Kerry Bentivolio (born October 6, 1951) is an American politician and
teacher of 15 years, who is the former United States Representative
for Michigan's 11th congressional district, in office from 2013 to
2015. Bentivolio, a Republican, defeated Democratic nominee Syed Taj,
a physician, in the November 6, 2012 election. The seat was vacated by
Representative Thaddeus McCotter, who resigned from Congress on July
6, 2012, and was briefly held by Democrat David Curson of Belleville,
Michigan. Bentivolio was defeated for the Republican nomination in his
bid for a second term by attorney David Trott. He launched a write-in
campaign for the November 2014 general election but lost again to
Trott. After Trott announced he was not seeking reelection in 2018,
Bentivolio again sought election in the eleventh district, but
finished last in the primary. In October 2019, Bentivolio announced
that he would again run for his former congressional seat against
Democrat Haley Stevens.Bentivolio worked as a designer in the
automotive industry for twenty years, followed by teaching for fifteen
years in schools and institutions. He is an honored Army veteran who
served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the Iraq War. Bentivolio
was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1951. Bentivolio was raised in the
Detroit area with four brothers. His father, a factory worker, served
in World War II, while his grandfather served in World War I. He
attended Oakland Community College from 1971 to 1983 where he earned
an associate degree in Liberal Arts. He received his Bachelor of Arts
in Social Science from Saint Mary's College in Michigan in 1999. He
transferred to Michigan State University in East Lansing to attend
further courses in 1975 and met his future wife, Karen. Later, he
earned a master's degree in Education from Marygrove College in
2001.Bentivolio enlisted in the United States Army in November 1968
and served in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971 as an infantry rifleman. After
a break in service, he later joined the Army National Guard in
Michigan as a reservist and served for more than 20 years. Bentivolio
was trained as an MLRS/HIMARS crewmember. He served on the home front
during Operation Desert Storm and was deployed to Iraq in 2007 with an
Artillery unit as a senior human resources sergeant performing combat
convoy missions. He retired as a sergeant first class after a neck
injury in 2008. Bentivolio's awards include the Meritorious Service
Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and the Combat
Infantryman Badge.
teacher of 15 years, who is the former United States Representative
for Michigan's 11th congressional district, in office from 2013 to
2015. Bentivolio, a Republican, defeated Democratic nominee Syed Taj,
a physician, in the November 6, 2012 election. The seat was vacated by
Representative Thaddeus McCotter, who resigned from Congress on July
6, 2012, and was briefly held by Democrat David Curson of Belleville,
Michigan. Bentivolio was defeated for the Republican nomination in his
bid for a second term by attorney David Trott. He launched a write-in
campaign for the November 2014 general election but lost again to
Trott. After Trott announced he was not seeking reelection in 2018,
Bentivolio again sought election in the eleventh district, but
finished last in the primary. In October 2019, Bentivolio announced
that he would again run for his former congressional seat against
Democrat Haley Stevens.Bentivolio worked as a designer in the
automotive industry for twenty years, followed by teaching for fifteen
years in schools and institutions. He is an honored Army veteran who
served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the Iraq War. Bentivolio
was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1951. Bentivolio was raised in the
Detroit area with four brothers. His father, a factory worker, served
in World War II, while his grandfather served in World War I. He
attended Oakland Community College from 1971 to 1983 where he earned
an associate degree in Liberal Arts. He received his Bachelor of Arts
in Social Science from Saint Mary's College in Michigan in 1999. He
transferred to Michigan State University in East Lansing to attend
further courses in 1975 and met his future wife, Karen. Later, he
earned a master's degree in Education from Marygrove College in
2001.Bentivolio enlisted in the United States Army in November 1968
and served in Vietnam from 1970 to 1971 as an infantry rifleman. After
a break in service, he later joined the Army National Guard in
Michigan as a reservist and served for more than 20 years. Bentivolio
was trained as an MLRS/HIMARS crewmember. He served on the home front
during Operation Desert Storm and was deployed to Iraq in 2007 with an
Artillery unit as a senior human resources sergeant performing combat
convoy missions. He retired as a sergeant first class after a neck
injury in 2008. Bentivolio's awards include the Meritorious Service
Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, and the Combat
Infantryman Badge.
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