Former Ohio Congressman Charlie Wilson passed away at the age of 70 Sunday at a hospital in Florida, according to the Associated Press.
Wilson, a Democrat, served for two terms representing the Ohio in Washington DC. He was also the first congressman to be elected through a write-in campaign.
The former congressman suffered a stroke in February during a family vacation. According to Democratic officials, he had been working to restore his health at a rehabilitation center. A health relapse sent him back to a hospital in Boynton Beach.
According to officials he passed away at approximately 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Wilson held office for the state of Ohio for 14 years. He began by serving in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1997 to 2005. After his time at the state house, he became a senator for two years. He was best known for facilitating airport improvements, getting small business incubators, and obtaining federal funding for police departments.
Wilson's first congressional term came when filled the seat left by Gov. Ted Strickland in 2006. He did not gain enough votes to make the state primary, so he ran for the seat in the 6th Congressional District as a write-in.
Chris Redfern, the chairman for the Ohio Democrats, praised Wilson for his service to the state.
"I served with Charlie in the State Legislature for six years and he was a loyal friend in good times and bad," he said in a statement. "An outspoken advocate for working people, Charlie never wavered in his service to his constituents or his lifelong pursuit to help improve the lives of others."
Wilson ran for a United States congressional seat in 2010 and 2012 but failed both times.
U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, who beat Wilson in the 2012 election, agreed with Redfern's sentiments.
"Although Charlie and I were political opponents, we were never enemies. He served with honor in the Ohio state legislature and in Congress," said Johnson.
Wilson's son Jason succeeded him in the Ohio Senate and is one of the four sons survived by Wilson.
His family released a statement:
"Throughout his extraordinary life, Congressman Wilson was motivated by a desire to serve his country and a passion for the causes most important to the constituents of Southeast and East Ohio," his family said in a statement. "Congressman Wilson served with honor, dignity and an unwavering sense of civic responsibility to the families of our region. Charlie will be remembered for his boundless energy, his honest approach, and his dedication to improving the lives of our future generations."
