Mary O. Boyle (born December 23, 1941) is an American politician who was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1979 to 1984. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the party's nominee in the 1998 United States Senate election in Ohio.
Boyle started her career in elective office as a state legislator representing Cleveland Heights (Ohio District 9) in 1978. She was elected majority whip in 1982. After leaving the legislature, she served as a Cuyahoga County commissioner for twelve years. She was the first woman ever elected to a non-judicial county office in Cuyahoga County. Boyle entered the Democratic primary for the United States Senate in 1994 to replace the retiring Howard Metzenbaum, but was defeated by Joel Hyatt.
In 1998, Boyle chose to run for the Senate again to replace the retiring John Glenn, declining those who sought her entry to run for Ohio Secretary of State. She won the Democratic nomination and became the first woman nominated by a major party for the U.S. Senate from Ohio. In the general election, Boyle was defeated by Governor George Voinovich. Her campaign focused on Voinovich's record as governor and her experience as a mother of four, but lacked sufficient fundraising.
Boyle also unsuccessfully ran for Ohio state treasurer in 2002 against Joe Deters.
References
External links