View source for George Voinovich

{{short description|American politician (1936–2016)}}
{{distinguish|George Vujnovich}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name         = George Voinovich
|image        = George Voinovich, official photo portrait, 2006.jpg
| caption     = Official portrait, 2006
|office1      = Chair of the [[United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics|Senate Ethics Committee]]
|term_start1  = January 3, 2003
|term_end1    = January 3, 2007
|predecessor1 = [[Harry Reid]]
|successor1   = [[Barbara Boxer]]
|jr/sr        = United States Senator
|state        = [[Ohio]]
|term_start   = January 3, 1999
|term_end     = January 3, 2011
|predecessor  = [[John Glenn]]
|successor    = [[Rob Portman]]
|office2      = Chair of the [[National Governors Association]]
|term_start2  = July 30, 1997
|term_end2    = August 4, 1998
|predecessor2 = [[Bob Miller (Nevada politician)|Bob Miller]]
|successor2   = [[Tom Carper]]
|order3       = 65th [[List of governors of Ohio|Governor of Ohio]]
|lieutenant3  = [[Mike DeWine]]<br>Nancy Hollister
|term_start3  = January 14, 1991
|term_end3    = December 31, 1998
|predecessor3 = [[Dick Celeste]]
|successor3   = [[Nancy Hollister]]
|office4      = 54th [[Mayor of Cleveland]]
|term_start4  = January 1, 1980
|term_end4    = December 31, 1989
|predecessor4 = [[Dennis Kucinich]]
|successor4   = [[Michael R. White (politician)|Michael White]]
|office5      =  59th [[President of the National League of Cities]]
|term5        = 1985
|predecessor5 = [[George Latimer (Minnesota politician)|George Latimer]]
|successor5   = [[Henry Cisneros]]
|office6      = 56th [[Lieutenant Governor of Ohio]]
|governor6    = [[Jim Rhodes]]
|term_start6  = January 8, 1979
|term_end6    = November 1979
|predecessor6 = [[Dick Celeste]]
|successor6   = [[Myrl Shoemaker]]
|state_house7 = Ohio
|district7    = 53rd
|term_start7  = January 3, 1967
|term_end7    = December 15, 1971
|predecessor7 = ''District established''
|successor7   = [[Edward Ryder]]
|birth_name   = George Victor Voinovich
|birth_date   = {{birth date|1936|7|15}}
|birth_place  = [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]], U.S.
|death_date   = {{death date and age|2016|6|12|1936|7|15}}
|death_place  = Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
|party        = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|spouse       = {{marriage|Janet Allan|1962}}
|children     = 4
|education    = [[Ohio University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[Ohio State University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
<!-- RELIGION REMOVED PER PROJECT-WIDE CONSENSUS AT THE VILLAGE PUMP. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Village_pump_(policy)/Archive_126#RfC:_Religion_in_biographical_infoboxes -->
|module       = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Opening Statement of Sen. George Voinovich at the Confirmation Hearing of Tom Ridge to be Secretary of Homeland Security.ogg|title=Voinovich's voice|type=speech|description=Voinovich on issues with establishing a [[United States Department of Homeland Security|cabinet department for homeland security]]<br/>Recorded January 17, 2003}}
}}
'''George Victor Voinovich''' (July 15, 1936{{Snd}}June 12, 2016) was an American politician who served as a [[United States Senator from Ohio|United States senator from Ohio]] from 1999 to 2011. He previously served as the 65th [[governor of Ohio]] from 1991 to 1998 and as the 54th [[mayor of Cleveland]] from 1980 to 1989; he is the last [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] to serve in that office.

Voinovich spent more than 46 years in public service—first as assistant attorney general of Ohio in 1963 and finally as the senior U.S. senator representing Ohio. He is the 15th person to have served as both the governor of Ohio and a U.S. senator and one of only two Cleveland mayors to later become governor of Ohio and a U.S. senator; the other was [[Frank Lausche]]. He is also the only person to have served as both chairman of the [[National Governors Association]] and president of the [[National League of Cities]].

==Early life==
Voinovich was born in [[Cleveland]], the son of Josephine (Bernot) and George S. Voinovich.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://birth-records.mooseroots.com/l/5387064/Voinovich|title=Voinovich (b. 1936)|access-date=June 12, 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160105192142/http://birth-records.mooseroots.com/l/5387064/Voinovich|archive-date=January 5, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://collinwoodalumni.com/Josephine_Voinovich.html|title=Josephine Voinovich|access-date=June 12, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185354/http://collinwoodalumni.com/Josephine_Voinovich.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> He was the oldest of six children.<ref name="ABC"/> His father was of [[Serbs|Serbian]] descent<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/06/george_voinovich.html |title=George Voinovich, former Cleveland mayor, Ohio governor and U.S. senator, dies |publisher=cleveland.com |date=June 12, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRo5up-gEhA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/oRo5up-gEhA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Senator George Voinovich speaks to the Cleveland Serbian community|website=[[YouTube]]|date=January 15, 2009 |access-date= January 15, 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref> (from [[Kordun]], Croatia), and his mother was of [[Slovenes|Slovenian]] ancestry.<ref name="ABC"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theslovenian.com/articles/klemencic4.htm|title=the Slovenian|access-date=June 12, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Cincinnati">{{cite news|url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/12/george-voinovich-79-ohio-political-titan/85787102/|title=George Voinovich, 79, Ohio political titan|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|last=Shesgreen|date=June 12, 2016|first=Deirdre|access-date=June 13, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Washington">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/former-gop-senator-and-ohio-gov-george-voinovich-dies/2016/06/12/a78601dc-30a4-11e6-ab9d-1da2b0f24f93_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612151421/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/former-gop-senator-and-ohio-gov-george-voinovich-dies/2016/06/12/a78601dc-30a4-11e6-ab9d-1da2b0f24f93_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 12, 2016|title=Former GOP senator and Ohio Gov. George Voinovich dies|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=June 12, 2016|first=Julie|access-date=June 13, 2016|last=Carr Smyth}}</ref>

Voinovich grew up in the [[Collinwood]] [[Neighborhoods in Cleveland|neighborhood]] of Cleveland and graduated from [[Collinwood High School (Cleveland, OH)|Collinwood High School]] in 1954. He was raised Catholic and was a lifelong member of his neighborhood parish, Our Lady of the Lake in Euclid (formerly Holy Cross).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://collinwoodobserver.com/read/2012/10/05/mollys-levy|title=Molly's Levy{{Snd}} The Collinwood Observer|access-date=June 12, 2016|archive-date=March 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307020300/http://collinwoodobserver.com/read/2012/10/05/mollys-levy|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://euclidobserver.com/read/2014/02/07/senator-voinovich-inspires-students|title=Senator Voinovich Inspires Students|newspaper=Euclid Observer|access-date=June 12, 2016|archive-date=April 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404110244/http://euclidobserver.com/read/2014/02/07/senator-voinovich-inspires-students|url-status=dead}}</ref> He earned a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in [[government]] in 1958 from [[Ohio University]], where he was a member of the fraternity [[Phi Kappa Tau]] and served as president of the student body and the men's dormitory system. Voinovich received a [[Juris Doctor]] from the [[Ohio State University Moritz College of Law|Moritz College of Law]] at the [[Ohio State University]] in 1961.<ref name="Cincinnati"/>

