Joe Hoeffel
 | A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (March 2010) |
Joe Hoeffel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners | |
| Assumed office January 7, 2008[1] Serving with Jim Matthews and Bruce Castor | |
| Preceded by | Ruth Damsker |
| In office January 9, 1992[2] – January 3, 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Rita Banning |
| Succeeded by | James Maza[3] |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 13th district | |
| In office January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Jon Fox |
| Succeeded by | Allyson Schwartz |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 153rd district | |
| In office January 4, 1977 – November 30, 1984 | |
| Preceded by | Daniel Beren |
| Succeeded by | Jon Fox |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Francesca Hoeffel |
| Alma mater | Temple University Law School Boston University |
| Signature |  |
Joseph Merrill "Joe" Hoeffel III (pronounced /huffle/; born September 3, 1950) is an American politician. A Democrat, he is currently a member of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, having previously served from 1992 to 1998.
Hoeffel was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1999 to 2005, representing Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district. From 1977 to 1984, he was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. A native of Philadelphia, he is a graduate of Boston University and Temple University School of Law.
Hoeffel was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate in 2004, and for Governor of Pennsylvania in 2010.
Background
Hoeffel was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Joseph and Eleanore Hoeffel.[4] After graduating from William Penn Charter School in 1968, he attended Boston University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 1972. He served in the Army Reserves from 1970 to 1976.[5]
He first became involved in politics during the 1972 presidential election, when his opposition to the Vietnam War led him to support Senator George McGovern.[6] In 1973, he became a legislative aide to Representative Gerry Studds of Massachusetts, for whom Hoeffel did research on foreign overfishing.[6]
Political career
After working for Studds for a year, Hoeffel challenged four-term Republican incumbent Daniel Beren for a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 153rd legislative district, in 1974. He was defeated by 1,505 votes.[6] From 1975 to 1976, he was the Central Montgomery County administrator for the American Red Cross.[5]
Hoeffel successfully ran again for state House in 1976, after Beren decided to not seek re-election. He served from 1977 to 1985, and was the first Democrat to represent the Abington area since World War I.[7] The first bill he passed as a state legislator was a campaign reform proposal in 1978 improving financial disclosure.[5]
He gave up his seat in a bid for the 13th Congressional District in 1984, and was defeated by longtime incumbent Lawrence Coughlin. Hoeffel sought a rematch in 1986, and was defeated again. He then received his Juris Doctor degree from Temple University School of Law in 1986. After several years out of politics, Hoeffel won a seat on the Montgomery County Commission in 1991. In a surprise to the political establishment, Hoeffel supported Republican Mario Mele for Commission chairman over Jon Fox.[8]
Career in Congress
In 1996, Hoeffel made a third run at Congress taking on his former colleague on the Montgomery County Commission, Jon Fox, now a freshman Congressman. That year, Fox hung onto his seat by an 84-vote margin.[9] However, in 1998, in his fourth attempt, Hoeffel broke through. Hobbled by a tough Republican primary and the fallout from the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, Fox could not hang on a second time. Hoeffel won by more than 5,000 votes.[10] Hoeffel became only the second Democrat to represent the Montgomery County-based district in 86 years.
He won re-election twice, though not without difficulty. In 2000 he won an expensive race against Republican State Senator Stewart Greenleaf, becoming the first Democrat to serve more than one term in the district in decades. In 2002, he defeated wealthy ophthalmologist Melissa Brown by less than expected; the 13th had been made somewhat more Democratic with the addition of part of Philadelphia. During the 2002 election, Hoeffel's website was praised as among the best of the 2002 election cycle.[11]
In Congress, Hoeffel was a member of two House committees: International Relations and Transportation and Infrastructure.
On July 20, 2004, Hoeffel became the third sitting U.S. Congressman in one week, following Charles Rangel and Bobby Rush, to be arrested for trespassing while protesting alleged human rights violations in front of the Sudanese Embassy. U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, Hoeffel's Republican opponent in the 2004 U.S. Senate race, criticized the arrest as a publicity stunt.
Rather than holding onto his seat, Hoeffel decided in 2004 to run for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Republican Arlen Specter. In the election held on November 2, 2004, Hoeffel was defeated by more than ten points to Specter, 53%-42%, and only carried four counties.[12] Hoeffel was at a considerable disadvantage because of Specter's popularity in the Philadelphia suburbs.
After Congress
Many speculated that Hoeffel would attempt to run against U.S. Senator Rick Santorum in 2006. However, Hoeffel endorsed Bob Casey, Jr. in that race; Casey went on to defeat the two-term incumbent in a landslide.
Hoeffel announced that he would run for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania in March 2006 against incumbent Catherine Baker Knoll and dropped out of the race a day later. Governor Ed Rendell convinced Hoeffel that the Democratic ticket needed geographic balance; Knoll is from Allegheny County; Rendell is from Philadelphia.[13] The Democratic Committees of Bucks and Chester Counties had overwhelmingly voted to endorse him over Knoll.[14]
In July 2006, Rendell named Hoeffel the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development where he would oversee the International Commerce Office of the DCED.
