Jump to content

Mike Fitzpatrick

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 63.240.104.100 (talk) at 15:34, 5 November 2010 (Fitzpatrick won the 2010 election). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article is about the United States politician. For the Australian Radio & TV host, see Mike Fitzpatrick (broadcaster). For the Australian rules footballer, see Mike Fitzpatrick (footballer).
Mike Fitzpatrick
File:Cong Fitzpatrick.jpg
United States Congressman-elect
for Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 8th district
In office
January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007
Preceded byJim Greenwood
Succeeded byPatrick Murphy
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKathleen Fitzpatrick
ResidenceLevittown, Pennsylvania
Alma materSt. Thomas University, Dickinson School of Law
OccupationAttorney

Michael G. "Mike" Fitzpatrick (born June 28, 1963, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is the Republican Congressman-elect for Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district. He previously served as Congressman for the 8th district from 2005-2007, but lost his bid for re-election in 2006 to Democrat Patrick Murphy by a narrow margin. In the 2010 mid-term election, he defeated Murphy to regain his old seat.

U.S. House of Representatives

Fitzpatrick served on the United States House Committee on Financial Services and the United States House Committee on Small Business.

In May 2006, Fitzpatrick introduced the Deleting Online Predators Act of 2006, which requires most schools and libraries to actively restrict minors from access to "Commercial Social Networking Websites" and "Chat Rooms." He has also voted for the Hyde Amendment banning federal funding for elective abortions.

In late July, the DOPA Act overwhelmingly passed the House. Speaking before the vote was taken, Fitzpatrick said, "The social networking sites have become, in a sense, a happy hunting ground for child predators".[1]

Political campaigns

2004

In July 2004, popular moderate Republican James C. Greenwood unexpectedly withdrew from his re-election campaign. In the party convention held to select Greenwood's replacement on the ballot, the more conservative Fitzpatrick won the nomination over Greenwood's choice, state Senator Joe Conti, thanks to the backing of Bucks County Republican Party boss Harry Fawkes. Fitzpatrick went on to face liberal activist Virginia "Ginny" Schrader (something of a "sacrificial lamb candidate," chosen before Greenwood withdrew) in the general election.[2][3] Fitzpatrick won the general election against Schrader 55.3%-44.3%, with the remaining vote split between two minor candidates.[4] The Pennsylvania 8th District includes all of Bucks County, a sliver of Montgomery County, and parts of two wards in Northeast Philadelphia.[5]

2006

Fitzpatrick faced Democrat Patrick Murphy in the November general election of 2006.

In January 2006, Fitzpatrick said he had donated to charity the $21,500 he received from political action committees headed by U.S. Representatives Bob Ney (R-OH), Tom DeLay, (R-TX), and Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA).[6]

Fitzpatrick was endorsed by several environmental groups including the Sierra Club. He was the only incumbent Republican congressman in Pennsylvania who had the support of the environmentalist lobby during this election.

The Cook Political Report rated this race as "Leans Republican". However, Congressional Quarterly rated this race as "Toss-up" (see Notable U.S. House elections, 2006 — Pennsylvania). An October 30, 2006 poll by Constituent Dynamics showed Fitzpatrick trailing Murphy 47% to 50% ([2]).

On Election night, the votes between the two candidates were within 1%, with Fitzpatrick trailing by just over 1,500 votes out of nearly 250,000 cast.

On November 8, with all precincts reporting, Murphy led by 1,521 votes. Philadelphia television station NBC 10 later reported that Fitzpatrick had conceded the election to Murphy.[7] He along with Mike Sodrel (R-IN) and Joe Schwarz (R-MI) were the only freshman Republicans to be defeated in 2006 (the latter albeit in a primary).

2008

Throughout 2007, there was much speculation that Fitzpatrick would seek to reclaim the seat in Congress that he lost to Murphy.[8] Fitzpatrick laid the rumors to rest in January, 2008 by announcing that he would not be running for Congress, but instead would challenge freshman state Representative Chris King in the 142nd District. Despite charges by some Democrats that he was "afraid to run against Murphy because he knows he would lose," Fitzpatrick claimed that he was interested in the job because of his "passion ... in solving local problems and serving the local community," as well as a desire to "change the way business is done in Harrisburg." [9]

However, family health problems forced Fitzpatrick to end his bid for state representative in early February. Fitzpatrick yielded his spot on the ballot to Republican activist Frank Farry (who went on to win the seat), and supported Doylestown pharmaceutical company executive, Thomas Manion, for the congressional seat he once held.

