John Ostalkiewicz

John Ostalkiewicz
Member of the Florida Senate from the 12th district
In office
November 8, 1994 – November 3, 1998
Preceded byGary Siegel
Succeeded byDaniel Webster
Personal details
Born(1952-09-19)September 19, 1952
Beverly, Massachusetts
DiedMay 25, 2010(2010-05-25) (aged 57)
South Korea
PartyRepublican
SpouseCynthia Celona
Children3
EducationBabson College (B.S.)
OccupationDiamond importer

Clarence John Ostalkiewicz Jr. (Septembreer 19, 1952 – May 25, 2010) was a Republican politician from Florida who served as a member of the Florida Senate from the 12th district from 1994 to 1998.

Early life

Ostalkiewicz was born in Beverly, Massachusetts, in 1952, and attended Babson College, graduating in 1974 with his bachelor's degree in accounting. He moved to Windermere, Florida, in 1988, and started a diamond-import business. Ostalkiewicz became a parents' rights activist after an employee's child was taken from them following allegations of child abuse.

Florida Senate

In 1994, Ostalkiewicz challenged incumbent State Senator Gary Siegel for re-election in the 12th district, which included suburbs of Orlando in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Volusia counties. He attacked Siegel, the sponsor of several reforms to juvenile crime statutes, for "parent bashing," and campaigned on his support of parents' rights. The Orlando Sentinel endorsed Siegel, criticizing Ostalkiewicz for "[n]arrow thinking." han After an expensive campaign, Ostalkiewicz ultimately defeated Siegel, winning 56 percent of the vote to Siegel's 44 percent. No other candidates filed in the race, and Ostalkiewicz won the general election by default.

1998 Orange County chairman campaign

In 1998, rather than seek re-election, Ostalkiewicz decided to run for Chairman of Orange County to succeed Linda Chapin, who was term-limited. He faced Mel Martínez, the president of the Orlando Utilities Commission, and former County Commissioner Fran Pignone in the nonpartisan primary, and narrowly placed first, winning 41 percent of the vote to Martínez's 40 percent.

Ostalkiewicz and Martínez advanced to a runoff in the general election. Following the primary, Pignone, a Democrat, endorsed Martínez. Martínez ultimately defeated Ostalkiewicz by a wide margin, receiving 60 percent of the vote to Ostalkiewicz's 40 percent.

Post-legislative career

After leaving the legislature in 1998, Ostalkiewicz served as the president of the Christian Coalition of Florida. In 2004, when State Senator Daniel Webster considered running for Senate, Ostalkiewicz explored a bid to succeed him in the State Senate, but Webster ultimately declined to run.

Death

Ostalkiewicz was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2009, and died on May 25, 2010, while in South Korea for treatment.

References

  1. ↑ Florida Senate Handbook, 1996–1998 (PDF). Secretary of the Florida Senate. 1996. p. 36.
  2. 1 2 3 Shrieves, Linda (May 27, 2010). "John Ostalkiewicz Jr.: Ex-state senator often spoke frankly". Orlando Sentinel. p. B8. Retrieved July 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Ostalkiewicz to run for state senate seat". Orlando Sentinel. June 23, 1994. p. I-2. Retrieved July 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ McBreen, Sharon (August 23, 1994). "Reforming juvenile justice divides 2". Orlando Sentinel. p. C-1. Retrieved July 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Siegel rates another term". Orlando Sentinel. August 14, 1994. p. G-2. Retrieved July 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "September 8, 1994 Primary Election Republican Primary - State Senator District: 12". Florida Department of Elections. 1994. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  7. ↑ Roy, Roger; McBreen, Sharon (September 9, 1994). "Ostalkiewicz turns out Siegel". Orlando Sentinel. p. A-1. Retrieved July 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Spear, Kevin (May 16, 1998). "Ostalkiewicz jolts race for chairman". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. A-1. Retrieved July 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. 1 2 Maxwell, Scott (September 2, 1998). "Martinez forces a runoff". Orlando Sentinel. p. A-1. Retrieved July 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "1998 Primary Elections Results - COUNTY CHAIRMAN". Orange County Supervisor of Elections. Archived from the original on February 24, 1999. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  11. ↑ Maxwell, Scott (September 4, 1998). "Pignone and Martinez make up". Orlando Sentinel. p. D-1. Retrieved July 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "1998 General Election Results". Orange County Supervisor of Elections. Archived from the original on October 2, 1999. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
  13. ↑ Maxwell, Scott (November 4, 1998). "Astonished' Martinez wallops Ostalkiewicz". Orlando Sentinel. p. A-1. Retrieved July 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Kennedy, John (May 1, 2004). "Webster wavering on U.S. Senate bid, may try to keep seat". Orlando Sentinel. p. B1, B7. Retrieved July 17, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.