Jean Spencer Ashbrook
Served in the U.S. House for 7 months from 1982 - 1983
Born: 1934 in Cincinnati, Ohio
Education: B.S., The Ohio State University, 1956
Prior Experience: Worked on husband's campaigns
Age When First Elected to the U.S. House: 47
Length of Service: 7 months
How She Entered the U.S. House: Ran in special election in 1982 after the death of her husband
How She Exited the U.S. House: Did not to run again after her district was eliminated in redistricting
Party: Republican
Background
While
the
press
called
her
a
"politician
by
accident,"
prior
to
her
own
successful
House
race,
Jean
Spencer
Ashbrook
was
actively
involved
in
her
husband's
congressional
campaigns.
John
Ashbrook
served
in
the
U.S.
House
for
11
terms
and
stepped
down
to
run
for
U.S.
Senate
in
1982.
He
died
unexpectedly
in
April
while
campaigning.
Jean
explained,
"The
Governor
called
and
asked
if
I
would
put
my
name
on
the
ballot"
to
complete
the
remainder
of
her
husband's
House
term.
"Immediately
I
said,
'Yes.'"
(Roberts).
"We
were
a
team
…
I
campaigned
for
eight
years
in
the
17th
District
…
I
[thought]
I
could
do
a
good
job"
("Ashbrook").
In the special election held in June, with just under 25,000 total votes cast, Ashbrook won 74% of the vote, defeating Democrat Jack Koelbl, a businessman and lawyer ("Widow of Congressman").
During her short time in the House, she established herself as a staunch conservative. She co-sponsored The Enterprise Zone Tax Act of 1982, which would have provided tax incentives to businesses that located in low-income neighborhoods.
Ohio's 17th District
When she was elected in June of 1982, Jean Ashbrook would be the last person to represent Ohio's 17th district (shown here), which was a relatively large rural district that covered 7 counties in central Ohio. Ohio lost 2 House seats in the 1982 round of redistricting, and the 17th district was eliminated (map from The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts, 1789 - 1983).
Election History
| Year | Democratic Opponent | Ashbrook's % of 2-Party Vote |
| 1982 (special) | Jack Koelbl | 74% |
District Map
Ohio's 17th District in 1982
Sources and Resources:
"Ashbrook, Jean Spencer." Women in Congress, U. S. House of Representatives Office of the Clerk, http://history.house.gov/People/Detail/8568?ret=True
"Representative
Jean
Ashbrook,"
Congress.gov,
https://www.congress.gov/member/jean-ashbrook/A000220?q={%22search%22:[%22jean+ashbrook%22]}&r=1
Roberts, Steven. 1982. "New Members Reflect Diversity of the House," New York Times, September 6th, http://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/06/us/new-members-reflect-diversity-of-the-house.html
"Widow
of
Congressman
To
Complete
His
Term."
1982.
New
York
Times,
June
30th,
http://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/30/us/around-the-nation-widow-of-congressman-to-complete-his-term.html