Kevin J. Boyle
Encyclopedia
Kevin J. Boyle is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He is the state Representative from Pennsylvania House District 172, which covers parts of Northeast Philadelphia. Kevin was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2010 when he ran against 32 year incumbent and former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House John Perzel. Kevin is the younger brother of State Representative Brendan F. Boyle
and together they are the only set of brothers to serve simultaneously in Pennsylvania's lower house in its over 250 year history.
.
He later attended La Salle University
in Philadelphia, and received a Master's degree in Educational Policy from Harvard University
. After graduating from Harvard, he worked at a national foster care agency, the Alliance for Children and Families, in Washington, D.C.
in the 170th PA House district. Although Brendan would lose that year to Rep. Kenney, the race was an educational experience for both Boyles and created the framework for a re-match between Brendan Boyle and Rep. Kenney in 2006. In the 2006 election against Rep. Kenney, Kevin served as his brothers campaign manager again, but Brendan would find himself falling to Rep. Kinney for a second straight election.
In 2007, Kevin changed his focus and worked on Bill Greenlee
's campaign for a City Council seat in Philadelphia. Greenlee was a political outsider and reformer who easily connected with Kevin on a number of issues concerning the city of Philadelphia. Greenlee won his election in November 2007 and named Boyle as his Legislative Director, a role Boyle held for nearly 3 years until he stepped down from the job before entering into his own race for State Representative in 2010.
In 2008 Kevin was the treasurer for his brothers campaign against Matt Taubenberger for the 170th PA house district. Taubenberger, son of former mayoral candidate Al Taubenberger
, and a member of the conservative Taubenberger political family of Philadelphia, was the Boyle's second attempt at challenging the established political hierarchy of Philadelphia after facing George Kenney
in two previous elections. Brendan won his race against Taubenberger, 59.2% to 40.8%. The election put the brothers on a small list of young rising political stars within Philadelphia.
In 2009, Boyle learned of Rep. John Perzel's indictment on 82 different counts tied in with the "Bonusgate" scandal and decided to run for Perzel's seat. After beating two challengers in the Democratic primary in May 2010, Kevin went on to face off against Rep. Perzel in the November general election. Perzel was a 32-year incumbent, and earlier in the decade had been Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Running a campaign that advocated clean and honest government as well as vowing to fight absentee landlords and bring jobs back to northeast Philadelphia, Boyle won the election against Perzel in a major upset that bucked the political trends of the rest of the country 53.83% to 46.14%. He was sworn in as the Representative from the 172nd PA House district in January 2011.
Brendan F. Boyle
Brendan F. Boyle is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He is the state Representative from Pennsylvania House District 170, which covers parts of Northeast Philadelphia and Montgomery County....
and together they are the only set of brothers to serve simultaneously in Pennsylvania's lower house in its over 250 year history.
Early life
Kevin was born to Eileen and Francis Boyle, Irish immigrants who worked as a crossing guard and a SEPTA maintenance worker respectively. Boyle was raised in the Olney section of Philadelphia, and attended Cardinal Dougherty High SchoolCardinal Dougherty High School
Cardinal Dougherty High School was a private, Roman Catholic high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia...
.
He later attended La Salle University
La Salle University
La Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the school was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. As of 2008 the school has approximately 7,554...
in Philadelphia, and received a Master's degree in Educational Policy from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. After graduating from Harvard, he worked at a national foster care agency, the Alliance for Children and Families, in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Political career
Kevin and Brendan Boyle began their involvement in Philadelphia politics in 2004 when Kevin was the campaign manager for Brendan's run against long time State Representative George T. KenneyGeorge T. Kenney
George T. Kenney Jr. was a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, who represented the 170th District from 1985 to 2008. He and his wife live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and have 5 children. He retired prior to the 2008 election and was succeeded by Democrat Brendan F...
in the 170th PA House district. Although Brendan would lose that year to Rep. Kenney, the race was an educational experience for both Boyles and created the framework for a re-match between Brendan Boyle and Rep. Kenney in 2006. In the 2006 election against Rep. Kenney, Kevin served as his brothers campaign manager again, but Brendan would find himself falling to Rep. Kinney for a second straight election.
In 2007, Kevin changed his focus and worked on Bill Greenlee
Bill Greenlee
Bill Greenlee is a prominent lobbyist in Pennsylvania, where he is the founder of the Greenlee Partners lobbying firm.Greenlee first worked on political campaigns with William Scranton's 1962 campaign for Pennsylvania Governor. He worked on the staff of several legislators in the Pennsylvania House...
's campaign for a City Council seat in Philadelphia. Greenlee was a political outsider and reformer who easily connected with Kevin on a number of issues concerning the city of Philadelphia. Greenlee won his election in November 2007 and named Boyle as his Legislative Director, a role Boyle held for nearly 3 years until he stepped down from the job before entering into his own race for State Representative in 2010.
In 2008 Kevin was the treasurer for his brothers campaign against Matt Taubenberger for the 170th PA house district. Taubenberger, son of former mayoral candidate Al Taubenberger
Al Taubenberger
Alfred Wilhelm "Al" Taubenberger is the president of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and president of the Burholme Civic Association and Town Watch. He is also a Republican politician from Northeast Philadelphia. He has run for office three times, losing each time...
, and a member of the conservative Taubenberger political family of Philadelphia, was the Boyle's second attempt at challenging the established political hierarchy of Philadelphia after facing George Kenney
George Kenney
George Churchill Kenney was a United States Army Air Forces general during World War II. He was commander of the Allied air forces in the Southwest Pacific Area from August 1942 until 1945.-Early life:...
in two previous elections. Brendan won his race against Taubenberger, 59.2% to 40.8%. The election put the brothers on a small list of young rising political stars within Philadelphia.
In 2009, Boyle learned of Rep. John Perzel's indictment on 82 different counts tied in with the "Bonusgate" scandal and decided to run for Perzel's seat. After beating two challengers in the Democratic primary in May 2010, Kevin went on to face off against Rep. Perzel in the November general election. Perzel was a 32-year incumbent, and earlier in the decade had been Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Running a campaign that advocated clean and honest government as well as vowing to fight absentee landlords and bring jobs back to northeast Philadelphia, Boyle won the election against Perzel in a major upset that bucked the political trends of the rest of the country 53.83% to 46.14%. He was sworn in as the Representative from the 172nd PA House district in January 2011.