State Representative Timothy J. DeGeeter (D-Parma) of the 15th District is serving his third full term in the Ohio House. He represents constituents in Brooklyn, Middleburg Heights, Parma and Linndale.
Rep. DeGeeter was adopted by a family who raised him near South Bend, Indiana. He attended Holy Cross Junior College before transferring to The John Carroll University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in political science. He then earned a law degree in 1997 from Cleveland Marshall College of Law.
While attending law school, Rep. DeGeeter was published in the Journal of Law & Health. His law review article, “The Politics of Reducing Tobacco Use Among Children & Adolescents: Why the FDA Cannot Regulate Tobacco and a Proposed Policy for States and Local Communities,” received “The Best Note Award” for 1995-96.
Rep. DeGeeter’s service to the law and the people of Ohio is extensive. He has worked as assistant Berea city prosecutor and as Avon Lake’s assistant law director before opening a private law practice in 2000.
Before his appointment to the Ohio House, Rep. DeGeeter served as Parma City Councilman for Ward 4 from 1998 to 2003. DeGeeter led a task force to save the historic Henninger House – the oldest home in Parma – and chaired a committee to restore and dedicate a city park to Parma native and Apollo 13 astronaut Capt. James A. Lovell, Jr.
His strong desire to protect people has defined his service in the Ohio House of Representatives. Rep. DeGeeter has sponsored legislation to restrict the sale and manufacture of methamphetamine, create penalties for sex offenders who live within 1,000 feet of a school, and give Ohioans greater ability to protect their credit from identity thieves. He serves on the Adam Walsh Study Commission, which oversees Ohio’s implementation of a federal act focusing on sex offender registration and notification.
Rep. DeGeeter has garnered several awards for his work to protect Ohioans and their interests. The Annual Justice Now Convention gave DeGeeter the 2007 Academy Appreciation Award. He also received awards from the Parma Council of PTAs and Moms for Ohio for his efforts on behalf of families and children.
As one of the co-founders of a program called Leadership for Tomorrow, he educates Parma public and private school fifth graders on the workings of city and state government. He received the 2008 Parma Chamber Pride Award for the establishment of this successful program.
Rep. DeGeeter Chairs the Ohio House Public Utilities Committee, and serves on the Criminal Justice Committee, the Economic Development Committee, the Faith Based Initiatives Committee and the Rules and Reference Committee.
In addition to his legislative committee work, he serves as a co-chair of the bipartisan Ohio Prematurity Caucus which serves to raise awareness of premature births in Ohio and seek funding for such issue. DeGeeter was appointed by Governor Ted Strickland to serve on the Improving Forensic DNA Policy Project, a project to enhance forensic DNA analysis as a crime-solving tool and public safety.
DeGeeter is a member of several community groups, including the West Creek Preservation Committee, Parma Chamber of Commerce, Parma Area Redevelopment Corporation, Parma Democrat Club and the Parma Area Historical Society. Additionally, he is an honorary member of the Parma Education Association, and he received the 2004 Parma Chamber of Commerce Gem Award.
DeGeeter married Pamela Ann Smith in 1999. They met while attending law school and live in Parma. In 2008 they were blessed with the birth of their son, Jack.