==Early career==
Voinovich began his political career in 1963 as an Assistant Attorney General of Ohio. He then served as a member of the [[Ohio House of Representatives]] from 1967 until 1971. From 1971 until 1976, he served as County Auditor of [[Cuyahoga County, Ohio]]. [[1971 Cleveland mayoral election|In 1971]], he made an unsuccessful run for the Republican nomination for mayor of Cleveland against [[Ralph Perk]], who went on to win the general election. From 1977 to 1978, Voinovich served as a member of the Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners. In 1978, he was elected [[Lieutenant Governor of Ohio|lieutenant governor of Ohio]] as the running mate of [[Jim Rhodes|James A. Rhodes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/all-rise/2011/09/former-mayor-governor-senator-voinovich-61-reflects/|title=Former Mayor, Governor, Senator Voinovich '61 Reflects|work=[[Ohio State University Press]]|access-date=June 21, 2016|publisher=[[Ohio State University]]|first=Monica|last=Demeglio|archive-date=September 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917002603/http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/all-rise/2011/09/former-mayor-governor-senator-voinovich-61-reflects/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Voinovich was the first Ohio lieutenant governor not to be elected separately from the governor.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2016/06/15/Lucky-Voinovich-The-Ohio-politician-made-a-virtue-of-the-practical/stories/201606150057|title=Lucky Voinovich: The Ohio politician made a virtue of the practical|work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]|date=June 15, 2016|access-date=June 21, 2016|author=Editorial Board}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/State/2002/02/24/Lt-governor-is-what-governor-makes-it.html|title=Lt. governor is what governor makes it|work=[[The Blade (Toledo, Ohio)|Toledo Blade]]|first=Jim|date=February 24, 2002|access-date=June 21, 2016|last=Provance}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2013/04/undefined_role_for_ohios_lieut.html|title=Undefined role for Ohio's lieutenant governor often leads to double duty|work=[[The Plain Dealer|Cleveland.com]]|first=Michael|date=April 22, 2013|publisher=[[Advance Publications]]|access-date=June 21, 2016|last=O'Malley}}</ref>

==Mayor of Cleveland (1980–1989)==

===1979 Cleveland mayoral election===
{{main|1979 Cleveland mayoral election}}
By 1979, elections in Cleveland had become [[Non-partisan democracy|nonpartisan]], and with then-Mayor [[Dennis Kucinich|Dennis J. Kucinich]] (D) about to enter a tough reelection campaign, Voinovich began to consider running for mayor again. Finally, on July 26, he entered the race, calling the decision "one of the most difficult in [his] life". He remained lieutenant governor until he won the election.<ref>{{Ohio History Central|1786|George V. Voinovich|accessdate=April 19, 2012}}</ref>
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Voinovich-campaign.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A 1979 Voinovich campaign poster for mayor of Cleveland.]] -->

Aside from Kucinich, Voinovich's opponents in the race included State Senator [[Charles L. Butts|Charles Butts]] and city council majority leader [[Basil Russo]]. As the election drew closer, ''[[The Plain Dealer]]'' endorsed Voinovich. Voter turnout in the primary was greater than that of the 1977 race among Perk, Kucinich and [[Ed Feighan|Edward F. Feighan]]. In the 1979 nonpartisan primary election, Voinovich received 47,000 votes to Kucinich's 36,000. Russo (who got 21,000) and Butts (with 19,000) did not qualify for the general election. The biggest surprise was Voinovich's showing in predominantly [[African American]] wards, where he was expected to finish last. He trailed only Butts, with Kucinich last.<ref name="Primary 1979">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1979/08/26/archives/mayor-kucinich-himself-is-issue-in-upcoming-cleveland-primary-and.html|title=Mayor Kucinich Himself Is Issue In Upcoming Cleveland Primary|work=[[The New York Times]] |first=Edward |last=Schumaker |date=August 26, 1979 |access-date=June 12, 2016}}</ref>

On October 8, 1979, a few days after the primary, Voinovich's nine-year-old daughter Molly was struck by a van and killed. The event brought the Voinovich campaign to a virtual halt and made it difficult for Kucinich to attack his opponent. Still, he challenged Voinovich to a series of debates in various Cleveland neighborhoods. Voinovich declined the invitations, saying the debates would be unproductive, but they did debate on November 3 at the [[City Club of Cleveland|City Club]]. Voinovich won the election with 94,541 votes to Kucinich's 73,755.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teachingcleveland.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=667:cleveland-in-the-1970s-mike-roberts&catid=217:cleveland-in-the-1970s-mike-roberts&Itemid=67|title=Cleveland in the 1970s|publisher=Teaching Cleveland  |first=Mke |last=Roberts |access-date=June 12, 2016}}</ref>

Voinovich was reelected twice in landslides. [[1981 Cleveland mayoral election|In 1981]] he defeated former State Representative [[Patrick Sweeney (politician)|Patrick Sweeney]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/11/03/Miamis-mayor-was-forced-into-a-runoff-Tuesday-and/6628373611600/ |title=Miami's mayor was forced into a runoff Tuesday and... |publisher=[[United Press International]]|date=November 3, 1981 |first=D'Vera|last=Cohn |access-date=June 12, 2016}}</ref> 107,472 to 32,940, to win Cleveland's first four-year mayoral term. [[1985 Cleveland mayoral election|In 1985]] he defeated former councilman Gary Kucinich (Dennis Kucinich's brother), 82,840 to 32,185.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teachingcleveland.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=889:they-also-ran-the-women-who-would-be-mayor-1961-to-1997-by-marian-morton |publisher=Teaching Cleveland |title=They Also Ran: The Women Who Would Be Mayor, 1961 to 1997|first= Marian|last=Morton|access-date=June 12, 2016}}</ref>
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Voinovich-chart.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Voinovich highlights Cleveland's misspent bond funds at a November 1980 press conference.]] -->

==="The Comeback City"===
Voinovich was considered shy<ref name="TimePlum">{{cite magazine|url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/printout/0,8816,949179,00.html|title=Nothing Rotten about the Big Plum|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=June 15, 1981|access-date=June 7, 2018}}</ref> and a rather low-key politician, a description he adopted himself. Once elected, he met with Ohio Governor [[Jim Rhodes|James Rhodes]] to solicit the state government's help in clearing up the city's debts. Voinovich negotiated a debt repayment schedule and in October 1980, with the state serving as guarantor, eight local banks lent Cleveland $36.2 million, allowing the city to emerge from default. Still, the city's economy continued to decline, and federal funding was cut. Two weeks earlier, voters turned down another 0.5 percent income tax increase. The opposition was led by Kucinich, who had been keeping a low profile since losing the election. Voinovich said he would resubmit the tax issue on the February ballot to avoid facing a deficit in 1981. That time the voters approved the tax increase.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

