Steve Austria (R – Beavercreek) filed 150 petitions, the maximum number of petitions as allowed by the Ohio Secretary of State's office, from all five counties to run as a candidate for Congress in the newly drawn 10th Congressional District. The new district includes parts of Montgomery county, all of Greene, Fayette and Pickaway counties, and most of Fairfield county. Austria currently represents four (Greene, Fayette, Pickaway, and Fairfield) out of the five counties.
"Due to the failed policies in Washington, our nation is facing a severe economic crisis that increasingly threatens the future of our children. I will continue to stand up against these failed policies of out of control spending and excessive government regulations that hurt our hardworking families and small businesses. Ohio and the Miami Valley have experienced an unacceptable amount of job losses over the past few years, including NCR, GM and the Moraine Truck Plant, and I am running for Congress to provide the necessary leadership skills and to partner with our local communities to save and create new jobs in our region."
Austria was first elected to Congress in 2008 and was the only Republican to be elected in an open seat in Ohio that year. During his inaugural term, Austria was elected as President of his freshman class by his Republican colleagues and served on the House Budget and Homeland Security Committees. In only his second term he was asked by Speaker Boehner to serve on the influential House Appropriations Committee, including the Subcommittees on Military Construction/Veterans Affairs; State/Foreign Operations; and Commerce/Justice/Science. While in Washington, Austria has stood up against the bailouts, stimulus spending plan, cap and trade, and ObamaCare. In addition he has co-sponsored legislation to cut government spending, balance the budget, and worked to provide tax relief for hardworking families.
Steve Austria is the oldest of nine children, grew up in Greene county, and has served the Miami Valley region for 13 years in public office. He is a former small business owner who served in the Ohio Legislature from 1999-2008. Steve has been happily married to his wife Eileen (Crotty) from Washington Township for the past 25 years and has lived in Beavercreek with their three sons for the past 20 years.