Jim Gerlach
Encyclopedia
James "Jim" Gerlach is the U.S. Representative
for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party
.
where he became a member of the Sigma Chi
Fraternity and the Raven's Claw Honorary Society, with a B.A. in Political Science
. He also earned his law degree from Dickinson School of Law
in 1980. After graduation, Gerlach worked as a legislative aide in the Pennsylvania State Senate
.
In 1986, Gerlach moved back to Ellwood City to challenge Frank LaGrotta
in the race for state representative but lost. In 1987, he returned to Chester County
to work for the Lamb, Windle & McErlane law firm in West Chester, whose senior partner was then-Chester County Republican Chairman William Lamb.
, Gerlach visited 8,600 homes in the 155th District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
, building his campaign around what he saw as the incumbent's inattentiveness to suburban sprawl. According to a local newspaper, the Daily Local News, Gerlach charged that his opponent was "out of touch" with his constituency.
Gerlach proposed expanding open-space preservation by using zoning laws to encourage developers to incorporate open space into development projects, along with the creation of environmental protection authorities.
During the election, Gerlach's Democratic opponents accused the Western Pennsylvania native of moving to Chester County
for the sole purpose of running against Morris. Gerlach denied that accusation and said he moved to Chester County
because he and his wife saw it as "a great place to work and raise our kids."
Gerlach was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
by 23 votes out of 17,000 cast. He won re-election in 1992 with 64 percent of the vote. Gerlach was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate
in 1994, with 67 percent of the vote, in the newly re-formed 44th
district. He defeated Democrat Barry Robertson (whose campaign was heavily funded by Sam Morris
, Gerlach's opponent four years earlier) in that election, and was re-elected in 1998 without opposition. While in the State Senate, he helped change the state's welfare laws.
While in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Pennsylvania Senate, Gerlach worked to sponsor legislation making it easier for the commonwealth's patchwork of townships to work together to preserve open space. Gov. Tom Ridge
signed Gerlach's legislation into law in 2000.
Gerlach has strongly supported Schuylkill Valley commuter rail. At one point he said of the Bush administration's plan to cut federal money for construction costs from 80 percent to 50 percent: "There's just not going to be enough state and local funds to do the project. It will be a dead project."
The farmland-preservation
and open-space advocacy that Gerlach became known for during his tenure as a state legislator has continued during his congressional career. On Sept. 27, 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Gerlach-sponsored bill H.R. 5313 that would make federal funds available to municipalities around the country to purchase conservation easements. This bill was never acted on by the Senate, and was re-introduced as H.R. 1152 in March 2007.
Gerlach has advocated the passage of legislation that would expand federal regulation of so-called "puppy mills," and cosponsored medical liability legislation.
Gerlach voted to make the Patriot Act permanent, and for continued intelligence gathering without civil oversight as was recommended by the 9/11 Commission
.
Gerlach voted against H. Con. Res. 63 which disapproved of The Surge
, he said it was meaningless, fundamentally vague and would damage troop morale.
He was one of four Pennsylvania Republicans (the others were Todd Platts, Charlie Dent
, and Phil English
) to vote to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the federal hate crimes bill. Mr. Gerlach also opposes the Federal Marriage Amendment
, which would have amended the constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one women. In 2007, however, Gerlach voted against a bill that would have repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” In 2010, Gerlach also voted against the “2010-2011 Defense Appropriations Act,” which would have included a repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” after military certification and review. Gerlach defended this vote, saying, “Voting on this issue six months before Defense Secretary Robert Gates is scheduled to issue a thorough review of the policy and how best to implement any changes does nothing to improve the security of our country or the morale of the brave men and women serving in our military." In 2007-2008, Gerlach received a 64 percent support rating from the Family Research Council, an interest group whose mission statement commits it to being an organization that “shapes public debate and formulates public policy that values human life and upholds the institutions of marriage and the family.”
In 2010, Gerlach voted against the “Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments,” also known as HR 3590 or “The Health Care Reform Bill.” In a statement on the Health Care vote, Gerlach stated that the bill was “written behind closed doors,” and that it “ushers in a new era of big government.” Gerlach also expressed concerns about the bill’s impact on his constituents, saying “In my district, innovation, investment and jobs in the life sciences and biotechnology sector will be at risk because of a new $2 billion per year tax on items used for cancer screening, knee and hip replacement surgery and other life-saving procedures.” Later in 2010, Gerlach voted against HR 1586, a bill designed to appropriate money to states for teacher employment and Medicaid.
