Jerry F. Costello (born September 25, 1949), American politician, has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1988, representing the 12th District of Illinois (map). He was born in East St. Louis, Illinois, was educated at Maryville College of the Sacred Heart in St. Louis, and was a county bailiff, deputy sheriff, director of court services and probation and chief investigator for the Illinois State Attorney’s office before entering the House. Costello took office on August 9, 1988, filling the seat of the deceased Melvin Price. He was elected to a full term that November, and has been reelected to every succeeding Congress. Costello is one of the more conservative Democrats in the House of Representatives. He has a pro-life voting record and has received favorable ratings from the American Conservative Union and the John Birch Society. He serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and also the Science Committee.
