Kathy Dahlkemper
Encyclopedia
Kathleen Ann "Kathy" Dahlkemper (born December 10, 1957) is the former U.S. Representative
for , serving from 2009 until 2011. She is a member of the Democratic Party
.
The district is based in Erie
and includes most of the northwestern portion of the state.
) with a degree in dietetics. She worked for more than 20 years as a clinical dietician in the Erie area. Since 1997, she has been part-owner, human resources manager and special projects director of Dahlkemper Landscape Architects and Contractors, a major landscaping
firm in the area. She is a co-founder/director of the Lake Erie Arboretum
at Frontier Park.
also known as "Card Check". Dahlkemper identifies herself as pro-life
, and was the "Hall of Fame" Award recipient at the 2009 Conference of Democrats for Life of America
. Dahlkemper initially supported the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, an anti-abortion amendment to America's Affordable Health Care Act of 2009 (HR 3962), but later voted in favor of Affordable Health Care Act without the Stupak-Pitts Amendment.
nomination for the 3rd District in October 2007. She defeated the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
's favored candidate, Erie County
Councilman
Kyle Foust, by an unexpectedly wide 19-point margin.
In the general election, Dahlkemper faced seven-term Republican
incumbent Phil English
. During the campaign, she attacked English for breaking his original promise to only serve six terms in Congress, and also tied him to the Bush administration. She raised $872,000 to English's $2.2 million, but was aided by large spending by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. In the November election, Dahlkemper won in an upset, taking 51 percent of the vote to English's 49 percent. Though she won only two of the district's seven counties, Dahlkemper secured victory by defeating English in Erie County, winning it by nearly 16,000 votes.
Dahlkemper was the first Democrat to represent what is now the 3rd District since Joseph Vigorito was toppled by Marc L. Marks
in 1976, and only the third Democrat to represent the district since 1893. Although the district is anchored by heavily Democratic Erie, the largest city in the district (no other city has more than 17,000 people), it has historically elected moderate Republicans (most notably Tom Ridge
, who represented it from 1981 to 1995).
Dahlkemper was the first woman to represent northwest Pennsylvania in the House, and was one of two women in the 19-member delegation from Pennsylvania, the other being Allyson Schwartz
of the Philadelphia area.
Her husband Dan was elected the first male President of the Congressional Spouses’ freshman class in 2009.
by 11.4%, the highest percentage for any incumbent Congressman from Pennsylvania in 2010. While she carried Erie, she lost badly in the rest of the district.
's Worldwide Marriage Encounter.
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 from 2009 until 2011. She is a member of the Democratic Party
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...
.
The district is based in Erie
Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
and includes most of the northwestern portion of the state.
Early life, education and career
Born as Kathleen Ann Steenberge, she graduated in 1982 from Edinboro State College (now Edinboro University of PennsylvaniaEdinboro University of Pennsylvania
Edinboro University is a public liberal arts university located in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, USA and one of 14 schools associated with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. The town is named after Edinburgh, Scotland. It is also not to be confused with the University of Edinburgh...
) with a degree in dietetics. She worked for more than 20 years as a clinical dietician in the Erie area. Since 1997, she has been part-owner, human resources manager and special projects director of Dahlkemper Landscape Architects and Contractors, a major landscaping
Landscaping
Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land, including:# living elements, such as flora or fauna; or what is commonly referred to as gardening, the art and craft of growing plants with a goal of creating a beautiful environment within the landscape.#...
firm in the area. She is a co-founder/director of the Lake Erie Arboretum
Lake Erie Arboretum
Lake Erie Arboretum is a young arboretum located within Frontier Park, at the intersection of 8th Street and Bayfront Parkway, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA. It is open daily without fee....
at Frontier Park.
Committee assignments
- Committee on AgricultureUnited States House Committee on AgricultureThe U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, or Agriculture Committee is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The House Committee on Agriculture has general jurisdiction over federal agriculture policy and oversight of some federal agencies, and it can recommend funding...
- Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and ResearchUnited States House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and ResearchThe House Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry is a subcommittee within the House Agriculture Committee. The subcommittee oversees all agricultural matters relating to soil, water, and resource conservation; small watershed program; energy and biobased energy production; rural...
- Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry
- Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research
- Committee on Science and Technology
- Subcommittee on Investigations and OversightUnited States House Science Subcommittee on Investigations and OversightThe Science Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight is one of five subcommittees of the United States House Committee on Science and Technology...
- Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight
- Committee on Small BusinessUnited States House Committee on Small BusinessThe United States House Committee on Small Business is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives.-History:On December 4, 1941, the U. S...
