Bob Taft

Robert Alphonso "Bob" Taft II ( born January 8, 1942 in Boston, Massachusetts) is an American politician ( Republican). He was from January 1999 to January 2007 the Governor of the State of Ohio.

Life

Bob Taft comes from a prominent political family. His great-grandfather William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States. His grandfather, Robert A. Taft and his father Robert Taft Jr. were both U.S. Senators. He is also distantly related to former U.S. President George W. Bush and his Vice President Dick Cheney. Taft attended Princeton University and then studied at the College of Law of the University of Cincinnati law. After that, he was commissioned by the Peace Corps volunteer teacher in East Africa.

Political rise

According to the family tradition, Bob Taft took the profession of politician. Between 1976 and 1981 he sat as an MP in the House of Representatives from Ohio. Between 1981 and 1990 he was employed by the Hamilton County as County Commissioner. In 1986 he applied unsuccessfully for the office of lieutenant governor. Between 1991 and 1999 he was Secretary of State of Ohio. Taft was elected in 1998 with 50 % of the vote against his Democratic opponent Lee Fisher for Governor of Ohio. His re-election for a second and final term as governor, he reached in 2002, with 58 % to Democrat Tim Hagan, who received 38%.

Governor of Ohio

Between 1 January 1999 and 8 January 2007 was Bob Taft Governor of Ohio. His goal was the creation of new well-paid jobs. Also, the school system should be improved. Under Taft, the death penalty was reinstated in Ohio. In the wake of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Ohio was affected by the economic recession. Among them were also suffering the plans Taft. In addition, some of the allegations against the governor came for incentives in the office in favor of lobbyists. On 17 August 2005 he was sentenced to a fine of $ 4,000 plus court costs, for four violations. According to the state constitution that judgment should have led to his ouster. Since, however, was waived, he could end his term of office regularly.

According to TIME magazine was Taft one of the three worst governors of the United States. In December 2005, his approval rating fell to 17% in the population, whereas 80 % rejected it. 27 December 2006, Taft was reprimanded by the Supreme Court of Ohio, because he had received gifts worth $ 6000 not registered. This complaint was attached to his file with the Bar Association. Since August 2007 Taffeta works for the University of Dayton. He is married and has one child.

Pictures of Bob Taft

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