Mark S. Schweiker

Mark Schweiker (2001)

Mark Schweiker in 2015

Mark Steven Schweiker (born January 31, 1953 in Levittown , Bucks County , Pennsylvania ) is an American politician ( Republican Party ). He was governor of the state of Pennsylvania from 2001 to 2003 .

Early years and political advancement

Mark Schweiker attended Bishop Egan High School and then Bloomsburg University until 1975 . After finishing school, he worked in the private sector for various companies and finally founded his own consulting company.

Schweiker has been politically active since 1979. That year he was elected mayor of Middletown Township . In 1987 he was given a commissioner in Bucks County. In 1994 he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania; In 1998 he was confirmed in this office. With that he was the representative of Governor Tom Ridge . As lieutenant governor, he had various other duties: Among other things, he was chairman of the Pennsylvania Crisis Council, the pardon committee and a commission to reduce waste and promote recycling measures. He headed the country's broadcast control authority and was involved in commissions for the fight against terrorism and crime.

Governor of Pennsylvania

After the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 was in DC Washington, the United States Department of Homeland Security established, was employed as the first Secretary Tom Ridge, the former governor of Pennsylvania. Ridge then resigned and Lieutenant Governor Schweiker had to end the remaining term of office as governor. One of Schweiker's first official acts was to improve the security precautions at the country's nuclear power plants to protect against terrorist attacks. The state's police force was strengthened and a special commission was created to deal with security in Pennsylvania. The 9/11 attacks also led to an economic depression. As a result, the unemployment rate and national debt rose. A mine accident in Somerset County in July 2002 caused a general stir . The governor led a 77-hour rescue operation to rescue nine missing miners. As a consequence of the disaster, some safety regulations in mining were improved.

Another résumé

In November 2002, Mark Schweiker decided not to run for re-election. In January 2003 he was therefore replaced by the Democrat Ed Rendell , who won the 2002 gubernatorial election. In 2003 he became President of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce . Mark Schweiker has three children with his wife Katherine.

Web links

• Mark S. Schweiker in the database of the National Governors Association (English)
• The governors of Pennsylvania (English)