Stephanie Studebaker

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Stephanie Studebaker (b. circa 1961), a veterinarian, was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Congress in Ohio's 3rd congressional district in the 2006 elections. Her opponent was to be incumbent Republican Congressman Mike Turner. Stephanie dropped out of the race after she and her husband were arrested following a domestic dispute.

1 Biography
2 Domestic dispute
- 2.1 Political consequences
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Biography

Studebaker graduated from Centerville High School, and went on to Ohio State University on a softball scholarship. She later obtained a doctorate in veterinary medicine and has been in practice since 1990. Stephanie opened her own clinic in 1992 which has grown to include 29 veterinarians.[1]

Studebaker is very politically active in her local Democratic Party, and served on Howard Dean's Ohio campaign as its communications director. In 2006, Studebaker ran for elective office for the first time against Republican Congressman Mike Turner in Ohio's 3rd Congressional district. Studebaker won the Democratic primary in a three-way contest with 56% of the vote on May 2 [2].

[edit] Domestic dispute

Stephanie Studebaker's mug shot

On the morning of August 13, 2006, an argument between Studebaker and her husband, Sam, began over the amount of time Stephanie was spending on the campaign. Her husband claimed that she was not spending enough time with their two young daughters, who were present during the incident. According to the sheriff report, Stephanie claimed that Sam proceeded to mock her political aspirations, threatened to take their children, and then pushed her and struck her shoulders and arms. [3]

The sheriff's department became involved when it received almost simultaneous calls from Stephanie and her father-in-law. The father-in-law had become involved after receiving a call from his son during the escalation of the incident. When the deputies arrived, they were unable to determine who was at fault, as Sam had marks on his right upper arm and back. Both spouses were therefore taken into custody, and each was released later that day on a $25,000 bond. [4]. The legal case ended when the parties involved chose not to press charges. ^{[citation needed]}

On Friday, August 18, 2006, Sam Studebaker filed for divorce in the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.[5]

[edit] Political consequences

On August 15, 2006, Studebaker released the following statement: "After deciding to focus my efforts entirely on my family, I am withdrawing my name from the ballot as a candidate for Ohio's Third Congressional District, effective immediately. Ohio families are ready for a change, and this is a seat Democrats can and will win in November."[6]

A special primary election to fill the vacancy caused by Studebaker's resignation is to be held on September 15, 2006. Initially four candidates announced their intentions to run in the special primary: Jane Mitakides, the 2004 Democratic Nominee for the seat; Charles W. Sanders, a former mayor of Waynesville, Ohio; Roosevelt Chapman, an educator; and J. Richard Chema, a former Assistant US Attorney. Mitakides and Chapman dropped out with Mitakides endorsing Chema.[7] Sanders was the runner up to Studebaker in the May 2 primary.[8]