Jump to content

Roy Afflerbach

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Roy C. Afflerbach
Afflerbach in 1963
35th Mayor of Allentown, Pennsylvania
In office
January 7, 2002 – January 3, 2006
Preceded byWilliam L. Heydt
Succeeded byEd Pawlowski
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 16th district
In office
January 6, 1987 – November 30, 1998
Preceded byGuy Kratzer
Succeeded byCharlie Dent
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 131st district
In office
January 4, 1983 – November 30, 1986
Preceded byJames Ritter
Succeeded byKaren Ritter
Personal details
Born (1945-02-06) February 6, 1945 (age 79)
Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseBarbara Ann Kasper
Alma materKutztown University

Roy C. Afflerbach (born February 6, 1945, in Allentown, Pennsylvania) is an American lobbyist and former Pennsylvania State Senator and Representative. He was mayor of Allentown, Pennsylvania, the third largest city in Pennsylvania, from 2002 to 2006. In December 2004, after a difficult year, Afflerbach announced that he would not run for another term.

Early life and education

[edit]

Afflerbach was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He attended and graduated from Emmaus High School in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, and served in the United States Air Force from 1963 through 1967. Afflerbach later earned his BA from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania in 1972 and an MA in 1989.[1]

Career

[edit]

Pennsylvania State House and Senate

[edit]

Afflerbach is a Democrat and began his career in politics as a State Representative for the 131st district, a position he held from 1983 through 1986. He later served as a State Senator for the 16th district from 1987 through 1998.[2]

Allentown mayor

[edit]

Afflerbach served as mayor of Allentown, Pennsylvania from 2002 through 2006.[3] His final year in office was mired in difficulty dealing with Allentown's city council. Some former supporters asked for Afflerbach's resignation, and he was blamed for nearly bungling a deal to bring a Minor League Baseball park to Allentown. He also was accused of making poorly timed inflammatory remarks.[4]

Lobbyist

[edit]

After leaving office, Afflerbach started the Afflerbach Group, an Allentown-based lobbying firm. Among its causes are lobbying for an end to animal cruelty in Pennsylvania through factory farming practices known as "common farming exemptions." Afflerbach spoke in late 2007 at a fundraiser sponsored by Hugs for Puppies, a group pushing for the ban of the sale of foie gras in Philadelphia.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Roy C. Afflerbach (D)". Official Pennsylvania Senate Profile. Pennsylvania Senate. Archived from the original on 1997-01-02.
  2. ^ "Pennsylvania State Senate - Roy C Afflerbach Biography". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  3. ^ Nerl, Daryl. "Councilman named next deputy mayor for Allentown ** Martin Velazquez will take command when needed. ** Allentown". The Morning Call. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  4. ^ Post-Gazette.com
[edit]