F ilipino-American McCain-Palin Slate National Co-chairs Ed Navarra of Michigan and Ernesto Gange of Pennsylvania announce with humility that Republican Ohio State Senator Steve Austria has been elected congressman of the Great State of Ohio's 7th District of the United States House of Representatives. Mr. Austria won by garnering 59% of the votes cast.

Congressman-elect Austria is the first Filipino American to be elected a member of the House of Representatives. Black-American Congressman Bobby Scott of Virginia considers himself also as part Filipino by affinity. But Mr. Austria is the first-ever ABER Filipino to be elected to the United States House of Representatives. ABER, as this writer has coined, means “American-born, educated and raised.” Mr. Austria, a second-generation scion, is also the first Filipino-American member of the Ohio State Senate.

Congressman-elect Austria's father was the late Dr. Clement Austria, an alumnus of the University of Santos Tomas’ College of Medicine and a Philippine World War-II veteran. His mother is Mrs. Jean Brockman Austria.

Messrs. Gange and Navarra expect the Republican Party to invite Mr. Austria to the leadership of the party, in view of his achievement as the first Filipino-American member of the House of Representatives. The Republican Party is trying to attract minorities to its ranks of members and party leaders.

Those interested in sending congratulatory greetings to Congressman-elect Austria may use this address:

The Honorable Senator Steve Austria
Senate Building
Room #132, First Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Telephone: 614/466-3780
E-mail: sd10@mailr.sen.state.oh.us