Anthony H. Williams
Encyclopedia
Anthony Hardy Williams is a Democratic
member of the Pennsylvania State Senate
, representing the 8th District
since 1998. Prior to entering public service, he worked at PepsiCo as a mid-level executive and later owned a small vending company.
Williams’ fierce advocacy for quality education and school choice is borne out of his own educational experience and witnessing the daily struggles, sacrifices and accomplishments of his mother Carole, an elementary school teacher in inner-city Philadelphia, now retired. His early education began at Anderson Elementary, a neighborhood public school a block from his home. The environment at Anderson elementary was nurturing and the teachers had high expectations for every student, but no one had higher expectations of Williams than his mother who taught there. Anderson Elementary gave Williams a firm educational foundation and had a profound impact on his approach to education. He can still recite the names of each of his teachers.
School overcrowding forced Williams out of Anderson Elementary. In the 4th grade he was bused to Mitchell Elementary, a less highly regarded academic institution. In 6th grade he was admitted to the Conwell Middle Magnet School. Williams did not do well there, amid gang activity and a less structured, experimental learning environment.
Understanding that Williams was not performing to his potential at Conwell, his mother and grandfather were instrumental in getting him accepted to Westtown, a highly regarded college prep school located in the far western suburbs of Philadelphia. It was this choice that his family was able to make for him that turned his life around, both academically and personally. It was in this environment of high expectations, academic focus and scholarly discourse that Williams thrived. He went on to earn a degree in Economics from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA.
Williams credits his family’s fateful decision for him to attend Westtown as the foundation upon which his life is built. That choice, made on his behalf, fuels his desire for all Pennsylvania parents to be able to make the same choice for their children. That is why he fights daily to make school choice a reality in Pennsylvania.
He was sworn in to represent the 191st legislative district
in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
in 1989. In 1998, Williams' father, Pennsylvania State Senator Hardy Williams
, retired hours before the deadline to file nominating petitions, allowing Anthony the opportunity to run unopposed for his father's 8th senatorial district
seat. The younger Williams had already filed his nominating petitions to run for his House seat, so he remained on both ballots. He declined to take his House seat when he won both elections simultaneously.
. In the May primary, he finished third out of four candidates.
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...
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...
, representing the 8th District
Pennsylvania Senate, District 8
Pennsylvania's 8th Senatorial District includes parts of Delaware And Philadelphia CountiesDelaware County* Darby Township * Collingdale* Colwyn* Darby* Folcroft* Glenolden* Lansdowne* Norwood* Prospect Park* Ridley Park...
since 1998. Prior to entering public service, he worked at PepsiCo as a mid-level executive and later owned a small vending company.
Williams’ fierce advocacy for quality education and school choice is borne out of his own educational experience and witnessing the daily struggles, sacrifices and accomplishments of his mother Carole, an elementary school teacher in inner-city Philadelphia, now retired. His early education began at Anderson Elementary, a neighborhood public school a block from his home. The environment at Anderson elementary was nurturing and the teachers had high expectations for every student, but no one had higher expectations of Williams than his mother who taught there. Anderson Elementary gave Williams a firm educational foundation and had a profound impact on his approach to education. He can still recite the names of each of his teachers.
School overcrowding forced Williams out of Anderson Elementary. In the 4th grade he was bused to Mitchell Elementary, a less highly regarded academic institution. In 6th grade he was admitted to the Conwell Middle Magnet School. Williams did not do well there, amid gang activity and a less structured, experimental learning environment.
Understanding that Williams was not performing to his potential at Conwell, his mother and grandfather were instrumental in getting him accepted to Westtown, a highly regarded college prep school located in the far western suburbs of Philadelphia. It was this choice that his family was able to make for him that turned his life around, both academically and personally. It was in this environment of high expectations, academic focus and scholarly discourse that Williams thrived. He went on to earn a degree in Economics from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA.
Williams credits his family’s fateful decision for him to attend Westtown as the foundation upon which his life is built. That choice, made on his behalf, fuels his desire for all Pennsylvania parents to be able to make the same choice for their children. That is why he fights daily to make school choice a reality in Pennsylvania.
He was sworn in to represent the 191st legislative district
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 191
The 191st Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is made up of parts of Delaware County, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania...
in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
in 1989. In 1998, Williams' father, Pennsylvania State Senator Hardy Williams
Hardy Williams
Hardy Williams was an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate.-Background:He faced criticism in the 1980s for questions over his campaign finance practices...
, retired hours before the deadline to file nominating petitions, allowing Anthony the opportunity to run unopposed for his father's 8th senatorial district
Pennsylvania Senate, District 8
Pennsylvania's 8th Senatorial District includes parts of Delaware And Philadelphia CountiesDelaware County* Darby Township * Collingdale* Colwyn* Darby* Folcroft* Glenolden* Lansdowne* Norwood* Prospect Park* Ridley Park...
seat. The younger Williams had already filed his nominating petitions to run for his House seat, so he remained on both ballots. He declined to take his House seat when he won both elections simultaneously.
Current committees and assignments
Williams is the Democratic chairman of the State Government Committee in the state Senate and is a member of the Education, Banking and Insurance, Finance, and the Environmental Resources and Energy committees, and the Life Sciences Caucus. He is also a member of the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts and chairs the Black Elected Officials of Philadelphia County, an ad-hoc group encompassing federal, state and municipal politicians of color. In January 2011, following the death of Mike O'Pake, Williams was elected Democratic Whip.Ward leader
Williams is the Ward Leader of the 3rd Ward Democratic Executive Committee. He also chairs the Philadelphia Democratic United Ward Leaders of Color, a group of ward leaders of color who represent various wards within the City of Philadelphia.Gubernatorial candidacy
On February 23, 2010, Williams declared his candidacy for Governor in the 2010 electionPennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2010
The Pennsylvania gubernatorial election of 2010 was held on November 2, 2010. The winning candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor will serve a four-year term from 2011 to 2015. Candidates for Lieutenant Governor were nominated in a separate primary contest; however, the Lieutenant Governor,...
. In the May primary, he finished third out of four candidates.
External links
- Senator Anthony H. Williams official caucus website
- Pennsylvania State Senate - Anthony H. Williams official PA Senate website
- Anthony Hardy Williams for Pennsylvania Governor official gubernatorial campaign website