Tom Raga

Who is Tom Raga?

Thomas A. Raga is an American politician of the Republican Party who previously represented the Sixty-seventh District in the Ohio House of Representatives. In February 2006, he was named by J. Kenneth Blackwell as his running mate in the May 2, 2006, primary for Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Blackwell and Raga won the Republican nomination, but lost the November 7, 2006, general election to Ted Strickland and Lee Fisher in a landslide, 60-36%.

A native of Cincinnati, Raga graduated from Moeller High School in 1984 and from Cornell University received a B.S. in agricultural economics. Raga moved to Deerfield Township, Warren County, Ohio in October 1995. Raga's first elective office was as a trustee of Deerfield Township, elected on November 4, 1997 by defeating long-time incumbent Bob Carter. In the three-way race for two seats, the results were 2,338 for Raga, 2,480 for Larry Backus, and 2,130 for Carter. He served from January 1, 1998 to his resignation in December 2000.

On March 7, 2000, he won a three-way primary against attorney and former Mason mayor Betty Davis and Clearcreek Township trustee Ed Wade to replace Republican state representative George E.