Bryan Lentz
Encyclopedia
Bryan Roy Lentz is a private attorney in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is the former Pennsylvania State Representative
for the 161st legislative district
(2007-2010), and he was the 2010 Democratic
nominee for U.S. Representative
for . He is an Iraq War veteran and former prosecutor.
, to Martin and Bonnie Minehart Lentz. His father was mobilized in 1962 to help desegregate
the University of Mississippi
. A fourth generation army veteran, Lentz attended Valley Forge Military Academy and College
and earned a degree in philosophy Georgetown University
in 1986 on a full army scholarship. Following graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army infantry and was assigned to the Second Battalion of the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, NC
. Lentz served overseas in Iraq
, where he commanded a Civil Affairs
unit assisting with improving the infrastructure and rebuilding civil governance of Mosul, Iraq. Lentz also served with the Multinational Force and Observers
in the Sinai Peninsula
and with NATO peacekeeping missions in Bosnia. He earned the Bronze Star
and the War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
.
Lentz earned a law degree from Temple University School of Law in 1993. He has worked as attorney in private practice and for six years as a prosecutor in the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.
in the Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district
against Curt Weldon
. After discussions with party officials, however, Lentz decided to bow out in favor of Rear Admiral
Joe Sestak. Instead, he ran for the State House
. He defeated incumbent Tom Gannon
with 51.5% of the vote.
In 2008
Lentz won reelection to the State House, defeating Republican challenger Joe Hackett
, and increasing his share of the vote to 55.4%.
nominee Pat Meehan
and American Congress Party nominee Jim Schneller.
On November 12, 2009, Lentz announced his candidacy for . He sought to replace Joe Sestak, the two-term Democratic incumbent who ran for the United States Senate
.
Lentz ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination in the Democratic primary on May 18, 2010.
Meehan won the general election with 54.9% of the vote, while Lentz received 44.0%; Schneller ended up with 1.1%.
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....
for the 161st legislative district
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 161
The 161st Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is located in Delaware County and includes the following areas:* Aston Township * Brookhaven* Marple Township ** Ward 05 [PART, Division 02]* Nether Providence Township...
(2007-2010), and he was the 2010 Democratic
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...
nominee for U.S. Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for . He is an Iraq War veteran and former prosecutor.
Early life, education and career
Bryan Lentz was born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, to Martin and Bonnie Minehart Lentz. His father was mobilized in 1962 to help desegregate
Ole Miss riot of 1962
The Ole Miss riot 1962 was a riot fought between Southern segregationist civilians and federal and state forces as a result of the forced enrollment of black student James Meredith at the University of Mississippi at Oxford, Mississippi.On October 1, 1962, James H...
the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
. A fourth generation army veteran, Lentz attended Valley Forge Military Academy and College
Valley Forge Military Academy and College
Valley Forge Military Academy & College is an American all male preparatory boarding school and coeducational junior college in the military school tradition...
and earned a degree in philosophy Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in 1986 on a full army scholarship. Following graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army infantry and was assigned to the Second Battalion of the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, NC
Fort Bragg (North Carolina)
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
. Lentz served overseas in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, where he commanded a Civil Affairs
Civil Affairs
Civil Affairs is a term used by both the United Nations and by military institutions , but for different purposes in each case.-United Nations Civil Affairs:...
unit assisting with improving the infrastructure and rebuilding civil governance of Mosul, Iraq. Lentz also served with the Multinational Force and Observers
Multinational Force and Observers
The Multinational Force and Observers is an international peacekeeping force overseeing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.-Background:...
in the Sinai Peninsula
Sinai Peninsula
The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai is a triangular peninsula in Egypt about in area. It is situated between the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Red Sea to the south, and is the only part of Egyptian territory located in Asia as opposed to Africa, effectively serving as a land bridge between two...
and with NATO peacekeeping missions in Bosnia. He earned the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
and the War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is a United States armed forces military award created by George W. Bush on March 12, 2003 by Executive Order 13289. It recognizes those military service members who have deployed overseas in direct service to the War on Terror from September 11,...
.
Lentz earned a law degree from Temple University School of Law in 1993. He has worked as attorney in private practice and for six years as a prosecutor in the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office.
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In 2006, he planned to run for the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in the Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district
Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district
Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district incorporates parts of the Philadelphia suburbs, including most of Delaware County. It is currently represented by Republican Pat Meehan in the 112th United States Congress....
against Curt Weldon
Curt Weldon
Wayne Curtis "Curt" Weldon is an American politician. He served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1987 to 2007, representing the 7th district of Pennsylvania. He was defeated in November 2006 for reelection by Joe Sestak. Weldon was vice-chair of the Armed...
. After discussions with party officials, however, Lentz decided to bow out in favor of Rear Admiral
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
Joe Sestak. Instead, he ran for the State House
Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2006
The 2006 Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 7, 2006, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on May 16, 2006. Members elected in 2006 were inaugurated on January 2, 2007...
. He defeated incumbent Tom Gannon
Tom Gannon
Thomas P. Gannon is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Gannon represented the 161st legislative district....
with 51.5% of the vote.
In 2008
Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2008
The 2008 Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 4, 2008, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on April 22, 2008. The term of office for those elected in 2008 will run from January 6, 2009 until November 2010...
Lentz won reelection to the State House, defeating Republican challenger Joe Hackett
Joe Hackett (Pennsylvania)
Joseph T. "Joe" Hackett is an American legislator, and member of the Republican Party. In 2010, he was elected to represent the 161st District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Hackett won 53.5% of the vote.-External links:...
, and increasing his share of the vote to 55.4%.
2010 U.S. Congressional campaign
Lentz ran against RepublicanRepublican 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...
nominee Pat Meehan
Pat Meehan
Patrick Leo "Pat" Meehan is a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing since January 3, 2011. The district includes most of Delaware County and parts of Chester and Montgomery Counties...
and American Congress Party nominee Jim Schneller.
On November 12, 2009, Lentz announced his candidacy for . He sought to replace Joe Sestak, the two-term Democratic incumbent who ran for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
Lentz ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination in the Democratic primary on May 18, 2010.
Meehan won the general election with 54.9% of the vote, while Lentz received 44.0%; Schneller ended up with 1.1%.
Tea Party controversy
On October 19, 2010, Lentz acknowledged that he had been aware that some supporters were circulating petitions in support of Jim Schneller, a self-described "Tea Party candidate" officially running on the American Congress Party Ticket, an effort which his opponents describe as an attempt to split the conservative vote. Lentz said he did not encourage Schneller to enter the race, and that he does not believe that assisting Schneller circulate his petitions was improper.External links
- Bryan Lentz for U.S. Congress official Congressional campaign site
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org