- Subcommittee on Regulations, Healthcare and TradeUnited States House Small Business Subcommittee on Regulations, Healthcare and TradeThe House Small Business Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade is one of five subcommittees of the House Small Business Committee.-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:**House Small Business Committee...
(Chairwoman) - Subcommittee on Rural and Urban EntrepreneurshipUnited States House Small Business Subcommittee on Rural and Urban EntrepreneurshipThe House Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce is one of five subcommittees of the House Small Business Committee.-Members, 112th Congress:-External links:**House Small Business Committee...
- Subcommittee on Regulations, Healthcare and Trade
Tenure
Dahlkemper was a member of the Blue Dog Coalition. She supported the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for the Armed Forces, and was a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice ActEmployee Free Choice Act
The Employee Free Choice Act was a legislative bill that was introduced into both chambers of the U.S. Congress on March 10, 2009. The bill's purpose was to,...
also known as "Card Check". Dahlkemper identifies herself as pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
, and was the "Hall of Fame" Award recipient at the 2009 Conference of Democrats for Life of America
Democrats for Life of America
Democrats for Life of America is an advocacy group in the United States attempting to reshape the political left, primarily the Democratic Party, into taking a pro-life position. Usually this involves political opposition to abortion, but the DFLA also opposes capital punishment and euthanasia...
. Dahlkemper initially supported the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, an anti-abortion amendment to America's Affordable Health Care Act of 2009 (HR 3962), but later voted in favor of Affordable Health Care Act without the Stupak-Pitts Amendment.
2008
Despite having never run for political office before, Dahlkemper announced her candidacy for the 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...
nomination for the 3rd District in October 2007. She defeated the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is the Democratic Hill committee for the United States House of Representatives, working to elect Democrats to that body. They play a critical role in recruiting candidates, raising funds, and organizing races in districts that are expected to yield...
's favored candidate, Erie County
Erie County, Pennsylvania
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 280,566. Its county seat is the City of Erie.- Geography :...
Councilman
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
Kyle Foust, by an unexpectedly wide 19-point margin.
In the general election, Dahlkemper faced seven-term Republican
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...
incumbent 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....
. During the campaign, she attacked English for breaking his original promise to only serve six terms in Congress, and also tied him to the Bush administration. She raised $872,000 to English's $2.2 million, but was aided by large spending by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. In the November election, Dahlkemper won in an upset, taking 51 percent of the vote to English's 49 percent. Though she won only two of the district's seven counties, Dahlkemper secured victory by defeating English in Erie County, winning it by nearly 16,000 votes.
Dahlkemper was the first Democrat to represent what is now the 3rd District since Joseph Vigorito was toppled by Marc L. Marks
Marc L. Marks
Marc Lincoln Marks, , Farrell, Pennsylvania, USA, is a Republican ex-member of the U.S. House of Representatives.Marks served in the United States Army Air Corps from 1945 to 1946...
in 1976, and only the third Democrat to represent the district since 1893. Although the district is anchored by heavily Democratic Erie, the largest city in the district (no other city has more than 17,000 people), it has historically elected moderate Republicans (most notably 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...
, who represented it from 1981 to 1995).
Dahlkemper was the first woman to represent northwest Pennsylvania in the House, and was one of two women in the 19-member delegation from Pennsylvania, the other being Allyson Schwartz
Allyson Schwartz
Allyson Young Schwartz is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes parts of Montgomery County and Northeast Philadelphia...
of the Philadelphia area.
Her husband Dan was elected the first male President of the Congressional Spouses’ freshman class in 2009.
2010
Dahlkemper was defeated by Republican businessman Mike KellyMike Kelly (Pennsylvania)
George Joseph "Mike" Kelly, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and pre-congressional career:...
by 11.4%, the highest percentage for any incumbent Congressman from Pennsylvania in 2010. While she carried Erie, she lost badly in the rest of the district.
Personal life
Dahlkemper is married to Dan Dahlkemper, and has five grown children - Aron, Gretchen, Linden, Tricia, and Nathan. She and her husband currently serve on the board of the Diocese of ErieRoman Catholic Diocese of Erie
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie is a Roman Catholic diocese in western Pennsylvania. It was founded on July 29, 1853. It is one of seven suffragan sees in Pennsylvania that make up the Ecclesiastical Province of Philadelphia, which is headed by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia.-...
's Worldwide Marriage Encounter.
External links
- Kathy Dahlkemper 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...