Biography

12/25/1938 -

PETERSON, John E., a Representative from Forest, Venango, and Warren Counties; born in Titusville, Crawford County, Pa., December 25, 1938; graduated, Titusville High School; attended, Public Affairs Leadership Training, Pennsylvania State University; specialist, United States Army (1958-1964); food merchant; board director, Titusville Hospital; elected, council and president, Pleasantville Borough (1969-1977); elected as a Republican to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in a Special Election on November 8, 1977; Sworn-In, November 28, 1977 to serve the remaining 1977 term and reelected to 3 more consecutive terms; appointed, Select Commitee to Investigate the Crisis in Staffing of Welfare Offices in the Commonwealth (1984); not a candidate for reelection to the House (1984); elected, Pennsylvania State Senate (1985-1996); appointed, Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee (1985-1994); appointed, Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (1987-1996); appointed, board, PennVEST (1989-1996); appointed, board, Center for Rural Pennsylvania (1991-1996); elected, chair, State Senate Majority Policy Committee (1995-1996); elected, United States Congress (1997-2009); elected, delegate, Republican National Convention (2004); not a candidate for reelection to Congress (2008).