Joe Hoeffel
Joe Hoeffel is Montgomery County Commissioner (1992-1998, 2008-present).
Joe Hoeffel currently serves as Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Commissioners, with both legislative and executive authority for county government with a $500 million budget and 3,400 employees. [1]
Education
- Temple University School of Law, Philadelphia, PA | J.D. 1986
- Boston University, Boston, MA | English Major, B.A. 1972
- William Penn Charter School, Philadelphia, PA | 1968
Personal
Joe has been married for 30 years to Francesca, a registered nurse with a Masters’ degree in public health nursing. [2]
American Red Cross
Administrator (1975-1976), Central Montgomery County Branch, responsible for budget, staff and programs.[3]
Pennsylvania State Representative
Joe Hoeffel served four terms in the State House (1977-1984), representing the Abington area. He worked on budget and government reform, mass transit, economic development and programs for seniors. The first bill Joe passed in the state House in 1978 was a campaign reform proposal improving financial disclosure. Joe supported women’s reproductive freedoms and opposed the 1981 Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act.[4]
United States Congressman
Joe Hoeffel served three terms in Congress representing Pennsylvania’s 13th District, (1999-2004). Hoeffel was a member of House Committees on International Relations, Budget, Science, and Transportation and Infrastructure. He twice served as U. S. representative to the annual parliamentary assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Hoeffel introduced legislation to eliminate wasteful corporate welfare, to reform federal support for public schools, to establish a patients' bill of rights, to create a modern day Marshall Plan for economic revitalization in the Middle East and Eurasia, to reform the Medicare prescription drug plan for seniors, and to slow suburban sprawl and make our communities more livable.
Joe Hoeffel aldso founded "Iraq Watch" in Congress and made 30 speeches on the floor of the House urging changes in our military and foreign policies in Iraq.[5]
Supported by Council for a Livable World
The Council for a Livable World, founded in 1962 by long-time socialist activist and alleged Soviet agent, Leo Szilard, is a non-profit advocacy organization that seeks to "reduce the danger of nuclear weapons and increase national security", primarily through supporting progressive, congressional candidates who support their policies. The Council supported Joe Hoeffel in his successful House of Representatives run as candidate for Pennsylvania.[6]
DSA support in 1996
In 1996 Democratic Socialists of America sent six staff members into the field for the final weeks of the campaign. These staff and DSA volunteers "contributed to the re-election of Senator Paul Wellstone, Congressperson Maurice Hinchey (D-upstate NY) and aided in the narrow victory of pro-labor John Tierney (D-MA) over "moderate" Republican Pete Torkildsen in Massachusetts. DSA also contributed to the near-upset victories of first-time Democratic challengers Joe Hoeffel in suburban Philadelphia and Clem Balanoff on the Chicago South Side and southwestern suburbs.
DSA member Michele Rossi was one of the campaign's volunteers;[7]
- The campaign attracted strong support from women and the labor community. While AFL-CIO advertisements hammered away at Fox's voting record on issues such as Medicare, women, seniors, and union members (not to mention some dedicated DSAers) swelled the ranks of Hoeffel volunteers. They canvassed the district relentlessly, knocking on doors and persuading reluctant Republican neighbors to split their tickets and vote for Joe Hoeffel.
- As a DSA volunteer entering the campaip at the late stage, most of my efforts focused on GOTY work. I phone banked ugtil I grew hoarse.
DSA endorsement
In July 1996, the Democratic Socialists of America Political Action Committee endorsed Joe Hoeffel, running in PA 13 in that year's Congressional elections.[8]
DSA support in 2004
In 2004 Democratic Socialists of America targeted local races where control of state houses were up for grabs and where statewide electoral-vote outcomes hinged on successful local district turnouts.[9]
- Comrades are also supporting state Senator and health activist Allyson Schwartz in her effort to win the open 13th CD seat left by Joe Hoeffel, who is—also with DSA support—challenging Republican incumbent Senator Arlen Specter....”
References
- ↑ Friends of Joe Hoeffel website, accessed August 22 2011
- ↑ Friends of Joe Hoeffel website, accessed August 22 2011
- ↑ Friends of Joe Hoeffel website, accessed August 22 2011
- ↑ Friends of Joe Hoeffel website, accessed August 22 2011
- ↑ Friends of Joe Hoeffel website, accessed August 22 2011
- ↑ CLW website: Meet Our Candidates
- ↑ [Dem. Left, Nov./Dec. 1996]
- ↑ Democratic Left, July/August 1996, page 21
- ↑ Democratic Left, Fall 2004, Beyond Kerry: DSAers Back Local Candidates, By Theresa Alt and Michael Hirsch