In February 2007, Hoeffel announced that he would resign his post in order to run for the Montgomery County Commission with incumbent Ruth Damsker. Hoeffel's and Damsker's opponents were incumbent Jim Matthews and district attorney Bruce Castor.[15]
Hopes were high that the Democrats could win majority control on the commission due to party gains in the county and a fractured Republican team. Hoeffel finished second, behind Castor, winning a seat on the Commission, but his running mate fell short, keeping control in Republican hands.[16] However, thanks to a deal with Matthews, Hoeffel became Vice Chairman of the Commission, in exchange for supporting Matthews' bid to become Chairman over Castor.[17]
On September 20, 2009, Hoeffel announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination for Governor of Pennsylvania. During the campaign, he called for the introduction of a graduated income tax for the state, supported the implementation of a statewide single-payer health care program, stressed his pro-choice position on abortion and opposition to school vouchers, and distinguished himself as the only candidate supporting the legalization of same-sex marriage.[18] He received the endorsements of the National Organization for Women, the Stonewall Democrats, the United Auto Workers, and various local affiliates of Democracy for America.[19]
In the May 18, 2010 primary, he placed fourth out of four candidates, receiving 130,799 votes, or 12.7% of the total votes cast, and carrying Montgomery County.[20]
Political Positions
Education
According to his campaign website, Hoeffel favors expanded funding for early childhood education programs, drop-out prevention and drop-out reengagement programs and centers, and basic education for school board members. He favors keeping the current defined benefit pension plan for all teachers over a change to a defined contribution plan for new hires. Hoeffel would continue the school funding formula implemented by current Governor Ed Rendell to reduce dependence on local property taxes to fund schools.[21]
Labor
Hoeffel has a lifetime 97% rating from the AFL-CIO and is endorsed by several labor unions in the Philadelphia area.[22]
Abortion
Hoeffel has a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.[23] He is endorsed by former NARAL Pro-Choice America President Kate Michelman,[24] and by the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Organization for Women[25]
Personal life
He has been married for 26 years to Francesca Hoeffel. They live in Abington Township, a suburb of Philadelphia, and have two children. His grandfather, also named Joseph M. "Joe" Hoeffel, served as coach of the Green Bay Packers in 1921.[26]
Congressional electoral history
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Joseph M. Hoeffel | 120,220 | 49% | Jon D. Fox | 120,304 | 49% | Thomas Patrick Burke | Libertarian | 4,930 | 2% | Bill Ryan | Natural Law | 525 | <1% | |||||
| 1998 | Joseph M. Hoeffel | 95,105 | 52% | Jon D. Fox | 85,915 | 47% | Thomas Patrick Burke | Libertarian | 3,470 | 2% | |||||||||
| 2000 | Joseph M. Hoeffel | 146,026 | 53% | Stewart J. Greenleaf | 126,501 | 46% | Ken Cavanaugh | Libertarian | 4,224 | 2% | |||||||||
| 2002 | Joseph M. Hoeffel | 107,945 | 51% | Melissa Brown | 100,295 | 47% | John P. McDermott | Constitution | 3,627 | 2% |
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Joseph M. Hoeffel | 2,334,126 | 42% | Arlen Specter | 2,925,080 | 53% | James Clymer | Constitution | 220,056 | 4% | Betsy Summers | Libertarian | 79,263 | 1% | * |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dan Onorato | 452,611 | 45.1 | |
| Democratic | Jack Wagner | 244,234 | 24.3 | |
| Democratic | Anthony Williams | 180,932 | 18.0 | |
| Democratic | Joe Hoeffel | 125,989 | 12.6 | |
| Total votes | 1,003,766 | 97.7 | ||
References
- ^ The Intelligencer
- ^ The Allentown Morning Call
- ^ The Philadelphia Inquirer
- ^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/elections/2004/candidates/22879/
- ^ a b c "Joseph M. Hoeffel Resume & Biography". Friends of Joe Hoeffel.
- ^ a b c Nunnally, Derrick. "Hoeffel's run for governor is latest in a long quest". Philadelphia Inquirer.
- ^ Pennsylvania Congressman Joe Hoeffel Biography Page
- ^ Karen E. Quinones Miller, Mele Won't Give Up Chairmanship, as Informally Planned, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/9/98
- ^ 1996 General Election Results, ourcampaigns.com, 11/5/96
- ^ 1998 General Election Results, ourcampaigns.com, 11/3/98
- ^ Drulis, Michael (2002). "Best & Worst Websites". PoliticsPA. The Publius Group. Archived from the original on 2002-10-17.
- ^ 2004 General Election Results, ourcampaigns.com, 11/2/04
- ^ Hoeffel relents on lieutenant governor race , Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/9/06
- ^ Press Release, Bucks County Democratic Party
- ^ Hoeffel planning to run again for Montco commissioner, Philadelphia Inquirer, 2/15/07
- ^ County Republicans retain power , Margaret Gibbons, The Reporter (Lansdale, PA), 11/6/07
- ^ Emilie Lounsberry, Philadelphia Inquirer, GOP and Dems split Montco; Castor on the outs, 12/18/2007
- ^ http://joehoeffel2010.com/issues
- ^ http://joehoeffel2010.com/endorsements
- ^ http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=34&OfficeID=3
- ^ "Joe Hoeffel on Education". Joe Hoeffel 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ^ "Joe Hoeffel Endorsements". Joe Hoeffel 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
- ^ "Joseph Hoeffel on Abortion". ontheissues.org. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
- ^ "Michelman, citing abortion rights, backs Hoeffel for governor". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
- ^ "NOW it's Hoeffel's turn for an endorsement". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
- ^ Hoeffel was star player in high school, college, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/27/01
- ^ a b "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
- ^ http://www.politico.com/2010/maps/#/Governor/2010/PA
External links
- Joe Hoeffel for Governor official gubernatorial campaign website
- United States Congress. "Joe Hoeffel (id: H001031)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.