Congressman Patrick Meehan of Pennsylvania’s seventh congressional district is running for reelection this year against George Badey.
Meehan grew up in Cheltenham, PA. He worked his way through college in odd jobs, like working in a rubber factory and digging manholes over his summer vacations. Meehan graduated in 1978 from Bowdoin College with is Bachelor’s of Arts (B.A.). While in school, he had a passion for ice hockey and spent two years after college as a referee for the National Hockey League. He went on to study at Temple Law School. In 1986 he graduated with his Juris Doctorate (J.D.).
Before entering politics, Patrick Meehan worked as an associate at Dilworth Paxson LLP after earning his J.D.. He later stepped down from his position and worked at Philadelphia’s firm of Conrad O’Brien Gellman & Rohn.
His political career started with Philadelphia’s mayoral race, working under candidate David Marston. He served at Special Counsel to Senator Arlen Specter. He also was campaign manager for district attorneys, state attorneys and even senators.
From 1996 to 2001, Patrick Meehan was the D.A. of Delaware County. While serving, he and his team prosecuted high profile cases. He helped to form the Special Victims Unit for Domestic Violence. He expanded the Youth Aid Panel program. He even established the U.S. Department of Justice’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), a force that has become a model for task forces across the country.
Meehan was appointed in 2001 to serve as the U.S. Attorney for PA’s Eastern District, sworn in days prior to 9/11 by President Bush. He became responsible for the prosecution of federal criminals within nine counties. He brought light to circumstances like manufacturers dumping waste illegally, nursing homes neglecting patients and new techniques to prevent domestic violence.
Meehan was first elected into the House of Representatives on November 2, 2010. He succeed Senator Joe Sestak. He became a member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and he chairs the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, investigating issues like terrorism ties to Iran and risks that extremists pose.
Running for reelection, Congressman Meehan has tweaked his platform a bit. He has campaigned on fiscal responsibility, job creation and the prevention of tax increases. If he is reelected, he said that he will work to put money back into the community, preserve medicare and social security, invest in alternative energy development, and balance the federal budget and lower taxes.
Do you think this Republican should keep his seat in the House of Representatives? Or do you think it’s time for him to step down and let Democrat George Badey have a go?
Only your vote decides.
