Jon D. Fox
Encyclopedia
Jon D. Fox was a Republican
member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
.
Jon Fox was born in Abington, Pennsylvania
. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University
in State College, PA in 1969, and earned a J.D.
from the Delaware School of Law (now Widener University School of Law
), in Wilmington, Delaware
, in 1975. He served in the United States Air Force Reserve from 1969 to 1975. He held positions with the General Services Administration
, and was a guest lecturer for the Presidential Classroom for Young Americans. From 1976 to 1984 he was assistant district attorney
.
In 1984, he made his first successful run at political office, winning a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
. He would serve in the House until 1991 when he challenged the incumbent GOP commissioners for the Montgomery County
Board of Commissioners in the 1991 primary election
. Fox and Mario Mele defeated the incumbents and went on to win the general election. However, Fox, who believed that he would be elected chairman, was surprised when Mele nominated himself for the job with Democratic
Commissioner Joe Hoeffel
seconding.
In 1992, he ran unsuccessfully for Congress against Democrat Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky
, losing by less than 1,400 votes. However, Fox sought a rematch in 1994 and with Mezvinsky saddled with a vote for a tax increase, Fox became part of the 1994 Republican Revolution
.
Fox was re-elected once, in 1996, over Democrat Joe Hoeffel
. His margin of victory was a mere 84 votes out of nearly 250,000 cast. In 1998, three Republicans, Mike McMonagle, Melissa Brown
and Jonathan Newman challenged him in the GOP primary. Fox staved off the internal challenge but now faced Hoeffel in a rematch for the general election. Fox also faced a backlash after the impeachment
of President Clinton
; the 13th, once a Republican stronghold, had become increasingly friendly to Democrats in the 1990s. In November, Fox was unable to overcome the challenges his campaign faced, losing 51.6%-46.6%.
In 2004, State Representative Ellen Bard
gave up her seat to run for Congress and Fox was tapped to try and retain her seat. Fox faced newcomer Josh Shapiro
in a district that was increasingly favorable for Democrats. His campaign did not gain traction with the electorate, and he was defeated 54.3%-44.7%.
Fox resides in Abington with wife and son. He is active in the Republican Party as the Area Chairman for Abington Township
. He practices law and also works as an instructor at Manor College
in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
.
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...
member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Jon Fox was born in Abington, Pennsylvania
Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Abington Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 55,310 in as of the 2010 census.Abington Township is one of Montgomery County's oldest communities dating back to before 1700 and being incorporated in 1704. It is home to some of the county's...
. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
in State College, PA in 1969, and earned a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the Delaware School of Law (now Widener University School of Law
Widener University School of Law
Widener University School of Law is the ABA accredited law school of Widener University. The school, founded in 1971 as the Delaware Law School, operates on two of Widener's campuses, one in Wilmington, Delaware, and the other in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania....
), in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, in 1975. He served in the United States Air Force Reserve from 1969 to 1975. He held positions with the General Services Administration
General Services Administration
The General Services Administration is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S...
, and was a guest lecturer for the Presidential Classroom for Young Americans. From 1976 to 1984 he was assistant district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
.
In 1984, he made his first successful run at political office, winning a seat in 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....
. He would serve in the House until 1991 when he challenged the incumbent GOP commissioners for the 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...
Board of Commissioners in the 1991 primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
. Fox and Mario Mele defeated the incumbents and went on to win the general election. However, Fox, who believed that he would be elected chairman, was surprised when Mele nominated himself for the job with Democratic
Democratic 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...
Commissioner Joe Hoeffel
Joe Hoeffel
Joseph Merrill "Joe" Hoeffel III 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....
seconding.
In 1992, he ran unsuccessfully for Congress against Democrat Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky
Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky
Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania and a women's right activist. She is a former journalist and a former politician for the Democratic Party. From 1993 to 1995 she was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing...
, losing by less than 1,400 votes. However, Fox sought a rematch in 1994 and with Mezvinsky saddled with a vote for a tax increase, Fox became part of the 1994 Republican Revolution
Republican Revolution
The Republican Revolution or Revolution of '94 is what the media dubbed Republican Party success in the 1994 U.S. midterm elections, which resulted in a net gain of 54 seats in the House of Representatives, and a pickup of eight seats in the Senate...
.
Fox was re-elected once, in 1996, over Democrat Joe Hoeffel
Joe Hoeffel
Joseph Merrill "Joe" Hoeffel III 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....
. His margin of victory was a mere 84 votes out of nearly 250,000 cast. In 1998, three Republicans, Mike McMonagle, Melissa Brown
Melissa Brown
Melissa Brown is an ophthalmologist from Flourtown, Pennsylvania who is a member of the Republican Party. She was also a three-time candidate for the US House of Representatives.-Personal:...
and Jonathan Newman challenged him in the GOP primary. Fox staved off the internal challenge but now faced Hoeffel in a rematch for the general election. Fox also faced a backlash after the impeachment
Impeachment of Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton, President of the United States, was impeached by the House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice on December 19, 1998, but acquitted by the Senate on February 12, 1999. Two other impeachment articles, a second perjury charge and a charge of abuse of...
of President Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
; the 13th, once a Republican stronghold, had become increasingly friendly to Democrats in the 1990s. In November, Fox was unable to overcome the challenges his campaign faced, losing 51.6%-46.6%.
In 2004, State Representative Ellen Bard
Ellen Bard
Ellen M. Bard was a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.Bard was a 1971 graduate of Pomona College. She also earned a M.S. degree from the Boston University School of Public Communication in 1972 and another M.S...
gave up her seat to run for Congress and Fox was tapped to try and retain her seat. Fox faced newcomer Josh Shapiro
Josh Shapiro
Josh Shapiro is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 153rd legislative district since 2005...
in a district that was increasingly favorable for Democrats. His campaign did not gain traction with the electorate, and he was defeated 54.3%-44.7%.
Fox resides in Abington with wife and son. He is active in the Republican Party as the Area Chairman for Abington Township
Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Abington Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 55,310 in as of the 2010 census.Abington Township is one of Montgomery County's oldest communities dating back to before 1700 and being incorporated in 1704. It is home to some of the county's...
. He practices law and also works as an instructor at Manor College
Manor College
Located in suburban Philadelphia, "Manor College" is a two-year institution offering transfer and career-oriented programs to traditional age and adult students...
in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
Jenkintown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, about 10 miles north of downtown Philadelphia. "Jenkintown" is also used to describe a number of neighborhoods surrounding the borough, which also are known by names such as Rydal, Jenkintown Manor and Noble...
.