In 2009, Gerlach opposed HR 2454, which was designed to amend several laws related to energy and the environment, and included a “cap-and-trade” program to limit greenhouse gas emissions. As Gerlach later explained, “While the bill included some positive provisions to develop alternative and renewable energy our country needs, I voted against this bill because of the devastating effect it will have on working families and the people who create jobs in my district and across Pennsylvania." The League of Conservation Voters, “a national non-profit organization that works to turn environmental values into national priorities,” rated Gerlach at 44 percent on their National Environmental Scorecard. In his 2010 campaign, Gerlach received $41,250 from the Energy/Natural Resource sector.
, which supports government-funded embryonic stem-cell research; and Republicans for Environmental Protection. The liberal Americans for Democratic Action
rated Gerlach's 2005 voting record at 35 points out of 100; the American Conservative Union
ranked him at 56 points, on the same scale. The American Public Health Association scored Representative Gerlach's support record at 44 percent in 2009.
in 2002 from the newly created 6th District, sometimes called the "Pterodactyl District" because of its unusual shape. Although the district was reportedly drawn to elect a Republican, he has had a somewhat difficult time holding onto it in elections, largely due to the growing Democratic trend in the Philadelphia suburbs.
In 2002, he barely defeated Dan Wofford
, son of former U.S. Senator Harris Wofford
, by 51.4 percent to 48.6 percent.
In a 2002 PoliticsPA
feature story
designating politicians with yearbook superlatives
, he was named the "Most Likely to Succeed."
, by 51.0 percent to 49.0 percent.
and Mike Fitzpatrick
) to survive the 2006 election. He overcame a negative political climate that included the then-unpopular war in Iraq, an unpopular president and a well-liked Democratic governor. Geography also played a factor; similar to the previous two cycles Gerlach carried Chester County
, Berks County, and Lehigh County by significant margins, while Murphy carried the heavily Democratic Montgomery County
portion of the district.
nominee Bob Roggio to win a fourth term.
In all three contests, Gerlach survived by swamping his Democratic opponents in Chester County
, where he resides.
nominee Iraq war veteran Manan Trivedi. He won re-election with 57% of the vote.
After forming an exploratory committee in February 2009, Gerlach announced his candidacy on July 15 for Governor of Pennsylvania in the 2010 election
. Gerlach ended his campaign for governor on January 7, 2010.
Gerlach had been mentioned as a potential candidate for the United States Senate
seat held by Arlen Specter
after John Cornyn
, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee
, contacted him following Specter's May 2009 party-switch. Gerlach, however, ultimately decided not to run. Gerlach subsequently announced that he would once again be running for Congress in 2010.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
Early life, education and career
Gerlach was born in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania on February 25, 1955. He graduated from Dickinson CollegeDickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
where he became a member of the Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
Fraternity and the Raven's Claw Honorary Society, with a B.A. in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He also earned his law degree from Dickinson School of Law
Dickinson School of Law
Penn State University Dickinson School of Law is the law school of The Pennsylvania State University...
in 1980. After graduation, Gerlach worked as a legislative aide in the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
.
In 1986, Gerlach moved back to Ellwood City to challenge Frank LaGrotta
Frank LaGrotta
Frank LaGrotta is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 10th District from 1987 to 2006.-Personal life:...
in the race for state representative but lost. In 1987, he returned to Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
to work for the Lamb, Windle & McErlane law firm in West Chester, whose senior partner was then-Chester County Republican Chairman William Lamb.
Pennsylvania Legislature
In preparation for the 1990 election against long time Democratic State Rep. Sam MorrisSamuel Morris (Pennsylvania politician)
Samuel W. Morris was a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.-Career:Morris founded the French and Pickering Creek Trust in 1967. He lost his bid for re-election in 1990 to Jim Gerlach....
, Gerlach visited 8,600 homes in the 155th District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
, building his campaign around what he saw as the incumbent's inattentiveness to suburban sprawl. According to a local newspaper, the Daily Local News, Gerlach charged that his opponent was "out of touch" with his constituency.
Gerlach proposed expanding open-space preservation by using zoning laws to encourage developers to incorporate open space into development projects, along with the creation of environmental protection authorities.
