Jack Wagner (politician)
Encyclopedia
Jack E. Wagner is the current auditor general
of Pennsylvania
. The statewide elected office is charged with serving as the commonwealth’s independent fiscal monitor. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
His niece, Chelsa Wagner
, is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
for the 22nd District
.
and a recipient of the Purple Heart
and other military commendations for service in the Vietnam War
from 1966 to 1968. "In the demilitiarized zone between North and South Vietnam, Wagner's squad got caught in an ambush." Wagner was among three wounded, twelve others died. After being discharged from the Marines, he attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania
(IUP) where he graduated in 1974 with a degree in Safety Management. While a student at IUP, Wagner worked as a paramedic with Citizens Ambulance Service serving Indiana County
and taught evening emergency responder courses at Admiral Peary Area Vocational Technical School in Ebensburg
. Wagner received IUP's Distinguished Alumni Award for service to the community and the university in 1994.
in the 2002 Democratic primary
on a ticket with then-Auditor General Bob Casey, Jr. Despite Democratic State Committee endorsement, he lost to former State Treasurer Catherine Baker Knoll
, who became the running mate of the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, former Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell
.
In 2004
, Wagner ran to succeed Casey as Auditor General and won in a landslide. He became Pennsylvania's 50th elected Auditor General on January 18, 2005. He is responsible for auditing school districts, executive agencies, and state commissions to ensure fiscal responsibility. The legislature is exempt from the Auditor General’s purview. The Auditor General also serves as an ex officio commissioner of the Delaware River Port Authority
.
Wagner won re-election by a landslide on November 4, 2008
, beating Republican businessman Chet Beiler. Wagner outpolled Beiler 59% to 38%. He earned the most votes of any candidate in Pennsylvania (3.26 million), including Presidential candidate Barack Obama.
On July 20, 2009, Wagner announced his candidacy for Governor, becoming the first Democrat to publicly declare his candidacy for the office. On Sunday, May 2, 2009, The Philadelphia Inquirer, the state's largest newspaper, endorsed Jack Wagner in the May 18th, 2010 Democratic primary for Governor of Pennsylvania.
Wagner had been considered a potential candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania in 2010 prior to his gubernatorial announcement.
Pennsylvania Auditor General
The Pennsylvania Auditor General is the chief fiscal officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It became an elected office in 1850. The current Auditor General of Pennsylvania is Jack Wagner.- History :...
of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
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...
. The statewide elected office is charged with serving as the commonwealth’s independent fiscal monitor. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
His niece, Chelsa Wagner
Chelsa Wagner
Chelsa L. Wagner is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 22nd District which includes the South Side and part of the North Side of the city of Pittsburgh, as well as parts of the suburbs of Baldwin, Whitehall and Castle Shannon.Wagner graduated from Seton-La...
, is a member of 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....
for the 22nd District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 22
The 22nd Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is located in Allegheny County and includes the following areas:* Baldwin Township* Castle Shannon* Pittsburgh ** Ward 18 [PART, Divisions 05 and 07]** Ward 19...
.
Military Service and Education
Auditor General Wagner is a veteran of the United States Marine CorpsMarine corps
A marine is a member of a force that specializes in expeditionary operations such as amphibious assault and occupation. The marines traditionally have strong links with the country's navy...
and a recipient of the Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
and other military commendations for service in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
from 1966 to 1968. "In the demilitiarized zone between North and South Vietnam, Wagner's squad got caught in an ambush." Wagner was among three wounded, twelve others died. After being discharged from the Marines, he attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania is a public university in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, USA. The university is northeast of Pittsburgh. It is the largest university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is the commonwealth's fifth largest university...
(IUP) where he graduated in 1974 with a degree in Safety Management. While a student at IUP, Wagner worked as a paramedic with Citizens Ambulance Service serving Indiana County
Indiana County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 58,077 registered voters in Indiana County .* Democratic: 26,653 * Republican: 24,159 * Other Parties: 7,265 -County commissioners:*Rodney Ruddock, Chairman, Republican...
and taught evening emergency responder courses at Admiral Peary Area Vocational Technical School in Ebensburg
Ebensburg, Pennsylvania
Ebensburg is a borough located in, and is the seat of, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, west of Altoona and surrounded by Cambria Township. It is situated in the Alleghenies about 2025 feet above sea level. Ebensburg is located in a rich bituminous coal region. In the past, saw mills, tanneries,...
