James John Parker
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James John "Jim" Parker (born December 21, 1967) is a healthcare administrator who ran for the United States Congress in the Second District of the state of Ohio in (map) in the special primary held June 14, 2005. Parker sought the Democratic nomination in 2006 to challenge Congresswoman Jean Schmidt in the same district. Without spending hardly any money, Parker almost pulled off an upset victory in the Ohio 2nd District Democratic primary by knocking on the doors of thousands of people throughout the Southern Ohio, seven county Congressional District. Jim Parker believes that Ted Strickland is the greatest Governor Ohio has ever known. Parker, who has spent his career in healthcare, has been referred to throughout Southern Ohio as a Healthcare Candidate for the American Middle Class. Some people have referred to Jim Parker as the hardest working candidate in Southern Ohio history. He plans to knock on the doors of 30,000 (thirty thousand) people before the next time he runs for Congress.
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[edit] Background
A resident of Waverly, in Pike County, Jim Parker completed his Bachelor of Business Administration in 1989, as well as both his Master of Health Administration and a Master of Business Administration in 1991. He completed his second Master's Degree when he was 23 years old and was the youngest member of his graduating class.
He and his wife were married in 1994. They have three children, Eric (born 1988), Shana (born 1995), Alec (born 1997).
Parker worked for the Alzheimer's Association in 1991 and Meyersdale Community Hospital in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, in 1992. The next year he began work with Appalachian Regional Healthcare, a 4,000-employee hospital system in southeastern Kentucky. In 1995, he became the Assistant Administrator of Whitesburg Appalachian Regional Hospital in Whitesburg, Kentucky. The hospital in Whitesburg was a unionized hospital and during his entire time with the health system, not one grievance was ever filed against Jim Parker, despite his numerous management positions. In 1998, he became the Assistant Administrator of Pike Community Hospital in Waverly, Ohio. In 2004, he joined the Adena Health System in Chillicothe, Ohio, where he was the Director of Finance and Support Services for the Physician Services Division, a group of approximately 100 physicians. In the fall of 2007, Jim Parker became the Director of MSO Services with the health system. The Physician Services Division of the health system works with more than 100 physicians every single day. Jim Parker works in an organization which employes more than 2,200 people.
Jim Parker is Board Certified in Healthcare Management and is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), a Member of the Medical Group Management Association, a Member of the American College of Medical Practice Executives, a Certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE), and a Member of the Greater Ohio Healthcare Leadership Forum.
[edit] 2005 Congressional run
Parker was one of six candidates in the special primary held on June 14, 2005, seeking to replace Rob Portman, who resigned from Congress on April 29, 2005.
In response to the Dayton Daily News asking why Ohioans should vote for him, Parker said "I believe in the American Dream. This campaign is about Family, Medicare, Social Security and the American Dream. I've been the Assistant Administrator of two Hospitals for 10 years and have worked in healthcare for nearly 20 years. My healthcare leadership experience has prepared me to solve the problems that challenge the survival of Medicare and Social Security. These programs are important to millions of people and we need to have members of the United States Congress who are qualified to protect those prgrams."
Parker finished fourth and did not file a campaign finance report with the Federal Elections Commission, something that is not required of candidates who spend less than $5,000 on their campaign.
[edit] 2006 Congressional run
Parker was the first Democrat to announce a 2006 challenge to Republican Jean Schmidt, who had won the 2005 special election.
On his 2006 site Jim Parker for US Congress, Parker said that he "ran for US Congress against some of the wealthiest people in Southern Ohio." He ran a populist campaign, writing on his campaign site that voters "are working harder than ever, only to give their earnings to the oil companies, insurance companies and prescription drug companies of America. If you make less than $100,000 per year to support your family, your entire Bush tax cut went to oil, medicine and insurance." He said that he supported a MIDDLE CLASS TAX CUT for families that earn less than $100,000 per year, health insurance for every child in America and an expansion of the Medicare Program from age 65 to age 55 without raising taxes.
In the 2006 Democratic primary, Parker finished with 6,376 votes (22.35%). He finished first place in Pike and Scioto Counties; second in Clermont (Jean Schmidt's home county), second in Warren, and second in Brown Counties; third in Adams County; and fourth in Hamilton County, which provided Victoria Wells Wulsin with almost half of her 10,455 votes. 2006 Democratic Primary Election Results:[1]
Jim Parker has indicated that he will seek the Democratic nomination to serve as the Representative to US Congress in the 2010 Democratic primary. He has been speaking with thousands of people throughout the Southern Ohio Congressional District since he last ran for Congress. Many groups and individuals have been receptive to his candidacy.
[edit] External links
- Parker's official site for the 2006 and 2010 race
- Jim Parker's League of Women Voters Parker's site for the 2006 race
[edit] References
- Lawrence Budd. "2nd District candidates list qualifications." Dayton Daily News. June 2, 2005.
- Malia Rulon. "Schmidt's foes having field days." The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 28, 2005.
- Howard Wilkinson. "Newest U.S. Rep. Schmidt has opposition." The Cincinnati Enquirer. October 19, 2005.