During the election, Gerlach's Democratic opponents accused the Western Pennsylvania native of moving to Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
for the sole purpose of running against Morris. Gerlach denied that accusation and said he moved to Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
because he and his wife saw it as "a great place to work and raise our kids."
Gerlach was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
by 23 votes out of 17,000 cast. He won re-election in 1992 with 64 percent of the vote. Gerlach was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
in 1994, with 67 percent of the vote, in the newly re-formed 44th
Pennsylvania Senate, District 44
Pennsylvania's 44th Senatorial district includes parts of Berks, Chester, and Montgomery CountiesBerks County* Amity Township* Douglass Township* Robeson TownshipChester County* Caln Township* Coatesville* East Brandywine Township* East Nantmeal Township...
district. He defeated Democrat Barry Robertson (whose campaign was heavily funded by Sam Morris
Samuel Morris (Pennsylvania politician)
Samuel W. Morris was a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.-Career:Morris founded the French and Pickering Creek Trust in 1967. He lost his bid for re-election in 1990 to Jim Gerlach....
, Gerlach's opponent four years earlier) in that election, and was re-elected in 1998 without opposition. While in the State Senate, he helped change the state's welfare laws.
While in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Pennsylvania Senate, Gerlach worked to sponsor legislation making it easier for the commonwealth's patchwork of townships to work together to preserve open space. Gov. Tom Ridge
Tom Ridge
Thomas Joseph "Tom" Ridge is an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives , the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania , Assistant to the President for Homeland Security , and the first United States Secretary of Homeland Security...
signed Gerlach's legislation into law in 2000.
Committee assignments
- Committee on Ways and MeansUnited States House Committee on Ways and MeansThe Committee of Ways and Means is the chief tax-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives. Members of the Ways and Means Committee are not allowed to serve on any other House Committees unless they apply for a waiver from their party's congressional leadership...
- Subcommittee on OversightUnited States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on OversightThe House Way and Means Subcommittee on Oversight is one of the six subcommittees within the House Ways and Means Committee-Jurisdiction:From the House Rules:...
- Subcommittee on HealthUnited States House Ways and Means Subcommittee on HealthThe U.S. House Energy Subcommittee on Health is a subcommittee within the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.-Jurisdiction:The House Subcommittee on Health has general jurisdiction over bills and resolutions relating to issues within the scope of the Subcommittee's jurisdiction, and has...
- Subcommittee on Oversight
Caucus memberships
- Congressional COPD Caucus
- House Land Conservation Caucus
- House Land Trust Caucus
- House Ukraine Caucus
- International Conservation CaucusUnited States Congressional International Conservation CaucusThe U.S. Congressional International Conservation Caucus is a bipartisan congressional organization that was founded in September 2003 with the conviction that “the United States of America has the opportunity, the obligation and the interests to advance the conservation of natural resources for...
- Congressional Arts Caucus
Legislative action and stances
In 2003, Gerlach sponsored a new law mandating a new veterans cemetery in the Philadelphia area within four years. The nearest military cemetery to accept casket burials was located 90 miles from Philadelphia.Gerlach has strongly supported Schuylkill Valley commuter rail. At one point he said of the Bush administration's plan to cut federal money for construction costs from 80 percent to 50 percent: "There's just not going to be enough state and local funds to do the project. It will be a dead project."
The farmland-preservation
Farmland preservation
Farmland preservation is a joint effort by non-governmental organizations and local governments to set aside and protect examples of a region's farmland for the use, education, and enjoyment of future generations...
and open-space advocacy that Gerlach became known for during his tenure as a state legislator has continued during his congressional career. On Sept. 27, 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Gerlach-sponsored bill H.R. 5313 that would make federal funds available to municipalities around the country to purchase conservation easements. This bill was never acted on by the Senate, and was re-introduced as H.R. 1152 in March 2007.
Gerlach has advocated the passage of legislation that would expand federal regulation of so-called "puppy mills," and cosponsored medical liability legislation.
Gerlach voted to make the Patriot Act permanent, and for continued intelligence gathering without civil oversight as was recommended by the 9/11 Commission
9/11 Commission
The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, also known as the 9/11 Commission, was set up on November 27, 2002, "to prepare a full and complete account of the circumstances surrounding the September 11, 2001 attacks", including preparedness for and the immediate response to...
.
Gerlach voted against H. Con. Res. 63 which disapproved of The Surge
Iraq War troop surge of 2007
In the context of the Iraq War, the surge refers to United States President George W. Bush's 2007 increase in the number of American troops in order to provide security to Baghdad and Al Anbar Province....
