Rich Iott
Rich Iott | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1951 (age 72–73) Columbus, Ohio |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Education | Sylvania High School, 1969 |
| Occupation | Retired Businessman |
| Employer(s) | Former President and CEO Food Town Supermarkets |
| Political party | Republican |
| Opponent | Marcy Kaptur |
| Spouse | Chris Iott |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | voteiott |
Rich Iott (born 1951) is an Ohio businessman and politician and is the Republican Party candidate in the 2010 election for the U. S. House of Representatives for Ohio's 9th congressional district. His Democratic Party opponent is longtime incumbent Marcy Kaptur. Iott has been associated with the Tea Party movement.[1]
Biography
He is the adopted son of grocer Wally Iott and Jeanette Iott of Toledo, Ohio.[2] He attended parochial grade school and graduated from Sylvania High School in 1969.[2] He worked in the family grocery business which grew to be the Food Town chain.[2] Ultimately, Iott became the President then the CEO of Food Town. The business was sold to Spartan Stores in 2000.[2]
He wanted to enlist in the military during the Vietnam War era, but was refused due to a heart murmur.[3] For the past 28 years, however, Iott has served in the Ohio Military Reserve, (a civil support group that provides logistics and resource support during disasters or threats to homeland security), and is now a colonel and the Deputy Commander.[4][3] Iott has been on numerous community boards over the years and created his own foundation for the benefit of parochial schools.[2]
Iott received national media attention in October 2010 when his former membership in a group that dresses up as Nazi SS officers was disclosed. The group reenacts the wartime experiences of an historical Nazi division, the 5th SS Panzer Division Wiking.[1] In response to criticism, Iott has said he is a military history enthusiast and never intended disrespect towards anyone through his reenactments.[5] His campaign spokesman said Iott has also done reenactments of Civil War and World War I battles and that his interest in Nazis does not mean he has an affinity for them.[3] The spokesman also said Iott had not engaged in any reenactments for about five years.[3]
Select political positions
A summary of the political positions on Iott's campaign website:
- Iott will vote to repeal the 2010 health care reform legislation because he believes it is unconstitutional, a job killer, and will lead to rationing. He will vote for tort reform and will vote to make it possible for people to buy insurance across state lines.[6]
- He opposes the cap and trade energy bill and is in favor of a marketplace driven solutions to energy- associated problems.[6]
- Iott believes the government bailouts were unconstitutional, a waste of taxpayer money, and a violation of free market principles.[6]
- He has pledged never to ask for earmarks when elected to Congress[6]
- He will work to fix Social Security but does not believe in privatizing it, increasing the retirement or raising taxes. Iott says he will also protect recipients' benefits.
- Iotta says he will use his 30 years of experience in creating jobs and successful businesses when he goes to Washington.[6]
- He believes in sealing the borders and deporting all illegal immigrants who come to the attention of law enforcement.[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b Joshua Green (2010-09-09). "Why is This GOP House Candidate Dressed as a Nazi?". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b c d e "About Rich Iott".
- ^ a b c d Mark Zaborney and Tom Troy (2010-10-09). "Iott's Nazi re-enactments gain national attention". The Toledo Blade. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
- ^ "Ohio Military Reserve Home Page".
- ^ "Congressional Candidate Under Fire for Nazi Re-Enactment Past". FoxNews.com. 2010-04-07. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
- ^ a b c d e f "Issues, Rich Iott for Congress".