Joseph P. Sulzer is an American Democratic politician, and was mayor of Chillicothe, Ohio. Sulzer served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He earned a bachelor's degree from Ohio University and was awarded a law degree by Capital University Law School. Returning to Chillicothe, Sulzer was elected to the city council, where he served for six years. In 1987, Sulzer became mayor of Chillicothe. In 1992, Sulzer entered the Democratic primary contest for the United States House of Representatives in Ohio's sixth congressional district. He lost that primary race to Ted Strickland.