Rob Zerban is an entrepreneur, former Kenosha County Supervisor, and Congressional candidate. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Zerban's campaign for the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

in 2012 and 2014 largely focused on protecting

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and Medicare, his experience running two businesses, and bringing green industry to

Wisconsin's 1st congressional district Wisconsin's 1st congressional district is a congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in southeastern Wisconsin, covering Kenosha County, Racine County, and most of Walworth County, as well as portions of Rock Count ...

. Zerban is active in national, state and local politics.

Early life and career

Zerban was born and raised in Belleville, Illinois. He grew up in poverty as the youngest of three children in a single-parent household. Zerban attended the

Culinary Institute of America Culinary arts are the cuisine arts of food preparation, cooking and presentation of food, usually in the form of meals. People working in this field – especially in establishments such as restaurants – are commonly called chefs or ...

. Zerban founded two food service companies, both of which he later sold. Zerban moved to Kenosha County in 2004. He would serve two terms as the Kenosha County supervisor from the 2nd district. Zerban served as a member of the board of directors for the Wisconsin

League of Conservation Voters The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is an American environmental advocacy group. LCV says that it "advocates for sound environmental laws and policies, holds elected officials accountable for their votes and actions, and elects pro-environmen ...

campaigning for the Great Lakes Compact. Zerban, and his wife, Dr. Cornelia Zerban frequently protested the union-busting and austerity measures of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's political agenda. Zerban currently serves on the executive board of the Wisconsin Business Alliance.

Congressional candidacies

Zerban ran for Congress in

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gat ...

. His opponent was Republican Congressman Paul Ryan, who was simultaneously the Republican nominee for

Vice President A vice president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vice president is on ...

. Zerban's campaign focused in part on Ryan's Medicare

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and his experience as a small business owner. Zerban's campaign had success using

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's "Ask Me Anything" chats, before such chats had become popular. Ryan won just under 55 percent of the vote, his lowest share in any of his re-election bids. Zerban won Ryan's home county, municipality of residence and voting ward. Zerban chose to run once more in

2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...

. He won the Democratic nomination on August 12, 2014, with 25,602 votes (78%) to 7313 votes (22%) for Amar Kaleka."Election Results: Congress Dist. 1 Dem Primary" WTMJ-TV website; August 13, 2014
Ryan did not agree to debate Zerban in the 2012 election cycle. It was not until 2014 when the two would be on the same stage. Zerban was defeated in the general election by Congressman Ryan.

Electoral history

References

External links

Project Vote Smart biographyTwitter account
*Rob Zerban Profil

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zerban, Ron Living people People from Belleville, Illinois People from Kenosha County, Wisconsin Culinary Institute of America alumni County supervisors in Wisconsin Wisconsin Democrats Year of birth missing (living people)