2010

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2010 § District 8

On January 23, 2010, Fitzpatrick announced he would once again run for Congress in November.[10][11] He won the Republican nomination with 77% of the vote in the May primary.[12] A Franklin and Marshall poll taken in mid-September 2010 suggested the race was leaning towards Fitzpatrick at that time. On November 2, Fitzpatrick defeated Murphy and is currently the Congressman-elect for the 8th district. [13]

Post-congressional career

After the loss to Murphy, Fitzpatrick re-entered the practice of law, taking a position with Middletown Township law firm—and major Republican Party contributor[14] -- Begley, Carlin, and Mandio.[15][16] In the fall of 2007, the Bucks County Commissioners asked Fitzpatrick, along with former Commissioner Andy Warren and former Common Pleas Judge William Hart Rufe to co-chair an effort to pass a ballot initiative authorizing the county to borrow $87 million for open space preservation.[17] The initiative, which was also endorsed by Congressman Murphy, passed by a large margin.

Personal life

Fitzpatrick, his wife Kathleen, and their six children reside in Levittown in Middletown Township.

Fitzpatrick is involved with the Boy Scouts of America and is a member of the Temple Lower Bucks Hospital Board of Directors, the Conwell-Egan Catholic Board of Advisors, the Knights of Columbus, the Levittown Bristol Kiwanis Club, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Brehon Law Society. He is also an Eagle Scout from the Bucks County Council and former president of that council. He was honored with the Silver Beaver Award for his service.[18][19]

Fitzpatrick was diagnosed with colon cancer in June 2008. He reported in November 2008 that the cancer went into remission after chemotherapy.[20]

References

  • "Michael G. Fitzpatrick Biography". fitzpatrick.house.gov. Archived from the original on 2006-08-31.
  1. ^ "Social network sites face US ban". BBC News. July 31, 2006. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  2. ^ Doylestown Patriot - Schrader responds to Greenwood's retirement
  3. ^ 2006 House, Crystal Ball, U.Va
  4. ^ "Election Results - CBSNews.com". CBS News.
  5. ^ "Site Unavailable" (PDF). Dos.state.pa.us. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  6. ^ http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-01222006-601349.html
  7. ^ NBC10.com. Fitzpatrick Concedes Defeat. 2006-11-08.
  8. ^ Mcall.com: Pennsylvania Ave. Blog
  9. ^ Fitzpatrick to run for state House (phillyBurbs.com) | Courier Times
  10. ^ Weckselblatt, Gary (2010-01-13). "Report: Fitzpatrick in D.C. rounding up support". PhillyBurbs.com. Retrieved 2010-08-23.
  11. ^ [1][dead link]
  12. ^ Walsh, Brian (2010-07-08). "2010 Race of the Day: PA-08". Townhall.com. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
  13. ^ "Franklin and Marshall College Poll" (PDF). Retrieved 5 October 2010.
  14. ^ Above Average Jane Blog: Mike Fitzpatrick's Political Origins
  15. ^ Attorney Michael Fitzpatrick, Begley, Carlin & Mandio, Langhorne, Pennsylvania
  16. ^ Pay to play not a given in Bucks (phillyBurbs.com) | Intelligencer
  17. ^ Big push for open space support (phillyBurbs.com) | Outdoor
  18. ^ Hasel, David E. (Spring 2002). "contests New Bucks County,Pennsylvania Boy Scouts to Launch the Essay Contest" (PDF). Laws of Life. Retrieved 2007-09-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: year (link)
  19. ^ "Mike Fitzpatrick for Congress2006". FitzpatrickforCongress.com. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
  20. ^ John Mullane (2008-11-27). "A second chance". Bucks County Courier Times, archived at WebCite. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mike Fitzpatrick.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district
2005–2007 		Succeeded by

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mike_Fitzpatrick&oldid=395000569"