Jeff Coleman
Encyclopedia
Jeff Coleman is a former Republican
member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
.
Coleman was born to a Filipino American
family at Whidbey Island Naval Base
in Washington in 1975. In the 1980s his family returned to Manila
, Philippines
to serve as missionaries
. It was during that time that the Philippines experienced the People Power Revolution, which Coleman credits for inspiring his "passion for public service." He graduated from Orchard Hills Christian Academy in 1994. He attended Liberty University
, earning his degree in Government in 2001. Prior to elective office, Coleman worked in a grocery store, waited tables tables, and was as radio news anchor in college. He also worked as an intern for Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum
and was elected to Apollo Borough Council
.
In the 2000 election
for the 60th legislative district
, the 25-year-old Coleman defeated long-time Democratic
incumbent Tim Pesci in spite of the district being 70% Democratic. Coleman's under-funded campaign relied on an aggressive “door-to-door” campaign with hundreds of campaign volunteers. Bill DeWeese, the House Democratic Leader, said that Pesci had run a "condescending" race against Coleman, calling his opponent "Jeffy" and describing Coleman's campaign volunteers as “the Children from the Corn,” referring to the horror film.
In a 2002 PoliticsPA
Feature story
designating politicians with yearbook superlatives
, he was named the "Most Ambitious"
Coleman surprised political observes by retiring prior to the 2004 elections
to host a Harrisburg-based political radio program. In 2010, Politics Magazine named him one of the most influential Republicans in Pennsylvania, noting his success as a political consultant.
Republican 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...
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....
.
Coleman was born to a Filipino American
Filipino American
Filipino Americans are Americans of Filipino ancestry. Filipino Americans, often shortened to "Fil-Ams", or "Pinoy",Filipinos in what is now the United States were first documented in the 16th century, with small settlements beginning in the 18th century...
family at Whidbey Island Naval Base
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is a naval air station located in two sections around Oak Harbor, Washington, USA. It was commissioned as an active U.S. Navy installation on 21 September 1942....
in Washington in 1975. In the 1980s his family returned to Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
to serve as missionaries
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
. It was during that time that the Philippines experienced the People Power Revolution, which Coleman credits for inspiring his "passion for public service." He graduated from Orchard Hills Christian Academy in 1994. He attended Liberty University
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
, earning his degree in Government in 2001. Prior to elective office, Coleman worked in a grocery store, waited tables tables, and was as radio news anchor in college. He also worked as an intern for Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum
Richard John "Rick" Santorum is a lawyer and a former United States Senator from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Santorum was the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference -making him the third-ranking Senate Republican from 2001 until his leave in 2007. Santorum is considered both a social...
and was elected to Apollo Borough Council
Apollo, Pennsylvania
Apollo is a borough in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, United States, 35 miles northeast of Pittsburgh in a former coal-mining region. Apollo was settled in 1790, laid out in 1816, and incorporated as a borough in 1848. The town was originally known as 'Warren', but was later renamed to avoid...
.
In the 2000 election
Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2000
Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 7, 2000, with all districts being contested. State Representatives are elected for two-year terms, with the entire House of Representatives up for a vote every two years. The term of office for those elected in 2000 ran...
for the 60th legislative district
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 60
The 60th Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is made up of parts of Armstrong County and Indiana County. The district includes the following areas:* Armstrong County** Apollo** Applewold** Burrell Township** East Franklin Township** Ford City...
, the 25-year-old Coleman defeated long-time 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...
incumbent Tim Pesci in spite of the district being 70% Democratic. Coleman's under-funded campaign relied on an aggressive “door-to-door” campaign with hundreds of campaign volunteers. Bill DeWeese, the House Democratic Leader, said that Pesci had run a "condescending" race against Coleman, calling his opponent "Jeffy" and describing Coleman's campaign volunteers as “the Children from the Corn,” referring to the horror film.
In a 2002 PoliticsPA
PoliticsPA
- Content :The website focuses on news aggregation, linking to major political news making headlines across the state. The editors write occasional features, like the weekly "Up & Down" scorecard and one-off lists like "Harrisburg's Smartest Staffer" and "Best Dressed Lobbyist" lists...
Feature story
Feature story
- Published Features & news :While the distinction between published features and news is often clear, when approached conceptually there are few hard boundaries between the two. It is quite possible to write a feature in the style of a news story, for instance...
designating politicians with yearbook superlatives
Yearbook
A yearbook, also known as an annual, is a book to record, highlight, and commemorate the past year of a school or a book published annually. Virtually all American, Australian and Canadian high schools, most colleges and many elementary and middle schools publish yearbooks...
, he was named the "Most Ambitious"
Coleman surprised political observes by retiring prior to the 2004 elections
Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2004
The 2004 Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 2, 2004, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on April 27, 2004. Necessary primary elections were held on May 21, 2002. The term of office for those elected in 2004 ran from...
to host a Harrisburg-based political radio program. In 2010, Politics Magazine named him one of the most influential Republicans in Pennsylvania, noting his success as a political consultant.
External links
- Pennsylvania House of Representatives - Jeff Coleman (Republican) official PA House profile (archived)
- Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus - Jeff Coleman - official Party website (archived)