By the time Voinovich was elected, Cleveland had become the butt of late night comedians' jokes about the [[Cuyahoga River]] and Mayor [[Ralph Perk]]'s hair catching fire (in separate incidents)<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-apr-25-me-30988-story.html Ralph J. Perk; Former Cleveland Mayor] ''Los Angeles Times'', April 25, 1999. Retrieved July 25, 2010.</ref> and as the only major American city to go bankrupt.<ref name="StarLedge">Jordan, George E. [http://blog.nj.com/ledgernewark/2007/06/two_cities_offer_a_blueprint_i.html Two cities offer a blueprint in image-building] ''The Star-Ledger'' (Newark, N.J.), July 20, 1997. Retrieved July 25, 2010.</ref>

Voinovich took an aggressive approach. He reversed a defensive attitude projected by the Cleveland media, going to "war ... to save one of this country's greatest cities".<ref name="TimePlum" /> Others soon jumped on board. For instance, The Smythe-Cramer Co., a local realty firm, tried to restore the city's former glory by running a series of ads with photographs of [[downtown Cleveland]] captioned "Take Another Look. It's Cleveland!" In May 1981, ''The Plain Dealer'' sent its Sunday subscribers bumper stickers reading, "New York's the Big Apple, but Cleveland's a Plum." The paper also passed out thousands of "Cleveland's a Plum" buttons and ran a huge picture of publisher Thomas Vail, with a smiling Voinovich beside him, throwing out the first plum at a [[New York Yankees|Yankees]]-[[Cleveland Indians|Indians]] game.<ref name="TimePlum" /> Sportscaster [[Howard Cosell]] hailed the city during a baseball game, and Voinovich subsequently presented him with a key to the city. A survey showed 65 percent of the residents of Greater Cleveland were very satisfied with their life in the city and that 57 percent claimed to be very satisfied even in 1978, the year of default. A national poll found [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]] to be the city with the worst image, with [[New York City]] second and Cleveland fifth.{{Citation needed|date=July 2007}}

The New Cleveland Campaign, a promotion agency formed in 1978, began sending out news releases promoting Cleveland's virtues and circulating reprints whenever it got a favorable story. But to show how much the "new" Cleveland had improved, it had to highlight how bad the old Cleveland was. In particular, it stressed the city's 1978 default of $15.5 million short-term loans from local banks,<ref name="OHHist">{{Ohio History Central|1646|Cleveland, Ohio's Default|accessdate=July 24, 2010}}</ref> even though New York City owed nearly 150 times as much when it received a $2.3 billion federal bailout to avoid bankruptcy in 1975.<ref>Zeitz, Joshua [http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/web/20051126-new-york-city-gerald-ford-labor-unions-municipal-assistance-corporation-emergency-financial-control-board.shtml New York City on the Brink] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729062003/http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/web/20051126-new-york-city-gerald-ford-labor-unions-municipal-assistance-corporation-emergency-financial-control-board.shtml |date=July 29, 2010 }} American Heritage magazine, November 26, 2005. Retrieved July 24, 2010.</ref>

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Voinovich-mayor.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Voinovich, as Mayor of Cleveland, speaking at the [[May Company Ohio|May Company]] ribbon cutting ceremony in 1981.]] -->
The restoration campaign reached its peak in October in the society magazine ''[[Town & Country (magazine)|Town and Country]]''<nowiki/>'s article "Cleveland's Come-Around", which said that "businessmen, lawyers and concerned citizens" had rescued the city from "the petulant, pugnacious Dennis Kucinich". It called Voinovich's Operation Improvement Task Force under E. Mandell de Windt "the most significant undertaking in Cleveland since [[Moses Cleaveland]] stepped ashore on the bank of the [[Cuyahoga River]] in 1786". It also enticed its readers with [[Lake Erie]] and its "beautiful and exciting year-round sailing".{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

So confident was Voinovich that during election season he even attracted presidential candidates [[Jimmy Carter]] and [[Ronald Reagan]] to debate in Cleveland. "Cleveland is making a comeback," ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' declared at the close of 1980. "During the past year, convention business has flourished, school desegregation has proceeded peacefully, and a modest construction boom has begun.... Most impressive of all, the city dug itself out of default."<ref name="fatter city">{{cite magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091120131133/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,922260,00.html|archive-date=November 20, 2009|title=Fatter city|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,922260,00.html|magazine=Time|date=December 29, 1980|volume=116|url-status=dead|issue=26}}</ref>

===Downtown development and other improvements===
In order to allow them to accomplish more, Voinovich felt that the terms for mayor and members of the [[Cleveland City Council]] ought to be extended. He offered a [[referendum]] to voters to extend them from two to four years and also asked voters to approve cutting the number of council members from 33 to 21 to help ease the city's strained economy. Both proposals passed.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

During the Voinovich years neighborhoods began to see some improvement, starting with the Lexington Village housing project, $149 million in Urban Development Action Grants, and $3 billion of construction underway or completed. In particular, the neighborhoods of [[Hough, Cleveland|Hough]] and [[Fairfax, Cleveland|Fairfax]], then two of Cleveland's worst east side neighborhoods, began to see new houses built and less criminal activity. Voinovich also quietly moved to reconcile the warring groups of the 1970s. He made peace with business leaders and posed with them in photographs that ran in New Cleveland Campaign ads in business magazines, captioned with the Voinovich slogan "Together, we can do it." He refined the neighborhood groups, which, with the breakdown of the Democratic Party, had become the most potent political forces in the city. He also extended his hand to [[trade union|unions]], in particular the [[International Brotherhood of Teamsters|Teamsters]].{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

As mayor, Voinovich was a member of the [[National League of Cities]], of which he was elected president in 1985. Voinovich also oversaw an urban renaissance downtown. [[Sohio]] (purchased by [[BP|BP America]] in 1987), [[Ohio Bell]], and [[Eaton Corporation]] all built new offices downtown (most notably the [[BP Building]]). Brothers [[Richard Jacobs (businessman)|Richard and David Jacobs]] rescued the troubled [[Cleveland Indians]]. The two also improved the desolate area located by the [[Erieview Tower]] and turned it into the glass-roofed [[The Galleria at Erieview|Galleria at Erieview]]. Voinovich also enticed [[Key Bank|Society Bank]] to build the [[Key Tower|Society Center]], the largest [[skyscraper]] in Cleveland and the 15th largest in the nation (since renamed Key Tower). In addition, the [[National Civic League]] awarded Cleveland the [[All-America City Award]] three times in five years (1982, 1984, 1986), in addition to its first, won in 1950.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

