Peter H. Kostmayer

Peter Houston Kostmayer (Born September 27, 1946) was a Democratic politician who served two stints in the U.S. House of Representatives from Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Peter H. Kostmayer was born in New York City, graduated from West Nottingham Academy in Colora, Maryland, in 1965, and received a B.A. from Columbia University in New York City in 1971.

Prior to his political career, Kostmayer worked as a reporter from 1971 to 1972. He then served as press secretary to Pennsylvania Attorney General J. Shane Cramer from 1972 to 1973 and deputy press secretary to Governor Milton Shapp from 1973 to 1976.

Political career

Following the retirement of Rep. Edward G. Biester, Jr. in 1976, Kostmayer took on State Representative John S. Renninger for the open seat. With Jimmy Carter taking Pennsylvania in the 1976 election, Kostmayer rode to victory by a 1,300 vote margin. [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=31648 Ourcampaigns.com, 1976 race detail] ] He won re-election in 1978 against G. Roger Bowers with a more comfortable 61% of the vote. [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=53384 Ourcampaigns.com, 1978 race detail] ]

His fortunes were reversed in 1980 with Ronald Reagan sweeping to victory amid a less favorable atmosphere for Democrats. By less than 4,000 votes, Republican James Coyne defeated Kostmayer. [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=39207 Ourcampaigns.com, 1980 race detail] ]

Coyne's victory was short-lived as Kostmayer won back his seat in a 1982 rematch by a mere 2,300 votes. [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=37467 Ourcampaigns.com, 1982 race detail] ] Despite President Reagan's landslide in the 1984 presidential race, Kostmayer won re-election over David Christian by less than 4,000 votes. [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=52185 Ourcampaigns.com, 1984 race detail] ] The race could be considered notable as Christian's campaign manager was future Bush Administration press secretary Ari Fleischer.

Following his scare in 1984, Kostmayer enjoyed relatively comfortable victories in 1986, 1988 and 1990.

In 1992, Kostmayer faced a new opponent in State Senator James C. Greenwood, who was once a legislative aide to Kostmayer's first opponent, John Renninger. Greenwood overcame Bill Clinton's victory in Bucks County to defeat Kostmayer with almost 52% of the vote. [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=28408 Ourcampaigns.com, 1992 race detail] ]

Post-Congress

Following his defeat Kostmayer became the Administrator, Region III (Philadelphia) of the Environmental Protection Agency from 1994 to 1995. Later, he served as the President of Zero Population Growth.

Kostmayer considered a race against Senator Rick Santorum in 2000, but dropped out early. [ [http://nationaljournal.com/pubs/almanac/2002/people/pa/pas2.htm National Journal Almanac, 2002, Rick Santorum] ]

He made one more bid for public office in 2002, when he entered the race for Pennsylvania State Senate against incumbent Senator Tommy Tomlinson. Kostmayer was defeated, taking 47% in the general election. [ [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=38067 Ourcampaigns.com, 2002 race detail] ]

Currently, he is the President of Citizens Committee for New York City.

References

*CongBio|K000319