Oakar, Mary Rose (1940—)

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Oakar, Mary Rose (1940—)

Eight-term Democratic U.S. congressional representative from Ohio. Born on March 5, 1940, in Cleveland, Ohio; daughter of Joseph Oakar and Margaret Oakar; attended Catholic schools in Cleveland; graduated from Lourdes Academy (1958); Ursuline College, Cleveland, B.A. (1962); John Carroll University, Cleveland, M.A. (1966); graduate studies at Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, London, England (1964), Westham Adult College in Warwickshire, England (1968), and Columbia University, New York City (1963).

Born on March 5, 1940, in Cleveland, Ohio, Mary Rose Oakar attended Catholic schools and graduated from Lourdes Academy in 1958. She obtained a bachelor's degree from Ursuline College in 1962 and earned a master's at John Carroll University in 1966. She also studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, at Westham Adult College, also in England, and at Columbia University in New York City. In her late teens, she worked as a sales clerk. From 1963 to 1975, Oakar taught English, drama and speech at a high school and a community college, both in Cleveland. From 1973 to 1976, she was a member of the Cleveland City Council. Politically active, she served as Democratic State Central committeewoman from 1973 to 1975 and as an alternate delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1976.

In 1976, Oakar won the Democratic primary for an open House seat in Ohio's 20th Congressional District, defeating 11 other candidates, and went on to win the general election to the 95th and 7 succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1977–January 3, 1993). In Congress, she worked her way up the ladder to the position of vice chair of the Democratic Caucus in the 99th and 100th Congresses. She also chaired the Subcommittee on Personnel and Police and the Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization of the Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs, and worked on the Committee on Post Office and Civil Ser vice and the Select Committee on Aging. These positions afforded Oakar the opportunity to pursue issues such as the economic redevelopment of older industrial areas, equal and comparable pay for working women, and benefits for congressional employees.

Oakar was unsuccessful in her reelection bid to the 103rd Congress in 1992 because of her association with the House banking scandal. For her role in this, she pleaded guilty to an election law misdemeanor and was fined $32,000. Oakar returned to Cleveland, where she has since resided, and is president and CEO of a public relations and consulting firm, Mary Rose Oakar and Associates, Inc.

In 1999, Oakar announced plans to return to public life and reportedly was considering a run for the Ohio General Assembly's 13th district, which includes Oakar's traditional political base as well as several other areas. That same year, Oakar was recognized for her lifelong commitment to public service and efforts to increase voter participation with the Spirit of Democracy Award, presented by Ohio's secretary of state. In addition, she has served on the advisory board for the White House Conference on Aging and on the board of "Builders for Peace," an organization dedicated to bringing about peace in the Middle East.