaw. Although Shaw won re-election easily in the2004 election (his opponent dropped out before the election),John Kerry carried the district by a margin on 50-48 percent overGeorge W. Bush in 2004.
On Election Day 2006, Klein defeated Shaw by a margin of 51%-48% and assumed office when the110th Congress convened on January 4, 2007. Klein was aided by voter discontent over the war in Iraq and the scandal involving Republican CongressmanMark Foley in the neighboring district.
On December 18, 2007, the magazinePolitico named Ron Klein as its "Rookie of the Year", citing his willingness to cross party lines and his ability to get major legislation passed.[6]
In 2008, Klein won his race against Republican nomineeAllen West with 54.7% of the vote.
Klein voted with a majority of his Democratic colleagues 97.9% of the time during the 111th Congress.[7] The nonpartisanNational Journal rated him as 58.3 percent liberal and 41.7 conservative based on his voting record.[8]
Klein lost his reelection bid to Republican nomineeAllen West in a rematch of the 2008 race.
After leaving Congress, Klein was hired bylaw firmHolland & Knight.[2]
"Certainly having been a participant or part of one of the busiest congresses in decades, where large pieces of legislation have passed and will be evolving for many, many years to come, this moment becomes a unique time to take [to the private sector] the experiences of having served on the Financial Services Committee or having been involved in passing health care," he said. "It sort of allows me to be in a unique place to understand that." . . .
The wave of new rule-making "appears to create a lot of work and opportunity for businesses that want to make sure that they have a strategic business advantage in the future, that they're planning for the future and that they can help shape those laws and legislation as they develop."
According toPolitico, "Klein's background as a corporate lawyer and former state and federal lawmaker means he'll be selling his ability to provide legal, political, policy and business advice to prospective clients.[9]
Ron married Dori Dragin in 1982 and they moved toBoca Raton, Florida, in 1985. They have two children.
| Florida Senate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minority Leader of theFlorida Senate 2002–2004 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromFlorida's 22nd congressional district 2007–2011 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former U.S. Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former U.S. Representative | Succeeded byas Former U.S. Representative |
| International | |
|---|---|
| People | |
| Other | |
