John Eichelberger

Infobox State Senator


imagesize = 150px
name = John Eichelberger
width =
height =
caption =
birth_date = birth date and age|1958|9|1
birth_place =Altoona, Pennsylvania
residence =Duncansville, Pennsylvania
state_senate = Pennsylvania
district = 30th
salary =
term_start = 2007
term_end = present
predecessor = Robert Jubelirer
successor = Incumbent
party = Republican
religion = Church of the Brethren
occupation =
constituency =
majority =
spouse = Charlotte Eichelberger
children =
website =
footnotes

John Eichelberger of Blair Township, Pennsylvania is a Pennsylvania State Senator. He is a member of the Republican Party. He represents the 30th district of the Pennsylvania State Senate.

Eichelberger gained notoriety following his defeat of Senate President Pro-Tem Robert Jubelirer in the May 2006 primary election.

Biography

Prior to his career in government, Eichelberger was the President of an insurance brokerage in Altoona, Pennsylvania. In 1995, he was elected to the Blair County Commission. He was re-elected in 1999 and 2003.

2006 Election

His Senate campaign was sparked by the 2005 Pennsylvania pay raise. Senate President Pro Tem Robert Jubelirer was a rival in Blair County politics who had supported the pay increase.

Eichelberger attacked Jubelirer for his support of the raise as well as his stance on abortion. During the campaign, Eichelberger received support from conservatives such as former congressman Pat Toomey and former Lieutenant Governor Bill Scranton. [ [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06132/689531-179.stm Tom Barnes, "Pay raise support imperils Jubelirer's re-election bid", Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 5/12/06] ] Jubelirer counter-attacked, noting that Eichelberger had benefited from pay raises as a commissioner. In addition, Jubelirer alleged that Eichelberger had a poor voting record on the commission.

On primary election day, Eichelberger took 45% to Jubelirer's 26% and C. Arnold McClure's 19%. Jubelirer and David Brightbill were the first top-ranked General Assembly leaders to be defeated in a primary since 1964. [ [http://www.insiderpa.com/archive/insider2-2006b.htm#Story1 Al Neri, "State Senate Outlook", The Insider, February 2006] ] Eichelberger went on to defeat businessman and Democratic candidate Greg Morris in the general election with 61% of the vote.

He faces re-election in 2010.

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (US)
candidate = John Eichelberger
votes = 15,445
percentage = 43.9
change =Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (US)
candidate = Robert Jubelirer
votes = 12,662
percentage = 36.0
change =Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (US)
candidate = Arnold McClure
votes = 7,097
percentage = 20.2
change =Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (US)
candidate = John Eichelberger
votes = 45,607
percentage = 62.7
change =Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Greg Morris
votes = 27,106
percentage = 37.3
change =

References

External links

* [http://www.senatoreichelberger.com Senate Website]
* [http://www.ilikeeich.com Campaign Website]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20060504185622/http://www.ilikeeich.com/ Archived Campaign Webpage]