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[[Image:Edward G. Rendell.jpg|right|170px]]

'''Ed Rendell''' (b. Edward G. Rendell, 1944) is the 45th governor of [[Pennsylvania]]; he was elected as a [[Democrat]] in 2001. His name is pronounced ren-DELL.

|image=Edward G. Rendell.jpg

|party=[[Democrat]]

 

'''Ed Rendell''' (b. Edward G. Rendell, 1944) is the 45th governor of [[Pennsylvania]]; he was elected as a [[Democrat]] in 2002 and reelected in 2006. Rendell serves as chairman of the [[National Governors Association]] from 2008 though 2009. His name is pronounced ren-DELL

==Career==

==Career==

Rendell was born on January 5, 1944 to a wealthy Jewish family in New York City. He moved to Philadelphia to attend the U. of Pennsylvania (an Ivy League school) and earned a law degree at Villanova in 1968. He and his wife, Federal '''Judge Marjorie Rendell''' have been married since 1971. They have one son, Jesse.

Rendell was born on January 5, 1944 to a wealthy Jewish family in New York City. He moved to Philadelphia to attend the U. of Pennsylvania (an Ivy League school) and earned a law degree at Villanova in 1968. He and his wife, Federal Judge Marjorie Rendell have been married since 1971. They have one son, Jesse.

Rendell served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve from 1968 to 1974.

Rendell served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve from 1968 to 1974.

Prior government experience included Chairman of the Democratic National Committee or DNC in 2000. After a defeat in 1987 he was elected mayor of [[Philadelphia]] in 1991 and reelected in 1995. He was the elected [[District Attorney]] of Philadelphia from 1977-1986, when he left to run unsuccessfully for governor. As D.A. he was a proponent of [[capital punishment]], including one high profile case which he successfully prosecuted, that of convicted cop killer '''Mumia Abu Jamal''' [http://www.academia.org/store/cop_killer_description.html].

Prior government experience included Chairman of the Democratic National Committee or DNC in 2000. After a defeat in 1987 he was elected mayor of [[Philadelphia]] in 1991 and reelected in 1995. He was the elected [[District Attorney]] of Philadelphia from 1977-1986, when he left to run unsuccessfully for governor. As D.A. he was a proponent of [[capital punishment]], including one high profile case which he successfully prosecuted, that of convicted cop killer Mumia Abu Jamal. <ref>http://www.academia.org/store/cop_killer_description.html</ref>

==Governor==

==Governor==

Rendell has tried cutting the state budget to meet the [[Recession of 2008]], and has raised state income taxes 10%. He succeeded in legalizing casino gambling, and also signed a law to sharply increase the salaries of elected officials. (He returned his own increase.)  Facing a difficult reelection in 2006, he passed a $1 billion cut in property taxes. He defeated a retired football player for reelection. His numerous financial proposals were rejected by the legislature in 2007-08.

Rendell has tried cutting the state budget to meet the [[Recession of 2008]], and has raised state income taxes 10%. He succeeded in legalizing casino gambling, and also signed a law to sharply increase the salaries of elected officials, (He returned his own increase). Facing a difficult reelection in 2006, he passed a $1 billion cut in property taxes. He defeated a retired football player for reelection. His numerous financial proposals were rejected by the legislature in 2007-08.

Rendell ran [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]]'s primary campaign in April 2008, scoring a decisive 55%-45% win over [[Barack Obama]]. He of course endorsed Obama when he won the nomination and helped carry the state for the Democratic ticket, 54%-44%. In spring 2009 he persuaded Senator [[Arlen Specter]] to switch from the GOP to the Democrats, promising he and Obama would campaign for Specter in 2010.  

Rendell ran [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]]'s primary campaign in April 2008, scoring a decisive 55%-45% win over [[Barack Obama]]. He of course endorsed Obama when he won the nomination and helped carry the state for the Democratic ticket, 54%-44%. In spring 2009 he persuaded Senator [[Arlen Specter]] to switch from the GOP to the Democrats, promising he and Obama would campaign for Specter in 2010.  

==Trivia==

==Trivia==

Rendell is a renown sports fan and avidly follows the [[Philadelphia Eagles]]

Rendell is a renown sports fan and avidly follows the [[Philadelphia Eagles]]

[[category:Democratic Governors]]

[[category:Democratic Governors]]