| Jerry Costello | |
|---|---|
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 12th district |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Philip Crane |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 21th district |
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| In office August 11, 1988 – January 3, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Melvin Price |
| Succeeded by | District Eliminated |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 25, 1949 East St. Louis, Illinois |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Georgia Cockrum |
| Residence | Belleville, Illinois |
| Alma mater | Maryville University |
| Occupation | Bailiff, law enforcement officer |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Jerry Francis Costello (born September 25, 1949) is the U.S. Representative for Illinois's 12th congressional district, serving since 1988. He is a member of the Democratic Party and the dean of Illinois's 21-member Congressional delegation. The 12th district includes the St. Louis area suburb cities and stretches to deep Southern Illinois.
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Costello was born in East St. Louis, Illinois and attended Catholic schools, graduating from Assumption High School. He was later educated at Maryville College of the Sacred Heart in St. Louis, from which he earned a bachelor's degree.
Costello worked in the law enforcement field. He served St. Clair County, Illinois as a court bailiff, deputy sheriff, and director of court services and probation. Costello later was chief investigator for the Illinois State Attorney’s office. In 1980, he was elected to the St. Clair County Board and was chosen as chairman. Costello served in this capacity as county executive until his election to the House.
Costello took office on in August 1988, after winning a special election with 51% of the vote, to fill the seat of the deceased Melvin Price.[1] He was elected to a full term that November with 53% of the vote.[2] After that, he never won re-election with less than 60% of the vote.[3]
Currently, he is the most senior member of Illinois's House delegation. October 4, 2011 he announced he would not seek reelection in 2012.[4]
Costello served on the National Leadership Committee of then-Senator Obama's National Catholic Advisory Council during his 2008 election campaign.[5] The NCAC stumped for candidate Barack Obama during the later days of the 2008 primary campaign.
Shortly after the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States, Costello was prominently mentioned as a possible cabinet choice for Secretary of Transportation; the nomination eventually went to fellow Illinois Representative Ray LaHood.
In 2011, he co-sponsored HR 3, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, which would strictly limit the situations in which abortion could be paid for by public funds.[6]
In 1996, federal prosecutors alleged that Costello was an unindicted co-conspirator in a plan to build a riverboat casino. At the end of an investigation and trial, a longtime friend of Costello's was sentenced to six years in prison for obstruction of justice. Costello testified before a grand jury in regard to the matter, but was not indicted or charged in the case. He denied any involvement. In 1997, the Congressional Accountability Project filed an ethics complaint requesting investigation of Costello which resulted in no action.[7]
| United States House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Melvin Price |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 21st congressional district 1989–1993 |
Succeeded by District Dissolved after 1990 Census |
| Preceded by Philip M. Crane |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 12th congressional district 1993–Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
| United States order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Nancy Pelosi D-California |
United States Representatives by seniority 40th |
Succeeded by Frank Pallone D-New Jersey |
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