Robert W. Edgar

Infobox_Congressman
name = Robert William (Bob) Edgar


date of birth = Birth date and age|1943|5|29|mf=y
place of birth = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
state = Pennsylvania
district = 7th
term = 1975–1987
preceded = Lawrence G. Williams
succeeded = Curt Weldon
party = Democrat
religion = United Methodist
spouse =
residence=
alma_mater= Drew University
occupation= President and CEO of Common Cause

Rev. Dr. Robert William (Bob) Edgar (born May 29, 1943) is president and CEO of Common Cause, a nonpartisan government watchdog organization, effective May 2007. He served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 1987, representing the 7th district of Pennsylvania.

Prior to his position as president and CEO of Common Cause, he came from the post of general secretary of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S. (NCC), the leading U.S. organization in the movement for Christian unity.

Early life and education

Edgar was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and grew up in Springfield, Pennsylvania.

He attended Lycoming College, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where he received a bachelor of arts degree, and then was ordained a minister after graduating with a master of divinity degree from the Theological School of Drew University, Madison, New Jersey.

He holds four honorary doctoral degrees.

Congressional career

Edgar was the first Democrat in 36 years to represent the seventh congressional district of Pennsylvania, located primarily in Delaware County. He is well known for being one of the most liberal members of Congress during his six terms of service in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Serving in the United States Congress from 1975 to 1987, Edgar led efforts to improve public transportation, authored the community Right to Know provisions of Super Fund legislation, co-authored the new G.I. Bill for the all-volunteer service, fought wasteful water projects and supported environmental goals. Among other appointments, he served as chair of the Congressional Clearinghouse on the Future (1982-86) and as a member of the House Select Committee on Assassinations (1976-78) that investigated the deaths of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and President John F. Kennedy.

Edgar ran for the United States Senate in 1986, defeating conservative Democrat Auditor General Don Bailey, a former congressman from western Pennsylvania, in the primary, but losing in the general election to incumbent Republican Senator Arlen Specter by more than 12 percentage points. It is during this experience that led Edgar to become frustrated with political campaigning and money in politics, even taking a somewhat sympathetic and supportive stance on clean elections and campaign finance reform, which he dictated at the 2004 Democracy Matters Conference in Albany, New York.

National Council of Churches

Edgar took office at the National Council of Churches on January 1, 2000, and the 50-year-old NCC began to reshape its mission. Under his leadership, the Council focused its energies on major initiatives in the areas of overcoming poverty, protecting the natural environment, fostering interfaith understanding, and building international peace.

He came to the Council from Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, California, where he was president from 1990-2000.

Additional positions

His career has also included pastorates at United Methodist congregations and stints as a teacher, college chaplain, community organizer, and director of a think tank on national security issues.

Edgar has served on the boards of several organizations, including Independent Sector, the National Coalition for Health Care, and the National Religious Partnership for the Environment. He has also served on the board of directors of the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, an independent, non-profit organization that is a principal resource for Congress on environmental and energy issues.

He is an endorser of the Genocide Intervention Network.

Honors and awards

Many national organizations have recognized his work with awards, including the American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America and the National Taxpayers Union.

In April 2003, Edgar gave a lecture entitled "The Role of the Church in U.S. Foreign Policy Today" at the University of San Diego's Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice Distinguished Lecture Series.

References

*CongBio|E000043|Robert W. Edgar
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/ede-edlin.html The Political Graveyard]

External links

* [http://pas-7th.blogspot.com/ Politics in PA's 7th Congressional District]