English with Jack Kemp, Sue Myrick and Mike Turner (c. May 2004)

Philip Sheridan "Phil" English (born June 20, 1956) has served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1995 from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, since 2003 representing the state's 3rd Congressional district (map). The district is based in Erie and includes most of the northwestern part of the state.

English sits on the House Ways and Means Committee. He has very close ties to organized labor, which is not typical for a Republican, but nearly two-thirds of the district's votes are cast in the heavily Democratic and thoroughly unionized city of Erie.

Early life and career

English was born in Erie, PA, and attended Portsmouth Abbey School in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. While in college, he served as Chairman of the Pennsylvania College Republicans. Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum said that while he was attending Penn State University, English knocked on his dorm room door early one morning and told him he was going to start a College Republicans organization there. At age 20 he still holds a record (which was later tied in 2000) for being the youngest Pennsylvania Alternate Delegate to a Republican National Convention, set in 1976.

English served as Erie City Controller from 1985 to 1989. In 1988 he was the Republican nominee for State Treasurer but was defeated by Democrat Catherine Baker Knoll. He stayed in politics and served as Chief of Staff for then State Senator Melissa Hart.

U.S. House of Representatives

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2008#District 3

English was elected to the House of Representatives in 1994 to the 21st District House seat that Tom Ridge had vacated in his successful run for Governor. English benefited from the Republican wave of 1994 as well as Ridge's coattails. In addition, the Democrats had a crowded primary in which the Erie candidates split the vote, which allowed Sharon attorney Bill Leavens to win the primary. English, as a native of Erie, then garnered enough support from his hometown (generally a Democratic stronghold) to win the election.^[1] Redistricting put English in the 3rd District from the 2002 election onward.

English was re-elected in a close race in 1996. However, he was handily reelected in 1998 on Ridge's coattails, and didn't face a close race again until 2006. That year, he defeated Democrat Steve Porter, an underfinanced and little-known former college professor, by only 54% to 42% (with 4% going to Constitution Party candidate Tim Hagberg).

English has moved up the seniority ladder in the House and on the Ways and Means Committee. In the 110th Congress, English serves as the ranking member on the Subcommittee of Select Revenue Measures.

References

External links

• Congressman Phil English official U.S. House website
• Phil English official campaign website

• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Profile SourceWatch Congresspedia
• PoliticsPA interview