, he said it was meaningless, fundamentally vague and would damage troop morale.
He was one of four Pennsylvania Republicans (the others were Todd Platts, Charlie Dent
Charlie Dent
Charles "Charlie" Dent is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party.The district includes all of Northampton County, most of Lehigh County, and small parts of Berks and Montgomery Counties....
, and Phil English
Phil English
Philip Sheridan "Phil" English served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 - 2009 from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, representing the state's 3rd Congressional district....
) to vote to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the federal hate crimes bill. Mr. Gerlach also opposes the Federal Marriage Amendment
Federal Marriage Amendment
The Federal Marriage Amendment H.J. Res. 56 was a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution which would have limited marriage in the United States to unions of one man and one woman...
, which would have amended the constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one women. In 2007, however, Gerlach voted against a bill that would have repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” In 2010, Gerlach also voted against the “2010-2011 Defense Appropriations Act,” which would have included a repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” after military certification and review. Gerlach defended this vote, saying, “Voting on this issue six months before Defense Secretary Robert Gates is scheduled to issue a thorough review of the policy and how best to implement any changes does nothing to improve the security of our country or the morale of the brave men and women serving in our military." In 2007-2008, Gerlach received a 64 percent support rating from the Family Research Council, an interest group whose mission statement commits it to being an organization that “shapes public debate and formulates public policy that values human life and upholds the institutions of marriage and the family.”
In 2010, Gerlach voted against the “Health Care and Insurance Law Amendments,” also known as HR 3590 or “The Health Care Reform Bill.” In a statement on the Health Care vote, Gerlach stated that the bill was “written behind closed doors,” and that it “ushers in a new era of big government.” Gerlach also expressed concerns about the bill’s impact on his constituents, saying “In my district, innovation, investment and jobs in the life sciences and biotechnology sector will be at risk because of a new $2 billion per year tax on items used for cancer screening, knee and hip replacement surgery and other life-saving procedures.” Later in 2010, Gerlach voted against HR 1586, a bill designed to appropriate money to states for teacher employment and Medicaid.
In 2009, Gerlach opposed HR 2454, which was designed to amend several laws related to energy and the environment, and included a “cap-and-trade” program to limit greenhouse gas emissions. As Gerlach later explained, “While the bill included some positive provisions to develop alternative and renewable energy our country needs, I voted against this bill because of the devastating effect it will have on working families and the people who create jobs in my district and across Pennsylvania." The League of Conservation Voters, “a national non-profit organization that works to turn environmental values into national priorities,” rated Gerlach at 44 percent on their National Environmental Scorecard. In his 2010 campaign, Gerlach received $41,250 from the Energy/Natural Resource sector.
Political positions
Gerlach is a member of two moderate political groups: The Republican Main Street PartnershipRepublican Main Street Partnership
The Republican Main Street Partnership is a group of moderate members of the United States Republican Party. They tend away from the dominant social conservatism of many Republicans and towards a moderate fiscal conservatism and limited government to a degree. The group is the rough equivalent of...
, which supports government-funded embryonic stem-cell research; and Republicans for Environmental Protection. The liberal Americans for Democratic Action
Americans for Democratic Action
Americans for Democratic Action is an American political organization advocating progressive policies. ADA works for social and economic justice through lobbying, grassroots organizing, research and supporting progressive candidates.-History:...
rated Gerlach's 2005 voting record at 35 points out of 100; the American Conservative Union
American Conservative Union
The American Conservative Union is an American political organization advocating conservative policies, and is the oldest such conservative lobbying organization in the country.-Organization:...
ranked him at 56 points, on the same scale. The American Public Health Association scored Representative Gerlach's support record at 44 percent in 2009.
2002
Gerlach was first elected to the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 2002 from the newly created 6th District, sometimes called the "Pterodactyl District" because of its unusual shape. Although the district was reportedly drawn to elect a Republican, he has had a somewhat difficult time holding onto it in elections, largely due to the growing Democratic trend in the Philadelphia suburbs.
In 2002, he barely defeated Dan Wofford
Dan Wofford
Dan Wofford is a Democrat from the state of Pennsylvania. He lost a close congressional race in the 6th district to Jim Gerlach in 2002.Wofford is the son of Pennsylvania senator Harris Wofford...