===Municipal Light===
One of the major controversies of the previous Kucinich administration was its cancellation of the sale of Cleveland Municipal Light (now [[Cleveland Public Power]]). Kucinich's insistence on saving it from being absorbed into the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company (CEI) led the business community to force Cleveland into default. Voinovich's successful negotiations reversed this action when he first took office, but Voinovich's pro-business attitude did not change CEI's position on the issue, as they persisted in making efforts to buy out Muni Light and pressuring Voinovich into giving them the right to do so. Voinovich resisted. Early in his tenure, he arranged for capital improvements to strengthen Muni Light's operation, and by 1982, it was able to compete with CEI. He asserted that the company was making attempts to cripple Muni Light by lobbying council against much-needed legislation. "We still have a battle going on," Voinovich said. "They [CEI] are as dedicated as ever to laying away the Municipal Light system."{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

The rebuilding process began through Voinovich's administration and improvements were made throughout the company including equipment upgrades and increased wages for all employees. To reflect all the change Municipal Light officially changed its name to Cleveland Public Power (CPP) in 1983. In 1984, the company received the American Municipal Power Association's Scattergood Award for outstanding system operation and achievement.<ref>{{cite web|title=CPP History|url=http://www.cpp.org/history.html|access-date=April 20, 2012|archive-date=April 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418044429/http://www.cpp.org/history.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===1988 Senate race===
{{main article|1988 United States Senate election in Ohio}}
In 1988, Voinovich ran for the Senate seat of [[Howard Metzenbaum]], in a hard-fought and negative campaign. Voinovich accused Metzenbaum of being soft on child pornography, charges that were roundly criticized by many,<ref name="Koff">{{cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2016/06/george_voinovich.html|title=George Voinovich, former Cleveland mayor, Ohio governor and U.S. senator, dies|work=[[The Plain Dealer]] |first=Stephen|last=Koff|date=June 12, 2016|access-date=June 12, 2016}}</ref> including [[John Glenn]] who recorded a statement for television refuting Voinovich's charges. Metzenbaum won the election, 57% to 43%,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/10/us/the-elections-midwest-ohio-bush.html|title=The Elections: Midwest; Ohio{{Snd}} Bush|work=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 10, 1988 |access-date=June 12, 2016}}</ref> even as George H. W. Bush carried the state by 11 percentage points.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/datacentral/index.ssf/2016/06/1988_ohio_presidential_electio.html|title=1988 Ohio presidential election results; George H.W. Bush defeats Michael Dukakis|work=[[The Plain Dealer]] |first=Rich|last=Exner|date=June 11, 2016|access-date=June 12, 2016}}</ref>

==Governor of Ohio (1991-1998)==
[[File:George Voinovich.jpg|thumb|150px|Voinovich as Governor]]

In [[1990 Ohio gubernatorial election|1990]], Voinovich was nominated by the Republicans to replace Governor [[Dick Celeste|Richard F. Celeste]], a Democrat who was barred from running for a third consecutive term. Voinovich defeated the Democratic nominee, [[Anthony J. Celebrezze Jr.]]<ref name="Lamis 2007">{{cite book|last=Lamis|first=Alexandaer|title=Ohio Politics|year=2007|publisher=Kent State University Press|location=Kent|isbn=978-0-87338-613-5}}</ref>

===First term===
During his first four years, he pulled Ohio out of a $1.5 billion deficit and led efforts to reform welfare and eliminate unfunded mandates. In 1991, Voinovich served as the Chairman of the [[Midwestern Governors Association]]. Voinovich was reelected in [[1994 Ohio gubernatorial election|1994]], defeating Democrat [[Rob Burch (politician)|Robert L. Burch Jr.]] with 72% of the vote, the largest share of the vote of any governor up for election that year and the largest margin of victory for any Ohio governor in the 20th century. During his second term, Voinovich appointed [[Nancy Hollister]], the state's first female lieutenant governor, and [[Mayor of Cincinnati|Cincinnati mayor]] [[Kenneth Blackwell]], the state treasurer who became the first African-American to hold state office in Ohio.<ref name="Lamis 2007"/>

Voinovich's tenure as governor saw Ohio's unemployment rate fall to a 25-year low. The state created more than 500,000 new jobs, the [[Medicaid]] growth rate was cut by more than two-thirds, and enrollment in welfare was cut in half.<ref name="Lamis 2007"/> Under Voinovich, Ohio was ranked No. 1 in the nation by ''[[Site Selection Magazine]]'' for new and expanding business facilities.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

===Second term===
In 1995, Voinovich was named Public Official of the Year by the ''National Journal''. He is credited with leading efforts to create a public voucher plan that used public funds to pay tuition at church-affiliated schools. After significant litigation over the program, the [[Supreme Court of the United States|US Supreme Court]] ruled in a 5–4 decision that the program did not violate the constitutional prohibition against promoting religion in public schools. By the end of his second term, Ohio led the nation in percentage of eligible children participating in the [[Head Start Program]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Lamis|first=Alexander|title=Ohio Politics|year=2007|publisher=Kent State University Press|location=Kent|isbn=978-0-87338-613-5}}</ref>

When the state legislature wanted to close [[Central State University]], Ohio's only historically black state-supported college, Voinovich stepped in by appointing a new board and convincing John Garland to become president.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

As both mayor and governor, Voinovich helped to advertise Cleveland as the true birthplace of [[rock and roll]]. Beginning in 1985 Voinovich, the City of Cleveland and the State of Ohio began lobbying for the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame|Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum]] to be built in Cleveland. It eventually opened in 1995. As a nod to his efforts, the Hall's main atrium was renamed the George V. Voinovich Atrium.<ref>{{cite web|title=History and Overview: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame|url=http://rockhall.com/visit-the-museum/learn/history-and-overview/|access-date=May 1, 2012|archive-date=May 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509164834/http://rockhall.com/visit-the-museum/learn/history-and-overview/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Beyond the governor's office===
In 1996, Voinovich was the first governor to endorse U.S. Senator [[Bob Dole|Robert J. Dole]]'s bid for the Republican presidential nomination.<ref name="NYT1">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/02/us/dole-adds-name-and-subtracts-1-from-his-list-of-running-mates.html|title=Dole Adds Name and Subtracts 1 From His List of Running Mates|work=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 2, 1996|access-date=July 23, 2010}}</ref> Later, Voinovich was among nine candidates asked to submit to background checks as potential vice-presidential running mates for Dole.<ref>{{cite news |last=Harden |first=Blaine |url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-790576.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911172613/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-790576.html |archive-date=September 11, 2016 |title=Ohio Governor Withdraws From Running-Mate List |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date= August 2, 1996|access-date=July 23, 2010 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> Voinovich withdrew his name from consideration, reiterating his desire to run for the U.S. Senate in 1998.<ref name="NYT1" />

