Robert J. Thompson
Encyclopedia
Robert J. Thompson was a Republican
member of the Pennsylvania State Senate
.
, Thompson earned a degree in journalism from Penn State University in 1959. He then worked as a photographer for the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin
, published in-house magazines for Electric Hose & Rubber Corp. in Wilmington and Lukens Steel Company
, and Fidelity Bank. He was the founding director of the Chester County
Chamber of Commerce.
Board of Supervisors from 1970 through 1976. In 1979, he was elected to the Chester County, Pennsylvania
Board of Commissioners, a position he held until 1986.
in the Pennsylvania Senate in a special election held on November 7, 1995. The special election was triggered by the August resignation of incumbent Republican Earl Baker
, with whom Thompson had previously served on the Chester County Board of Commissioners. Thompson defeated Democrat Sara Nichols (along with Libertarian candidate Thomas McGrady, Jr.) by a relatively narrow margin. Thompson's margin of victory was considered stunningly narrow by many political observers.
After filing paperwork to challenge Thompson once again the following year, this time for a full term, Nichols withdrew from the race and moved out of the area. By virtue of her stunningly strong showing in the special election, many observers expected the rematch to be close, but Nichols' withdrawal and move was prompted by her husband's acceptance of a position in the Los Angeles area
. Democrats selected Downingtown area
native and inventory planner Thomas Bosak as Nichols' replacement on the ballot. Thomspon went on to defeat Bosak handily.
Thompson easily won election to a second full term in 2000
, once again defeating Bosak by a wide margin. He was re-elected once again in 2004
, this time without any Democratic opposition.
named him to the "The Pennsylvania Report Power 75" list of influential figures in Pennsylvania politics.
at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
The ensuing special election
triggered by his death was won by Democrat Andy Dinniman
, who defeated Republican Carol Aichele
in a stunning upset, becoming the first Democrat elected to represent Chester County in the state Senate since 1890.
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 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...
.
Early life
A native of West Chester, PennsylvaniaWest Chester, Pennsylvania
The Borough of West Chester is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,461 at the 2010 census.Valley Forge, the Brandywine Battlefield, Longwood Gardens, Marsh Creek State Park, and other historical attractions are near West Chester...
, Thompson earned a degree in journalism from Penn State University in 1959. He then worked as a photographer for the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin
Philadelphia Bulletin
For the 2004 resurrection of the Bulletin, see The Bulletin .The Philadelphia Bulletin was a daily evening newspaper published from 1847 to 1982 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was the largest circulation newspaper in Philadelphia for 76 years and was once the largest evening newspaper in the...
, published in-house magazines for Electric Hose & Rubber Corp. in Wilmington and Lukens Steel Company
Lukens Steel Company
Lukens Steel Company is located in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Lukens is the oldest steel mill in commission within the United States. In 1995 it was one of the three largest producers of plate steel and the largest domestic manufacturer of alloy-plate. It is ranked fourth out of 24 public steel...
, and Fidelity Bank. He was the founding director of the 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...
Chamber of Commerce.
Political career
Thompson served on the West Goshen TownshipWest Goshen Township, Pennsylvania
West Goshen Township is a township in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 21,866 at the 2010 census. In 2009, Money Magazine voted West Goshen as the 11th best small town in America....
Board of Supervisors from 1970 through 1976. In 1979, he was elected to the Chester County, Pennsylvania
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...
Board of Commissioners, a position he held until 1986.
State Senate elections
He was first elected to represent the 19th senatorial districtPennsylvania Senate, District 19
Pennsylvania's 19th Senatorial district includes parts of Chester And Montgomery Counties.The district is currently represented by Democrat Andrew Dinniman.Chester County* Charlestown Township* Downingtown* East Bradford Township* East Caln Township...
in the Pennsylvania Senate in a special election held on November 7, 1995. The special election was triggered by the August resignation of incumbent Republican Earl Baker
Earl M. Baker
Earl M. Baker is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate. Baker also served twelve years as a member of the Chester County Board of Commissioners, and is a former Chairman of the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania....
, with whom Thompson had previously served on the Chester County Board of Commissioners. Thompson defeated Democrat Sara Nichols (along with Libertarian candidate Thomas McGrady, Jr.) by a relatively narrow margin. Thompson's margin of victory was considered stunningly narrow by many political observers.
After filing paperwork to challenge Thompson once again the following year, this time for a full term, Nichols withdrew from the race and moved out of the area. By virtue of her stunningly strong showing in the special election, many observers expected the rematch to be close, but Nichols' withdrawal and move was prompted by her husband's acceptance of a position in the Los Angeles area
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Democrats selected Downingtown area
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Downingtown is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, west of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 7,891. Downingtown was settled by English and European colonists in the early 18th century and has a number of historic buildings and structures.-History:The town was...
native and inventory planner Thomas Bosak as Nichols' replacement on the ballot. Thomspon went on to defeat Bosak handily.
Thompson easily won election to a second full term in 2000
Pennsylvania Senate elections, 2000
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate were held on November 7, 2000, with even-numbered districts being contested. State Senators are elected for four-year terms, with half of the Senate seats up for a vote every two years. The term of office for those elected in 2000 ran from January 3, 2001...
, once again defeating Bosak by a wide margin. He was re-elected once again in 2004
Pennsylvania Senate elections, 2004
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate were held on November 2, 2004, with even-numbered districts being contested. State Senators are elected for four-year terms, with half of the Senate seats up for a vote every two years. The term of office for those elected in 2004 will run from January 4,...
, this time without any Democratic opposition.
Later political career
Thompson was elected Majority Appropriations Chairman by the Senate Republican Caucus in 2001. In 2003, The Pennsylvania ReportPennsylvania Report
The Pennsylvania Report is an independent bi-weekly subscription-based political newspaper published in Pennsylvania. It is "widely read by the state's political junkies." It was founded in 1985 by David Buffington, a former public relations worker for the Pennsylvania Government.It provides...
named him to the "The Pennsylvania Report Power 75" list of influential figures in Pennsylvania politics.
Death
He died on January 28, 2006 from pulmonary fibrosisPulmonary fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis is the formation or development of excess fibrous connective tissue in the lungs. It is also described as "scarring of the lung".-Symptoms:Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are mainly:...
at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is a hospital affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania Health System located in the University City section of West Philadelphia. The hospital was founded at its current location in 1874 by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine,...
The ensuing special election
Pennsylvania Senate elections, 2006
The 2006 Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate were held on November 7, 2006, with even-numbered districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on May 16, 2006. State Senators are elected for four-year terms, with half of the Senate seats up for a vote every two years...
triggered by his death was won by Democrat Andy Dinniman
Andy Dinniman
Andrew E. "Andy" Dinniman is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate who has represented the 19th District since June 2006.-Education and early life:...
, who defeated Republican Carol Aichele
Carol Aichele
Carol Aichele is an American politician and teacher. She currently serves as Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.-Teaching career and early political involvement:...
in a stunning upset, becoming the first Democrat elected to represent Chester County in the state Senate since 1890.
External links
- Pennsylvania State Senate - Robert J. Thompson (R) official PA Senate website (archived)
- Pennsylvania Senate Republican Caucus - Robert J. Thompson official Party website (archived)