Preceded by Romano L. Mazzoli Party Democratic Party Political party Democratic Succeeded by Anne Northup | Name Mike Ward Resigned January 3, 1997 | |
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Born January 7, 1951 (age 73)
White Plains, New York ( 1951-01-07 ) Role Former United States Congressman Previous office Representative (KY 3rd District) 1995–1997 | ||
Education University of Louisville Member of congress start date January 3, 1995 | ||
Michael Delavan "Mike" Ward (born January 7, 1951) is a former congressman of the United States House of Representatives, a Democrat from Kentucky.
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Early life and career
Ward was born in White Plains, New York on January 7, 1951. Ward's mother, Lukey Ward, was a political and civil rights activist, and Ward has often said publicly that he was "like a crack baby ... born addicted to politics." Lukey Ward was, along with her friend Georgia Davis, the day-to-day manager of the Kentucky chapter of Martin Luther King's Southern Christian Leadership Conference. In fact, she was at the Lorraine Motel, waiting to go to dinner with Dr. King, when he was assassinated. Ward's father, Jasper Ward III, was a well-known award-winning architect in Louisville. His buildings include the Student Center at the University of Louisville and the Jewish Doctors Office Building at Interstate 65 and Liberty Street.
Ward attended the University of Louisville, from which he earned a marketing degree. Before entering politics, he served as a sales executive.
Political and radio career
From 1989 to 1993, Ward served as a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives representing the Highlands area of Louisville. In 1994, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, winning Kentucky's Third Congressional District seat that was being vacated by Romano L. Mazzoli. Ward was one of few Democrats to win an open seat in the Republican congressional landslide that year. Ward narrowly defeated a field of candidates including Charlie Owen in the primary, and defeated Republican nominee Susan Bush Stokes, a fellow member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, in the general election.
In 1996 Ward lost his seat in the general election to Republican Anne Northup. Ward did not run again for the seat. Ward was appointed by President Bill Clinton as the Associate Director of the Peace Corps and served the full second term of Bill Clinton.
From 2001 to 2005, Ward hosted a talk radio show in Louisville that was a liberal counterweight to generally conservative talk radio programming.
Ward is President of WardCampaigns, Inc.