In 1998, barred by term limits from running for a third term as governor, Voinovich ran for the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] seat being vacated by longtime incumbent Democrat [[John Glenn]]. He won the election over Democratic nominee [[Mary O. Boyle]]. Voinovich was briefly succeeded by [[Nancy Hollister]] upon his resignation as governor and before he entered the Senate. Hollister was succeeded by the newly elected [[Bob Taft]] in January 1999. It was the first time a Republican governor in Ohio had been succeeded by another Republican governor since 1904.{{sfn|Gottlieb|2006|page=10}}<ref name="Lamis 2007"/>

==U.S. Senate (1999-2011)==

=== Overview ===
[[File:Voinovich.jpg|thumb|right|Voinovich introducing George W. Bush at an Ohio campaign rally, 2004]]
In the Senate, Voinovich opposed lowering tax rates. He frequently joined Democrats on tax issues and in 2000 was the only Republican in Congress to vote against a bill providing for relief from the "[[marriage penalty]]".{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

In November 2004, in his bid for reelection, Voinovich defeated the Democratic nominee, Ohio state senator and former [[U.S. House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] [[Eric D. Fingerhut]]. With 64% of the vote, Voinovich won all 88 Ohio counties and the most votes ever in a U.S. Senate race in Ohio, 3.5 million.<ref>{{cite news|last=Torry|first=JAck|title=Mr. Ohio George V. Voinovich's dedication to faith, family and state set the foundation for his unprecedented 43-year run in public office, including as a mayor, governor and senator|url=http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2010/12/12/mr--ohio.html|newspaper=The Columbus Dispatch|date=December 12, 2010|access-date=May 1, 2012|archive-date=January 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101212131/http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2010/12/12/mr--ohio.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Voinovich gained national attention when he gave a speech tearfully opposing President George W. Bush's nomination of [[John R. Bolton]] for U.S. Ambassador to the [[United Nations]] at Bolton's hearing in front of the [[U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations|Senate Foreign Relations Committee]]. Voinovich remarked, "I don't feel comfortable voting today on Mr. John Bolton." As a result, the committee recessed without a vote, stalling the nomination.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/19/politics/19cnd-bolton.html?hp&ex=1113969600&en=f8772edeba476df8&ei=5094&partner=homepage|title=Senate Panel Postpones Vote on U.N. Nominee|first=David|last=Stout|work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 19, 2005|access-date=March 24, 2007}}</ref> Democrats refused to invoke cloture and end debate on the nomination; the first time, Voinovich voted to end debate, but the second time he joined Democrats in voting to extend debate and urged Bush to choose another nominee.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

[[File:George Voinovich official portrait.jpg|thumb|right|An earlier photo of Voinovich]]

In January 2007, Voinovich expressed concern to Secretary of State [[Condoleezza Rice]] that Bush's plan to increase troop levels in [[Iraq]] would not be effective: "At this stage of the game, I don't think it's going to happen." As a moderate Republican, Voinovich was viewed as one of few who could potentially influence Bush. Five months later, Voinovich wrote Bush a five-page letter requesting that the U.S. begin pulling troops from Iraq and that the Iraqis start taking care of their own territory, calling for a "comprehensive plan for our country's gradual military disengagement from Iraq".<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/06/26/ap3859346.html Another GOP Senator Urges Pullout]{{dead link|date=January 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, Anne Flaherty Associated Press June 26, 2007</ref><ref>[https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-wardebate27jun27,1,1065021.story?coll=la-headlines-nation 2 GOP senators break with Bush on Iraq], Norm N. Levey ''Los Angeles Times'' June 27, 2007</ref>

On April 7, 2008, Voinovich departed from the Republican platform and stated at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing regarding the war in Iraq: "We've kind of bankrupted this country" through war spending. "We're in a recession ... and God knows how long it's going to last."<ref>{{cite news|last=Milligan|first=Susan|title=Biden treads lightly at Iraq hearing|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/04/biden_treads_li.html |newspaper=The Boston Globe|date=April 8, 2008 |access-date=November 12, 2011}}</ref>

When [[Michigan]] became the eighth state to accede to the [[Great Lakes Compact]] on July 9, 2008, Voinovich was one of the leading legislators in supporting the [[interstate compact]]'s passage in Congress.<ref>''[[All Things Considered]]'' ([[Michigan Radio]] edition). [[National Public Radio]]. [[Michigan Radio|WUOM]], [[Ann Arbor, Michigan|Ann Arbor]]-[[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]], July 9, 2008.</ref>

On January 20, 2009, Voinovich was appointed to the [[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Appropriations Committee]].<ref name="ceVGPCA">
{{Cite news|last=Rulon|first=Malia|date=January 21, 2009|title=Voinovich gets plum committee assignment|newspaper=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|url=http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090121/NEWS01/901220310|access-date=January 21, 2009}}</ref> His appointment marked the first time an Ohioan served on the coveted Senate committee since Mike DeWine lost his 2006 reelection bid.<ref name="ceVGPCA" /> In accepting the appointment, Voinovich relinquished his seat on the Foreign Relations Committee.<ref name="ceVGPCA" />

On July 22, 2009, Voinovich opposed a measure that would have allowed people to cross state lines with concealed weapons.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

From June 25, 2007 to January 3, 2009, Voinovich sat at what is traditionally known as the Senate's "[[candy desk]]".<ref>{{cite news |last=Romano |first=Lois |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QOYeAAAAIBAJ&pg=6671,780222&dq=john+mccain+candy+desk&hl=en |title=One sweet role |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=August 12, 2007 |access-date=November 12, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=April 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Voinovich voted in favor of the [[Matthew Shepard Act]].{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

On December 18, 2010, Voinovich voted in favor of the [[Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/18/dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal_5_n_798636.html |title=Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Passes Senate 65-31 |work=The Huffington Post |date=December 18, 2010 |first=Elise |last=Foley |access-date=November 12, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Camia |first=Catalina |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2010/12/senate-votes-repeal-gays-in-military-/1#.WYPBPYSGPZ5 |title=Senate passes 'don't ask' repeal, sends it to Obama |agency=USA Today |date=December 19, 2010 |access-date=August 3, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Keyes|first=Bob|url=http://www.kjonline.com/Snowe-Collins-support-repeal-of-Dont-Ask-Dont-Tell.html|title=Snowe, Collins join majority in repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'|publisher=[[MaineToday Media]]|work=[[Kennebec Journal]]|date=December 18, 2010|access-date=November 12, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807151708/http://www.kjonline.com/Snowe-Collins-support-repeal-of-Dont-Ask-Dont-Tell.html|archive-date=August 7, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Toeplitz |first=Shira |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/12/8-gopers-back-dont-ask-repeal-046578 |title=Eight Republicans back 'don't ask' repeal |newspaper=Politico |date=December 18, 2010 |access-date=November 12, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00281|title=On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2965 )|publisher=U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home|date=December 18, 2010|access-date=November 12, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/111/senate/2/281?ref=politics| work=[[The New York Times]]| title=Senate Vote 281{{Snd}} Repeals 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'| access-date=June 12, 2016| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027055830/http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/111/senate/2/281?ref=politics| archive-date=October 27, 2015| df=mdy-all}}</ref>

