Bob Latta
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 5th district
Incumbent
Assumed office  December 11, 2007
Preceded by	Paul Gillmor
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Marcia Latta
Residence	Bowling Green, Ohio
Alma mater	Bowling Green State University, University of Toledo
Occupation	attorney
Religion	Roman Catholic[1]

Robert Edward 'Bob' Latta (born April 18, 1956) is a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio's 5th congressional district. The district, the second-largest in the state, includes most of Toledo's suburbs, including Fremont and Bowling Green. In 2009, Latta authored a bill in the House of Representatives calling for the U.S. Congress to recognize the achievements of the Freemasons.^[2] This led many to believe that Rep. Latta is a mason himself.

[edit] Early life

Born in Bluffton, Ohio, Latta earned his B.A. at Bowling Green State University in 1978 and his J.D. at the University of Toledo in 1981. His father, Del Latta, represented the 5th from 1959 to 1989 and served as ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee from 1975 to his retirement.

Latta worked as a private practice attorney before entering politics. He and his wife Marcia have two children.

[edit] Ohio political career

When Del Latta decided to retire from Congress in 1988, he endorsed his son for the Republican nomination. However, Bob Latta lost to then Ohio State Senate president Paul Gillmor who went on to win the general election.

Latta served as a Wood County Commissioner from 1991 to 1997. He then represented Ohio's 2nd senate district in the Ohio Senate from 1997 to 2001 and Ohio's 6th house district in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2001 to 2007.

[edit] Congressional career

After Gillmor's sudden death in September, 2007, Latta decided to run again for the open seat. He defeated state senator Steve Buehrer, among other candidates, in the November primary.

In the special general election, Latta defeated Democratic candidate Robin Weirauch on December 11, 2007 by a margin of 57% to 43%. He was sworn in on December 13, 2007.^[3] Latta was heavily favored; in addition to the 5th's heavy Republican lean and his father's popularity, he had represented Wood County—by far the largest whole county in the district—in the state legislature for a decade.

[edit] Committee Assignments

• Agriculture Committee
  • Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
  • Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture
• Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  • Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
  • Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment

[edit] References

• Bob Latta at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

[edit] External links

• Congressman Bob Latta official U.S. House website
• Bob Latta for U.S. Congress campaign site

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues