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Senator John C. Rafferty Jr. represents the residents of
Pennsylvania's 44th Senatorial District, which includes parts of Berks, Chester
and Montgomery counties. He was re-elected for a second term with the Senate in
November of 2006. A former state deputy attorney general, the Montgomery County
native has an extensive background in public service and local government.
Rafferty's top legislative priorities include reducing the property tax burden,
protecting our environment, reducing health care costs, providing quality care
for senior citizens, fighting prescription drug abuse and insuring that our
police and firefighters have the resources they need to do their jobs.
Senator Rafferty serves as Chairman of the Senate
Transportation Committee and is a member of Appropriations, Banking and
Insurance, Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure,
and Judiciary committees. Entering his
second term in the Senate, Senator Rafferty has achieved a long list of
accomplishments and earned the respect of his colleagues, local government
officials and community leaders. Senator Rafferty has been successful in
bringing millions of dollars of funding to move forward with revitalization
projects in Pottstown and Coatesville, as well as many other projects around the
44th district. He has legislatively addressed the operations of landfills and
brought local officials, community and business leaders together to seek common
ground in improving our community's quality of life. Senator Rafferty has also
fought hard for the protection of our children with his sponsorship of Jessica's
Law and support of improvements to Megan's Law. Additionally, Senator Rafferty
has opposed every possible tax increase considered in the General Assembly and
continues to push the Legislature to address the burden of property taxes.
Senator Rafferty has received numerous accolades from
various organizations in the 44th Senatorial District including 2005 Legislator
of the Year Award for economic development from the TriCounty Area Chamber of
Commerce in Pottstown, the 2006 Legislator of the Year Award from The
Association of Retarded Citizens of Montgomery County, and the Taxpayer Hero Award
from National Association of Independent Businesses. Additionally, the
Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians honored Senator Rafferty as the 2005
Friend of Family Medicine award recipient.
Prior to running for the Senate, Senator Rafferty served as
an attorney in private practice, focusing on education, real estate, zoning and
business and estates law. As Deputy Attorney General for the Commonwealth from
1988 to 1991, he was responsible for the Criminal Law Division and Grand Jury
Investigations.
Senator Rafferty has been active in local government,
serving on various boards, authorities and commissions. As a member of the
Lower Providence Township Board of Supervisors, he was involved with issues
relating to growth and development, environmental protection and recreation
improvements. He was a member of the Montgomery County Board of Assessment
Appeals from 1996 to 2002.
Senator Rafferty also gained valuable knowledge of
education issues as a member of the Methacton School Board from 1980 to 1984. From
1981to 1984, Rafferty represented Methacton in the operation of the Vo-Tech School
as a member of the North Montco Vo-Tech Joint School Authority.
Senator Rafferty earned his bachelor's degree from the
University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, his master's degree from Beaver College,
and his law degree from Temple University.
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Senator Rafferty speaking at the FOP
Memorial Ceremony at the Capitol.
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