===Fiscal responsibility===
As the Senate's leading debt hawk, Voinovich introduced the Securing America's Future Economy (SAFE) Commission Act in every Congress in which he served. The measure proposed the establishment of a national commission to examine the nation's tax and entitlement systems and present long-term solutions to place the United States on a fiscally sustainable course and ensure the solvency of entitlement programs for future generations. In January 2010, Voinovich met with [[President Obama]] to discuss the urgency of the nation's fiscal crisis. Four days later, Obama publicly endorsed the Conrad-Gregg statutory debt commission, which was modeled after Voinovich's SAFE Commission. In his 2010 State of the Union address Obama announced that he would create the debt commission by executive order because it had failed to pass the Senate.<ref name="US Senator George V. Voinovich">{{cite book|title=US Senator George V. Voinovich|year=2010|publisher=Office of US Senator George Voinovich|location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref>

===National security===
Called "the Senate's leading [[Balkan]] expert"<ref name="Koff"/> and a "leader in the fight against anti-Semitism and hate crime against all groups," Voinovich was a key voice on the Foreign Relations Committee about the [[OSCE]] and the relationship between the United States and countries in [[Eastern Europe]] in particular.<ref name="US Senator George V. Voinovich"/>

He played a leadership role in strengthening and enlarging the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO) and was the only member of Congress in the room at the 2002 NATO summit in Prague, where membership was formally extended to Latvia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. Voinovich was an active participant in the annual Brussels Forum from its inception in 2007, and served as chairman of the U.S. congressional delegation to the conference in 2010.<ref name="US Senator George V. Voinovich"/>

===Israel===

As senator and a prominent member of its Foreign Relations Committee, Voinovich consistently supported measures to strengthen Israel. In addition, Voinovich devoted himself to combating [[anti-Semitism]], especially through involvement in the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe]] and its [[Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights|Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights]].<ref>{{cite book|title=US Senator George V Voinovich|year=2010|publisher=The Office of Senator George V Voinovich|location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref>

===American competitiveness===
Voinovich authored the National Infrastructure Improvement Act, which established a commission to provide concrete recommendations for current and future infrastructure needs.<ref name="US Senator George V. Voinovich"/> He was the main sponsor of five-year reauthorizations of the [[Appalachian Regional Commission]] (ARC) in 2002 and 2008, which fostered economic development in the 13 Appalachian states and in Ohio's 29 [[Appalachian counties]].<ref name="US Senator George V. Voinovich" />

===Improving government===
The ''Herald Star'' wrote that Voinovich "considers the impact of his votes...choosing carefully without regard for what the political impact might be on him personally". Government Executive wrote, "no matter what anyone thinks of George Voinovich or Daniel Akaka's politics in general, no one can deny that they know their federal employee issues cold."<ref name="US Senator George V. Voinovich"/>

===Energy independence===
Voinovich long championed the need for a "Second Declaration of Independence", referring to the nation's energy situation. He supported clean air legislation ("Voinovich has idea on clearing the air", ''[[The Dayton Daily News]]'', April 30, 2002) and argued for nuclear-energy development because it "provides a dependable, continuous stream of electricity, supports thousands of jobs, and does not emit any greenhouse gases" ("Depoliticizing decisions", ''[[The Columbus Dispatch]]'', June 12, 2010). He served as Chairman and ranking member of the EPW Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee, introducing legislation that helped to pave the way for applications for new nuclear power plants in the U.S.<ref name="US Senator George V. Voinovich"/>

===Great Lakes===
Voinovich sponsored legislation aimed to protect the Great Lakes from foreign species and preserve "our ultimate jewels, the five Great Lakes". He lobbied his colleagues in the Senate as well as Great Lakes governors and administration officials to take real action. Working with Senator [[Carl Levin]], he introduced legislation to ratify the Great Lakes Compact, a bipartisan agreement among the Great Lakes states to protect the Great Lakes through better water management, conservation, and public involvement.<ref name="US Senator George V. Voinovich"/>

===2010 campaign===
In a press conference in January 2009, Voinovich announced he would not be seeking a third term, saying, "I must devote my full time, energy and focus to the job I was elected to do, the job in front of me, which seeking a third term — with the money-raising and campaigning that it would require — would not allow me to do." Voinovich also said that after 44 years in public office it was time for him to relax and spend time with his wife Janet and his family. Pundits felt he would have won had he decided to run against the Democratic nominee [[Lee Fisher]].{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

Upon Voinovich's announcement, ''The Plain Dealer'' wrote, "After decades in an arena that has sullied so many, Voinovich's personal integrity remains unquestioned. He has never been afraid to work across the aisle, and has never forgotten that tax money comes from the wallets of hard-working people."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blog.cleveland.com/pdopinion/2009/01/sen_george_voinovich_plans_to.html|title=Senator George Voinovich plans to bid politics farewell, integrity intact|date=January 13, 2009|newspaper=The Plain Dealer}}</ref>

===Committee assignments===
* '''[[Senate Select Committee on Ethics]]''' (Chairman)
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Appropriations|Committee on Appropriations]]'''
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development|Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security|Subcommittee on Homeland Security]] (Ranking Member)
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs|Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs]]
** [[United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies|Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies]]
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations]]'''
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works|Committee on Environment and Public Works]]'''
** [[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety|Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety]] (Chairman & Ranking Member)
** [[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy|Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy]]
** [[United States Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure|Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure]] (Ranking Member)
* '''[[United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs|Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs]]'''
** [[United States Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information and International Security|Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information and International Security]]
** [[United States Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia|Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia]] (Chairman & Ranking Member)
** [[United States Senate Homeland Security Ad Hoc Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration|Ad Hoc Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration]]

==Later years==
After retiring in January 2011, Voinovich was named a Senior Fellow at [[Cleveland State University]] at the [[Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs]], and Ohio Visiting Professor of Leadership and Public Affairs at the [[George V. Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs]] at Ohio University. In 1998, Ohio University renamed the Institute of Local Government and Rural Development the Voinovich Center for Leadership and Public Affairs, and in 2007 the [[Ohio Board of Regents]] voted to rename the center a school. Since being honored in 1998, Voinovich remained committed to the success of the school.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Voinovich School|url=http://www.ohio.edu/voinovichschool/}}</ref>

On June 10, 2016, two days before his death, Voinovich delivered public remarks at the 25th Slovenian Independence Day event at Cleveland City Hall. He was to be a delegate to the July [[2016 Republican National Convention]] in Cleveland.<ref name="Cincinnati"/><ref name="Washington"/>

===Honors===
[[File:Dollar Bank Jamboree at Voinovich Park.jpg|right|thumb|175px|Voinovich Bicentennial Park in Cleveland's [[North Coast Harbor]] district (shown during a 2009 concert)]]
Voinovich has been honored several times in his hometown of Cleveland by having prominent landmarks named after him, including Voinovich Bicentennial Park in the city's [[North Coast Harbor]] district and the [[George V. Voinovich Bridges]] spanning downtown.

