[EL] Sad News: Bob Edgar Passes

[Rick Hasen]

<http://electionlawblog.org/>


    Sad News: Bob Edgar Passes <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=49494>

Posted on April 23, 2013 9:51 am <http://electionlawblog.org/?p=49494> 
by Rick Hasen <http://electionlawblog.org/?author=3>

*Common Cause is deeply saddened to announce that Bob Edgar, its 
president and CEO, died suddenly this morning at his home. Bob was 69.*

"We are deeply saddened and shaken today by the passing of Bob Edgar," 
said Common Cause Board Chair Robert Reich. "Bob will be remembered for 
his decency, kindness, compassion and humor. His deep commitment to 
social justice and strengthening our democracy is his greatest gift to 
Common Cause and the nation. Our hearts are with Bob's family, his wife 
Merle, and sons Andrew, David and Rob, and their families.""

Bob, who served Pennsylvania in Congress for 12 years and also led the 
National Council of Churches, became the president and CEO of Common 
Cause in May 2007. He oversaw the relaunching of at least seven state 
chapters, travelled tirelessly to meet with and recruit Common Cause 
supporters and raised the organization's national profile and its 
critical mission to strengthen our democracy.
Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1974 to represent the 
Seventh Congressional District of Pennsylvania, Bob was part of the 
congressional class nicknamed "the Watergate babies," those elected in 
the wake of the Watergate scandal and who led sweeping reforms of Congress.

During six terms in the US House, Bob led efforts to improve public 
transportation, fought wasteful water projects and authored the 
Community Right to Know provision of Super Fund legislation. He also 
served on the House Select Committee on Assassinations that investigated 
the deaths of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy. 
Bob also served on the Veterans Affairs Committee, working on issues 
around Agent Orange and readjustment counseling to treat post traumatic 
stress disorder.

Bob ran unsuccessfully for the US Senate in 1986 against Sen. Arlen 
Specter. That race fueled his frustration with the undue influence of 
money in politics and he became an active supporter of clean elections 
and campaign finance reform, issues that have long been Common Cause's 
hallmark. He served on Common Cause's National Governing Board for 
several years before becoming President of the organization.

Bob received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lycoming College, 
Williamsport, Pa., and a master of divinity degree from the Theological 
School of Drew University, Madison, N.J. He also served as president of 
the Claremont School of Theology. He holds five honorary doctoral 
degrees. Bob sat on the boards of several organizations, including the 
National Coalition on Health Care, the Environment and Energy Study 
Institute, the National Foundation on Alternative Medicine, Drew 
University and the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy.

Bob was the author of "Middle Church," a call to progressive people of 
faith to take back the moral high ground from the extremists and make 
America a better and less divided country.
###

/Common Cause is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to 
restoring the core values of American democracy, reinventing an open, 
honest, and accountable government that works for the public interest, 
and empowering ordinary people to make their voices heard.
/

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-- 
Rick Hasen
Chancellor's Professor of Law and Political Science
UC Irvine School of Law
401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000
Irvine, CA 92697-8000
949.824.3072 - office
949.824.0495 - fax
rhasen at law.uci.edu
http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html
http://electionlawblog.org

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