Barbara Hafer
Encyclopedia
Barbara Hafer is an American politician from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
.
, and went on to serve two four-year terms in the post. In 1990
, she was the Republican
nominee for Governor against Bob Casey
. Hafer was defeated by thirty-six percentage points—one of the most lopsided defeats in state history. She later successfully ran for State Treasurer in 1996, and was re-elected in 2000
.
The Pennsylvania Report
said that "She has never marched to a regular drummer, but that is part of her long-running appeal." In a 2002 PoliticsPA
Feature story
designating politicians with yearbook superlatives
, she was named the "Most Popular."
, Hafer explored a run for the Republican nomination for Governor (incumbent Republican Governor Mark Schweiker had already announced his intention not to contest the race). However, after it became clear that the GOP establishment had already decided on Pennsylvania Attorney General
Mike Fisher
, she dropped out of the race. During the campaign, Hafer decided to endorse Democrat
Ed Rendell
. In 2003, Hafer completed her political conversion by switching to the Democratic Party. Her decision to endorse Rendell "psychologically helped break" the back of the Fisher campaign.
After her party switch, it was reported that she was considering a 2006
bid for lieutenant governor
, challenging incumbent Catherine Baker Knoll
in the Democratic primary. Hafer and Baker Knoll had a long standing political feud which dates to Hafer's two races for treasurer. In 1996, Hafer defeated Knoll's daughter, Mina Baker Knoll, for treasurer and in 2000 defeated Baker Knoll for treasurer. Knoll preceded Hafer as state treasurer.
In early 2005, she chose not to seek the Democratic Nomination for U.S. Senate against Republican
Senator Rick Santorum
. Later that year, she decided against a challenge to Republican Congressman Tim Murphy
, choosing instead to focus on her new consulting business. Her daughter, Beth, sought to run against Republican Congressman Tim Murphy
in 2008, though narrowly lost the Democratic primary.
left vacant by the death of incumbent Democrat John Murtha
. She sought the Democratic nomination for the May special election
before ending her Congressional candidacy on March 10, 2010.
Prior to her political career, Hafer was employed as a registered nurse
. She resides in Indiana, 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...
.
Early political career
Hafer served as a County Commissioner in Allegheny County from 1984 to 1989. In 1988, she defeated incumbent Democratic State Auditor General Don BaileyDonald A. Bailey
Donald Allen "Don" Bailey is an American politician and lawyer, from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 1983, Auditor General of Pennsylvania from 1985 to 1989, and a candidate for the Democratic nomination for...
, and went on to serve two four-year terms in the post. In 1990
Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 1990
The Pennsylvania Gubernatorial election of 1990 was held on November 6, 1990. Incumbent Democratic Robert P. Casey easily defeated Republican Barbara Hafer....
, she was the Republican
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...
nominee for Governor against Bob Casey
Robert P. Casey
Robert Patrick "Bob" Casey, Sr. was an American politician from Pennsylvania. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 42nd Governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995...
. Hafer was defeated by thirty-six percentage points—one of the most lopsided defeats in state history. She later successfully ran for State Treasurer in 1996, and was re-elected in 2000
Pennsylvania State Treasurer election, 2000
Pennsylvania's State Treasurer election was held November 7, 2000. Incumbent Republican Barbara Hafer won a narrow reelection. Her Democratic opponent was Catherine Baker Knoll, a former two-term treasurer. Hafer and Knoll, both of whom faced no primary opposition, ran a campaign marked by personal...
.
The Pennsylvania Report
Pennsylvania Report
The Pennsylvania Report is an independent bi-weekly subscription-based political newspaper published in Pennsylvania. It is "widely read by the state's political junkies." It was founded in 1985 by David Buffington, a former public relations worker for the Pennsylvania Government.It provides...
said that "She has never marched to a regular drummer, but that is part of her long-running appeal." 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...
, she was named the "Most Popular."
2002 gubernatorial election and party-switch
In 2002Pennsylvania 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...
, Hafer explored a run for the Republican nomination for Governor (incumbent Republican Governor Mark Schweiker had already announced his intention not to contest the race). However, after it became clear that the GOP establishment had already decided on Pennsylvania Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
Mike Fisher
D. Michael Fisher
Dennis Michael Fisher is a United States federal judge of the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He was nominated on May 1, 2003 by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S...
, she dropped out of the race. During the campaign, Hafer decided to endorse Democrat
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...
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 2003, Hafer completed her political conversion by switching to the Democratic Party. Her decision to endorse Rendell "psychologically helped break" the back of the Fisher campaign.
After her party switch, it was reported that she was considering a 2006
Pennsylvania lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2006
The Pennsylvania lieutenant gubernatorial election of 2006 was held on November 7, 2006. In Pennsylvania, the Lieutenant Governor is elected on the same ticket as the Governor, so the only campaign for this office was the primary election.-Candidates:...
bid for lieutenant governor
Lieutenant 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...
, challenging incumbent 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:...
in the Democratic primary. Hafer and Baker Knoll had a long standing political feud which dates to Hafer's two races for treasurer. In 1996, Hafer defeated Knoll's daughter, Mina Baker Knoll, for treasurer and in 2000 defeated Baker Knoll for treasurer. Knoll preceded Hafer as state treasurer.
In early 2005, she chose not to seek the Democratic Nomination for U.S. Senate against Republican
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...
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...
. Later that year, she decided against a challenge to Republican Congressman Tim Murphy
Tim Murphy (congressman)
Timothy "Tim" F. Murphy is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. He previously served in the Pennsylvania Senate....
, choosing instead to focus on her new consulting business. Her daughter, Beth, sought to run against Republican Congressman Tim Murphy
Tim Murphy (congressman)
Timothy "Tim" F. Murphy is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. He previously served in the Pennsylvania Senate....
in 2008, though narrowly lost the Democratic primary.
2010 congressional candidacy
In February 2010, Hafer declared her candidacy for the Congressional seatPennsylvania's 12th congressional district
Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district is represented by Congressman Mark Critz after a special election was held on May 18, 2010 following the death of Democrat John Murtha. The district has a Cook Partisan Voting Index score of R+1...
left vacant by the death of incumbent Democrat John Murtha
John Murtha
John Patrick "Jack" Murtha, Jr. was an American politician from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Murtha, a Democrat, represented Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1974 until his death in 2010....
. She sought the Democratic nomination for the May special election
Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district special election, 2010
The 2010 special election for the 12th congressional district of Pennsylvania was held on May 18, 2010 to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Democratic U.S. Representative John Murtha. Democratic nominee Mark Critz, Murtha's former district director, defeated Republican nominee Tim Burns...
before ending her Congressional candidacy on March 10, 2010.
Personal life
In the fall of 2010, Hafer was named in an estate lawsuit that revolves around her late husband, John Pidgeon. The lawsuit claims that she shifted more than $900,000 from her late husband's children and grandchildren to herself and her daughter in the final months of her husband's life. Pidgeon's children and grandchildren are claiming that Hafer took advantage of her husband's declining health and mental status in order to gain financial benefit.Prior to her political career, Hafer was employed as a registered nurse
Registered nurse
A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...
. She resides in Indiana, Pennsylvania
Indiana, Pennsylvania
Indiana is a borough in and the county seat of Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 14,895 at the 2000 census.The borough and the region as a whole promotes itself as the "Christmas Tree Capital of the World" because the national Christmas Tree Grower's Association was...
.
External links
- Hafer for Congress official congressional campaign website
- OurCampaigns.com Profile