[[File:Farm_bureau_memorial_tree_and_spountain_plaques_at_Voinovich_Livestock_Center.jpg|thumb|left|Plaques at the Voinovich Livestock Center noting the Farm Bureau Memorial Tree and the "Spountain" sculpture.]]
The Voinovich Livestock Center at the Ohio Expo Center and [[Ohio State Fair|State Fair]] in Columbus is named in honor of Voinovich. The lawn in front of the center is the site of "Spountain", a sculpture by Barry Gunderson.<ref>{{cite web|title=Spountain|url=http://oosi.sculpturecenter.org/items/show/909|website=Ohio Outdoor Sculpture Inventory|publisher=The Sculpture Center|access-date=August 3, 2017|archive-date=August 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803212548/http://oosi.sculpturecenter.org/items/show/909|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is also the site of the Farm Bureau Memorial tree, which was planted in soil from all 88 Ohio counties in 1976 during the Ohio Farm Bureau Bicentennial.

==Personal life and death==
Voinovich married his wife, Janet ([[née]] Allan),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_ohio/col2-content/main-content-list/title_voinovich_george.default.html|title=George V. Voinovich|work=[[National Governors Association]]|access-date=June 12, 2016}}</ref> in 1962. They had four children, George, Betsy, Peter, and Molly, and nine grandchildren. Molly, their youngest child, was killed at age 9 after being struck by a van as she walked home from school.<ref>{{cite news |title=Van Kills Daughter of Mayoral Candidate |agency=UPI |date=October 9, 1979 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-2lfAAAAIBAJ&pg=5561,1490162&dq=molly%20voinovich&hl=en |newspaper=The Bonham Daily Favorite |location=Bonham, Texas |page=3 |access-date=June 12, 2016}}</ref>

In June 2003, doctors implanted a [[pacemaker]] into Voinovich's heart because his heart rate had slowed down due to progressive [[sinus bradycardia]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cleveland19.com/story/1327063/voinovich-has-successful-pacemaker-implant/ |title=Voinovich has successful pacemaker implant |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=June 18, 2003 |website=Cleveland19 News |agency=Associated Press |access-date=November 29, 2020}}</ref>

Voinovich died at his home in Cleveland on June 12, 2016, at the age of 79.<ref name="ABC">{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/gop-senator-ohio-gov-george-voinovich-dies-39792349|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160612161451/https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/gop-senator-ohio-gov-george-voinovich-dies-39792349|title=Former GOP Senator and Ohio Gov. George Voinovich Dies|agency = [[Associated Press]]|work = [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=June 12, 2016 |first=Julie |last=Carr Smyth |access-date=June 12, 2016|archive-date = June 12, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Washington"/>

==Electoral history==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ [[Mayor of Cleveland]]: 1979–1985<br/>[[List of United States Senators from Ohio|U.S. Senate elections in Ohio]]: 1988, 1998–2004<ref name="clerkresults">{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Election Statistics |publisher=Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives |access-date=January 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226190314/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |archive-date=December 26, 2007 |df=mdy }}</ref><br />[[List of Governors of Ohio|Governor of Ohio]]: 1990–1994<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/ElectionsVoter/Results1990s.aspx |title=Official Results 1990–1999 |publisher=Ohio Secretary of State |access-date=January 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080109044613/http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/ElectionsVoter/Results1990s.aspx |archive-date=January 9, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
!|Year
!|Office
!|Democrat
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|Republican
!|Votes
!|Pct
!
!|3rd Party
!|Party
!|Votes
!|Pct
|-
|1979
|Mayor
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Dennis J. Kucinich]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |73,505

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |44%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''George Voinovich'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |94,407

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |56%
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|1981
|Mayor
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Patrick Sweeney (politician)|Patrick Sweeney]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |32,940
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |23%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''George Voinovich'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |107,472
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |77%
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|1985
|Mayor
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |[[Gary J. Kucinich]]
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |32,185

|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |28%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |'''George Voinovich'''
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |82,840

|{{Party shading/Republican}} |72%
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[United States Senate election in Ohio, 1988|1988]]
|U.S. Senate
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |'''{{nowrap|[[Howard Metzenbaum]]}}'''
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |2,480,038
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |57%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |George Voinovich
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |1,872,716
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |43%
| 
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[Ohio gubernatorial election, 1990|1990]]
|Governor
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|[[Anthony J. Celebrezze Jr.]]}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |1,539,416
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |44%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|'''George Voinovich'''}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |1,938,103
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |56%
| 
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[Ohio gubernatorial election, 1994|1994]]
|Governor
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|[[Robert L. Burch]]}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |835,849
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |25%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|'''George Voinovich'''}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |2,401,572
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |72%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} | Billy Inmon
|{{Party shading/Independent}} | [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |108,745
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |3%
|-
|[[United States Senate election in Ohio, 1998|1998]]
|U.S. Senate
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|[[Mary O. Boyle|Mary Boyle]]}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |1,482,054
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |44%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|'''George Voinovich'''}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |1,922,087
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |56%
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|[[United States Senate election in Ohio, 2004|2004]]
|U.S. Senate
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |{{nowrap|[[Eric D. Fingerhut]]}}
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} align="right" |1,961,249
|{{Party shading/Democratic}} |36%
|
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |{{nowrap|'''George Voinovich'''}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="right" |3,464,651
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |64%
|
|
|
|
|
|}
{{refbegin}}<nowiki>*</nowiki>Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 1988, write-ins received 151 votes. In 1990, David Marshall received 82 votes and James E. Attia received 49 votes. In 1994, Keith Hatton received 48 votes and Michael Italie received 24 votes. In 1998, write-ins received 210 votes. In 2004, Helen Meyers received 296 votes.
{{refend}}

==See also==
* [[Ohio gubernatorial elections]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

