Jon D. Fox

Jon D. Fox (born April 22, 1947) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

Early life

Jon Fox was born in Abington, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University in State College, PA in 1969, and earned a J.D. from the Delaware School of Law (now Widener University School of Law), in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1975. He served in the United States Air Force Reserve from 1969 to 1975. He held positions with the General Services Administration, and was a guest lecturer for the Presidential Classroom for Young Americans. From 1976 to 1984 he was assistant district attorney.

Political career

In 1984, he made his first successful run at political office, winning a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the Abington area after Democrat Joe Hoeffel retired. He would serve in the House until the 1991 primary election, when he challenged the incumbent GOP commissioners for a seat on the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. Fox and Mario Mele defeated the incumbents and went on to win the general election. However, Fox, who believed that he would be elected chairman, was surprised when Mele nominated himself for the job, with Hoeffel seconding. It would not be the last time that Fox crossed swords with Hoeffel.

In 1992, he ran unsuccessfully for Congress against Democrat Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, losing by less than 1,400 votes. However, Fox sought a rematch in 1994 and with Mezvinsky saddled with a vote for a tax increase, Fox became part of the 1994 Republican Revolution.

Fox was re-elected once, in 1996, defeating Hoeffel by a wafer-thin 84 votes out of nearly 250,000 cast. In 1998, three Republicans, Mike McMonagle, Melissa Brown and Jonathan Newman challenged him in the GOP primary. Fox staved off the internal challenge and faced Hoeffel in a rematch for the general election. Fox also faced a backlash after the impeachment of President Clinton; the 13th, long a classic "Yankee Republican" district, had become increasingly friendly to Democrats in the 1990s. In November, Fox was unable to overcome these challenges and lost 51.6%-46.6%. After the election, Fox voted for all four articles of impeachment against Clinton.

In 2004, State Representative Ellen Bard, who held Fox' old state house seat retired to run for Congress, and Fox was persuaded to run for the seat. Fox faced newcomer Josh Shapiro in a district that had become increasingly favorable to Democrats since his original tenure. His campaign did not gain traction with the electorate, and he was defeated 54.3%-44.7%.

Personal

Fox resides in Abington with wife and son. He is active in the Republican Party as the Area Chairman for Abington Township. He practices law and also works as an instructor at Manor College in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.