Joseph M. "Joe" Hoeffel (pronounced "Huffle") (born September 3, 1950) is a Democratic U.S. politician from the state of Pennsylvania. From 1998 to 2005 he was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 13th congressional district of Pennsylvania, which includes northeastern Philadelphia; he did not run for reelection in 2004, instead making an unsuccessful bid to unseat incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Arlen Specter.
Hoeffel was a member of two House committees: International Relations , and Transportation and Infrastructure. He was originally elected to the House in the election of 1998, after serving as a state representative from 1977 through 1984, and as a county commissioner from 1991 to 1998. Hoeffel was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. He attended Boston University and received his law degree from Temple University. He has been married for 26 years to Francesca Hoeffel, and they have two children.
On July 20, 2004, he became the third sitting US Congressman in one week, following Charles Rangel and Bobby Rush, to be arrested for trespassing while protesting alleged human rights violations in front of the Sudanese Embassy. US Senator Arlen Specter, Hoeffel's Republican opponent in the 2004 US Senate race, criticized the arrest as a publicity stunt.
Hoeffel is a member of the Dean Dozen, a group of candidates for local and national office (although numerically far more than twelve, but grouped in twelves) endorsed by former presidential candidate Howard Dean and his Democracy for America organization.
In the election held on November 2, 2004, Hoeffel lost by more than ten points to Specter, 53% - 42%.
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Last updated: 05-15-2005 21:47:18
