Candidate for
State Representative; District 165

Rep. William F. Adolph, Jr. was first elected to represent Delaware County's 165th Legislative District in 1988, and is now serving his tenth term. During his tenure in the legislature, Adolph has earned a reputation for his strong leadership on the environment, education, health care, job creation, and tax relief. Adolph is well-respected by his peers for his experience, his understanding of the legislative process, and his bi-partisanship.

The 165th Legislative District includes parts of the townships of Marple, Radnor and Springfield and all of the Borough of Morton.

Adolph is a public accountant by profession, who has operated his own firm since 1971. He is also the former president of the Springfield Township Board of Commissioners and draws on both his business and local government experience in his deliberations as a member of the House.

Adolph serves as chairman of the House Professional Licensure Committee and is a member of the House Consumer Affairs Committee. He previously chaired the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, a position he used to champion a number of environmental issues, including the Growing Greener program, which provides funding for open space preservation, watershed protection, cleanup of hazardous sites, and other environmental efforts. He is also chairman of the board of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and is a strong supporter of education issues.

He has played a key role in improving the state's business climate by cutting taxes and championing regulatory reforms, such as revisions to the workers' compensation law. Under Adolph's leadership, the legislature approved his legislation to eliminate the personal income tax on the profit from the sale of a home, saving the average taxpayer more than $1,500 on the sale of a residence. He has also fought for the interests of small businesses, introducing and successfully passing legislation that allows home-based businesses that have no impact on neighboring properties to operate with a minimum of local ordinances while still preserving the look and feel of the neighborhoods in which they operate.

Adolph also was the prime sponsor of a groundbreaking telecommunications law, which addresses regulations for broadband availability for businesses and schools, as well as makes telephone service available to Pennsylvania's lower income families at reduced rates. In addition, he authored the Guaranteed Energy Savings Act, which provides Pennsylvania's school districts and local governments with energy savings and reduced costs, saving taxpayers money and allowing more resources to be directed to educational programs.

He has been a leading advocate of medical malpractice liability reform, sponsoring a law that reformed the Medical CAT Fund, addressed patient safety concerns and made significant strides in lawsuit reform. He continued to push for additional legislation that culminated in the enactment of joint and several liability reforms.

Adolph was a leading advocate in the successful fight to scrap a statewide, centralized auto emissions plan and is pushing for the approval of new testing methods using onboard diagnostic computers, which he hopes will eventually replace tailpipe tests for emissions.

Adolph was the prime sponsor of a law that expanded the state's property tax/rent rebate program to more senior citizens and permanently disabled persons by exempting half of all Social Security and railroad pension income from the definition of income. He was also the prime sponsor of legislation to end the unfair penalties that prevent senior citizens who are collecting Social Security and other pension income from receiving full unemployment benefits.

Another highlight of Adolph's legislative career was the successful passage of his Taxpayers' Bill of Rights legislation. This law established uniform rules and regulations for the state Department of Revenue, the agency responsible for administration of the state's tax laws, to ensure fair and equitable treatment of Pennsylvania taxpayers.

Adolph has received a number of awards for his support of the legislation to improve the economic climate in Pennsylvania and create jobs. He is a five-time recipient of the Legislator of the Year award from Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and the Spirit of Free Enterprise award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Adolph is a former Springfield Athletic Association board member. He was a youth football coach for the Springfield Youth Club and is the current head coach of the St. Francis CYO varsity football team, which gives him an opportunity to interact and provide guidance to our younger residents. He is a graduate of Cardinal O'Hara High School and is also a member of the school's Hall of Fame. Adolph graduated from Christian Brothers University.

He resides in Springfield with his wife, Debbie. Together they have raised three sons, Bill, Sam and Ryne. They also have four grandchildren.