Complex sentence: In 1971, after two unsuccessful attempts, Perk won the Republican nomination for the office of mayor, defeating future mayor, governor, and senator George Voinovich, then a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, in the primary election.
Split into simpler sentences: In 1971, after two unsuccessful attempts, Perk won the Republican nomination for the office of mayor. He defeated future mayor, governor, and current U.S. Senator George Voinovich, then a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, in the primary election.