. Wagner received IUP's Distinguished Alumni Award for service to the community and the university in 1994.
Politician
Wagner was running a restaurant in 1980 when his community experienced serious water problems. He organized a community meeting which no public officials attended. He chose to run that evening.City of Pittsburgh
Councilman Wagner served on Pittsburgh City Council for 10 years representing his Beechview neighborhood. He served as Council President from 1990 to 1993. In May 1994, Wagner was elected to the Senate of Pennsylvania in a special election triggered by the death of incumbent Democrat Eugene Scanlon.Pennsylvania State Senate
Wagner served in the leadership of the State Senate as Democratic Caucus Chairman and as the Democratic chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. He also served on the Appropriations; Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness; Rules and Executive Nominations; and Policy committees.Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Wagner ran for Lieutenant Governor of PennsylvaniaLieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor. Jim Cawley of Bucks County is the incumbent Lieutenant Governor...
in the 2002 Democratic primary
Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2002
The Pennsylvania gubernatorial election of 2002 was held on November 5, 2002, and included the races for the governor and lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania.-Gubernatorial Primaries:Attorney General Mike Fisher ran unopposed for the Republican nomination...
on a ticket with then-Auditor General Bob Casey, Jr. Despite Democratic State Committee endorsement, he lost to former State Treasurer Catherine Baker Knoll
Catherine Baker Knoll
Catherine Baker Knoll was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. She was the 30th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, serving under Governor Ed Rendell from 2003 to 2008.-Background:...
, who became the running mate of the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, former Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
.
In 2004
Pennsylvania Auditor General election, 2004
Pennsylvania's Auditor General election was held November 2, 2004. Necessary primary elections were held on April 27, 2004, with both major party candidates running unopposed. Democrat Jack Wagner, a State Senator from Pittsburgh was elected Auditor General; he had previously been the endorsed...
, Wagner ran to succeed Casey as Auditor General and won in a landslide. He became Pennsylvania's 50th elected Auditor General on January 18, 2005. He is responsible for auditing school districts, executive agencies, and state commissions to ensure fiscal responsibility. The legislature is exempt from the Auditor General’s purview. The Auditor General also serves as an ex officio commissioner of the Delaware River Port Authority
Delaware River Port Authority
The Delaware River Port Authority is a bi-state instrumentality created by a Congressionally approved interstate compact between the governments of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey...
.
Wagner won re-election by a landslide on November 4, 2008
Pennsylvania Auditor General election, 2008
The Pennsylvania Auditor General Election, 2008 was held on Election Day. Incumbent Democrat Jack Wagner of Pittsburgh was unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Republican Chet Beiler of Penn Township, Lancaster County was also unopposed for the Republican nomination after primary opponent...
, beating Republican businessman Chet Beiler. Wagner outpolled Beiler 59% to 38%. He earned the most votes of any candidate in Pennsylvania (3.26 million), including Presidential candidate Barack Obama.
On July 20, 2009, Wagner announced his candidacy for Governor, becoming the first Democrat to publicly declare his candidacy for the office. On Sunday, May 2, 2009, The Philadelphia Inquirer, the state's largest newspaper, endorsed Jack Wagner in the May 18th, 2010 Democratic primary for Governor of Pennsylvania.
Wagner had been considered a potential candidate for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania in 2010 prior to his gubernatorial announcement.
See also
- Pennsylvania lieutenant governor election, 2002
- United States gubernatorial elections, 2010United States gubernatorial elections, 2010The United States gubernatorial elections were held on Tuesday, November 2, 2010 in 37 states . As in most midterm elections, the party controlling the White House lost ground...
External links
- Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General official biography
- Jack Wagner for Governor official gubernatorial campaign website