===Sources===
* {{cite book|title=The Encyclopedia Of Cleveland History–2nd edition|publisher=[[Indiana University Press]]|location=[[Bloomington, Indiana]]|first=David D|last=Van Tassel|editor=John J. Grabowski|isbn=978-0253330567|year=1996}}
* {{cite book|title=Cleveland: A Concise History, 1796–1996–2nd edition|first1=Carol Poh|last1=Miller|first2=Robert Anthony|last2=Wheeler|isbn=978-0253211477|publisher=[[Indiana University Press]]|location=[[Bloomington, Indiana]]|year=2009}}
* {{cite book|title=The Crisis of Growth Politics: Cleveland, Kucinich, and the Challenge of Urban Populism|first=Todd|last=Swanstrom|isbn=978-0877225621|publisher=[[Temple University Press]]|location=[[Philadelphia]]|year=1988}}
* {{cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Making-History-Mayoral-Retrospective/dp/B0048WO02K?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0|title=Seven Making History: A Mayoral Retrospective|author=The League of Women Voters of Cleveland|asin=B0048WO02K|publisher=[[Western Reserve Historical Society]]|year=1990|location=[[Cleveland]]}}
* ''25 Years of Cleveland Mayors: Who Really Governs?'' by Roldo Bartimole
* ''The Cleveland Press'', September 21, 1979. ''Mayor Accuses Rival On Funding'' by Walt Bogdanich.
* ''The Cleveland Press'', November 3, 1979. ''City Club Debate: Candidates Go At It'' by Brent Larkin.
* ''The Cleveland Press'', November 7, 1979. ''Mayor-Elect Voinovich Moves To End Default'' by Brent Larkin.
* ''The Cleveland Press'', November 7, 1979. ''The Winner: Voinovich Is Subdued Victor'' by Fred McGunagle.
* ''The Plain Dealer'', August 7, 1999. ''Our Century: Muny Survives, But Kucinich Is Out of Power'' by Fred McGunagle.
* ''The Plain Dealer'', August 14, 1999. ''Our Century: Cleveland Climbs Out Of Default'' by Fred McGunagle.
* ''The Plain Dealer'', August 22, 1999. ''Our Century: Beleaguered Cleveland Prunes Its Image{{spaced ndash}}'Plum' Campaign To Rescue City From the Nation's Punch Lines'' by Fred McGunagle.
* ''The Plain Dealer'', September 5, 1999. ''Our Century: A Welcome Breather At City Hall While Voinovich Keeps Peace and Mends Fences, Kucinich Begins His Comeback, And Forbes Consolidates Power On City Council'' by Fred McGunagle.
* ''The Plain Dealer'', March 9, 2006. ''Ethics Panel Chief Voinovich Opposes Key Lobbying Reform'' by Sabrina Eaton.
* ''The Plain Dealer'', March 17, 2006. ''Great Lakes Need Help, Voinovich Says'' by Sabrina Eaton.
* {{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BqCCN24oE-8C&q=Voinovich+went+on+to+be+re-elected+twice+by+landslides.&pg=RA1-PA10|page=10|first=Martin|last=Gottlieb|publisher=[[iUniverse]]|year=2006|location=[[Bloomington, Indiana]]|isbn=978-0595381708|title=CAMPAIGNS DON'T COUNT: How the Media Get American Politics All Wrong }}

==External links==
{{Commons and category}}
{{CongLinks | congbio = v000126 | votesmart = 21745 | fec = S8OH00011 }}
* {{C-SPAN|1783}}
* {{Ohio History Central|1786|George V. Voinovich|date=July 1, 2005}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070209003659/http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=George_Voinovich Profile] at [[SourceWatch]]
* [https://archivesspace.ohio.edu/repositories/2/resources/776 Senator George V. Voinovich Papers] at Ohio University
* [https://archivesspace.ohio.edu/repositories/2/resources/283 The George V. Voinovich Gubernatorial Collection] at Ohio University
{{Navboxes
| title = Offices and distinctions
| list1 =
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Dick Celeste]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Lieutenant Governor of Ohio]]|years=1979}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Myrl Shoemaker]]}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Dennis Kucinich]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Mayor of Cleveland]]|years=1980–1989}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Michael R. White (politician)|Michael White]]}}

{{s-bef|before=Dick Celeste}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Governors of Ohio|Governor of Ohio]]|years=1991–1998}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Nancy Hollister]]}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Bob Miller (Nevada governor)|Bob Miller]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[National Governors Association]]|years=1997–1998}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Tom Carper]]}}

{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[John William Brown]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[Lieutenant Governor of Ohio]]|years=1978}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jim Betts (politician)|Jim Betts]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Paul Pfeifer]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[List of United States Senators from Ohio|U.S. Senator]] from [[Ohio]]<br />([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 1]])|years=[[1988 United States Senate election in Ohio|1988]]}}
{{s-aft|after=Mike DeWine}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Jim Rhodes]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[List of Governors of Ohio|Governor of Ohio]]|years=[[1990 Ohio gubernatorial election|1990]], [[1994 Ohio gubernatorial election|1994]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Bob Taft]]}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Tommy Thompson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[Republican Governors Association]]|years=1992–1993}}
{{s-aft|after=[[John R. McKernan Jr.|Jock McKernan]]}}

{{s-bef|before=Mike DeWine}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[List of United States Senators from Ohio|U.S. Senator]] from [[Ohio]]<br />([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 3]])|years=[[1998 United States Senate election in Ohio|1998]], [[2004 United States Senate election in Ohio|2004]]}}
{{s-aft|after=Rob Portman}}

{{s-par|us-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=[[John Glenn]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of United States Senators from Ohio|U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Ohio]]|years=1999–2011|alongside=[[Mike DeWine]], [[Sherrod Brown]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Rob Portman]]}}

{{s-bef|before=[[Harry Reid]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[United States Senate Select Committee on Ethics|Senate Ethics Committee]]|years=2003–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Barbara Boxer]]}}
{{s-end}}
}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Articles and topics
|list1 =
{{Governors of Ohio}}
{{Mayors of Cleveland}}
{{USSenOH}}
{{National Governors Association chairs}}
{{National League of Cities presidents}}
{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 106th–111th [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[United States congressional delegations from Ohio|Ohio]]}}
{{USCongRep/OH/106}}
{{USCongRep/OH/107}}
{{USCongRep/OH/108}}
{{USCongRep/OH/109}}
{{USCongRep/OH/110}}
{{USCongRep/OH/111}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{Authority control}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Voinovich, George}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century mayors of places in Ohio]]
[[Category:American Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:American people of Serbian descent]]
[[Category:American people of Slovenian descent]]
[[Category:County auditors in the United States]]
[[Category:County commissioners in Ohio]]
[[Category:County officials in Ohio]]
[[Category:Republican Party governors of Ohio]]
[[Category:Lieutenant governors of Ohio]]
[[Category:Mayors of Cleveland]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the Ohio House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Ohio State University Moritz College of Law alumni]]
[[Category:Ohio University alumni]]
[[Category:Ohio lawyers]]
[[Category:People from Greater Columbus, Ohio]]
[[Category:Republican Party United States senators from Ohio]]
[[Category:Slovene-American culture in Cleveland]]
[[Category:21st-century United States senators]]
[[Category:20th-century United States senators]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Ohio General Assembly]]
[[Category:Presidents of the National League of Cities]]