, son of former U.S. Senator Harris Wofford
Harris Wofford
Harris Llewellyn Wofford served as a Democratic U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania from 1991 to 1995 and as the fifth president of Bryn Mawr College, and is a noted advocate of national service and volunteering...
, by 51.4 percent to 48.6 percent.
In a 2002 PoliticsPA
PoliticsPA
- Content :The website focuses on news aggregation, linking to major political news making headlines across the state. The editors write occasional features, like the weekly "Up & Down" scorecard and one-off lists like "Harrisburg's Smartest Staffer" and "Best Dressed Lobbyist" lists...
feature story
Feature story
- Published Features & news :While the distinction between published features and news is often clear, when approached conceptually there are few hard boundaries between the two. It is quite possible to write a feature in the style of a news story, for instance...
designating politicians with yearbook superlatives
Yearbook
A yearbook, also known as an annual, is a book to record, highlight, and commemorate the past year of a school or a book published annually. Virtually all American, Australian and Canadian high schools, most colleges and many elementary and middle schools publish yearbooks...
, he was named the "Most Likely to Succeed."
2004
In 2004, Gerlach won a close re-election against Democrat Lois MurphyLois Murphy
Lois Murphy is a Democrat from the state of Pennsylvania, who unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. House in Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district against the Republican incumbent, Jim Gerlach in 2004 and 2006....
, by 51.0 percent to 49.0 percent.
2006
In their rematch in 2006, Gerlach again beat Murphy by an even narrower margin of 50.6 percent to 49.4 percent (unofficial results as of November 8, 2006). Gerlach was the only member of the "Philly Trio" of vulnerable Republican Congressmen (the others being Curt WeldonCurt Weldon
Wayne Curtis "Curt" Weldon is an American politician. He served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 2007, representing the 7th district of Pennsylvania. He was defeated in November 2006 for reelection by Joe Sestak. Weldon was vice-chair of the Armed...
and Mike Fitzpatrick
Mike Fitzpatrick
Michael G. "Mike" Fitzpatrick is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party. He was reelected to Congress in 2010, and previously represented the district from 2005 to 2007, but lost to Patrick Murphy in 2006....
) to survive the 2006 election. He overcame a negative political climate that included the then-unpopular war in Iraq, an unpopular president and a well-liked Democratic governor. Geography also played a factor; similar to the previous two cycles Gerlach carried Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
, Berks County, and Lehigh County by significant margins, while Murphy carried the heavily Democratic Montgomery County
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 799,874, making it the third most populous county in Pennsylvania . The county seat is Norristown.The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part...
portion of the district.
2008
In the 2008 election, Gerlach defeated DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee Bob Roggio to win a fourth term.
In all three contests, Gerlach survived by swamping his Democratic opponents in Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
, where he resides.
2010
Gerlach was challenged by DemocraticDemocratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee Iraq war veteran Manan Trivedi. He won re-election with 57% of the vote.
After forming an exploratory committee in February 2009, Gerlach announced his candidacy on July 15 for Governor of Pennsylvania in the 2010 election
Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2010
The Pennsylvania gubernatorial election of 2010 was held on November 2, 2010. The winning candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor will serve a four-year term from 2011 to 2015. Candidates for Lieutenant Governor were nominated in a separate primary contest; however, the Lieutenant Governor,...
. Gerlach ended his campaign for governor on January 7, 2010.
Gerlach had been mentioned as a potential candidate for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
seat held by Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter is a former United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Specter is a Democrat, but was a Republican from 1965 until switching to the Democratic Party in 2009...
after John Cornyn
John Cornyn
John Cornyn, III is the junior United States Senator for Texas, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was elected Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee for the 111th U.S. Congress....
, chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee
National Republican Senatorial Committee
The National Republican Senatorial Committee is the Republican Hill committee for the United States Senate, working to elect Republicans to that body. The NRSC was founded in 1916 as the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee...
, contacted him following Specter's May 2009 party-switch. Gerlach, however, ultimately decided not to run. Gerlach subsequently announced that he would once again be running for Congress in 2010.
External links
- Congressman Jim Gerlach official U.S. House site
- Jim Gerlach for Congress official campaign site
- Profile at SourceWatchSourceWatchSourceWatch is an internet wiki site that is a collaborative project of the liberal Center for Media and Democracy...
- Jim Gerlach at OurCampaigns.com