Marcy Kaptur sets record for longevity by woman in U.S. House

SANDUSKY — Marcy Kaptur has worked at the same job for a long time.U.S. Rep. Marcia Carolyn "Marcy" Kaptur, 71, has become the longest-serving woman ever in the U.S. House. She took office on Jan. 3, 1983, and as of Sunday, when she set the record, she'd been in office for 35 years, two months and 15 days. The previous record holder was Edith Nourse Rogers (1881-1960), a Massachusetts Republican who served from 1925 to 1960."It is my great honor and privilege to represent the people of Ohio's Ninth Congressional District, and I thank them for putting their faith in me for so many years and inspiring our work to make America a better place," Kaptur said. "Whether it is pension and retirement security, peace and stability throughout the world or fighting for a fair playing field where working people have a chance to get a leg up and achieve the American dream – our work continues."Kaptur, a former planner in Toledo and domestic policy advisor for President Jimmy Carter, was working on a doctoral degree in urban planning development finance at MIT when she was recruited to run for Congress in 1982. She defeated Republican Congressman Ed Weber and has held office ever since.House leaders, such as House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, have held a series of events in the last few days to honor Kaptur.Here are facts about Kaptur:• Kaptur has served with six presidents: Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump.• She's served with eight House speakers, beginning with Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill.• In 1996, Kaptur turned down an invitation to be Ross Perot's vice presidential running mate on the Reform Party ticket.• She won her 18 elections with an average of 72 percent of the vote. She's again seeking another two-year term.• Kaptur is believed to be the first person to suggest a World War II memorial in Washington, D.C., after a constituent, World War II veteran Roger Durbin, wrote to her about it. She introduced her first bill for a memorial in December 1987. It failed, but Kaptur persisted and later got a bill passed. Kaptur spoke when the memorial opened on May 29, 2004.• She is the daughter of Stephen and Anastasia Kaptur, a Polish-American working-class family in Toledo, Ohio. She still lives in the same neighborhood where she grew up.• Her hobby is gardening. Reach reporter Tom Jackson at jackson@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @jacksontom.House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, left, and Marcy Kaptur unveil a new portrait of Kaptur that will hang in the Lindy Boggs Room at the U.S. Capitol. Behind Kaptur is former U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton, currently a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in Ohio. Marcy Kaptur, right, with her parents, Stephen and Anastasia Kaptur, her little brother Steve, and her aunt, Sister Cleopha of the Felician Order. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and her mother during the early 1980s. U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur speaks at a rally for the Clinton-Gore campaign at the Toledo Jeep factory in 1996. U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur as a freshman lawmaker in the U.S. House. Marcy Kaptur and members of her family during an early 1990s family vacation in New York. Her mother, Anastasia Kaptur, is at the lawmaker's right.