Ed Neilson

A native of Northeast Philadelphia, Neilson attended Abraham Lincoln High School, graduating in 1981. He attended the Comey Institute at St. Joseph's University in 2004.

Neilson is a former political director for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)'s Local 98 chapter. He went on to serve as Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Executive Deputy State Labor Secretary under Governor Ed Rendell, and eventually became director of business development and government relations at Chartwell Law Offices.{{cite news|last=Waring|first=Tom|title=Down to the wire in the 169th district|url=http://www.bsmphilly.com/northeast-times/5030-down-to-the-wire-in-the-169th-district.html|access-date=July 4, 2012|newspaper=The Northeast Times|date=April 11, 2012}}

Neilson was considered for the 5th Senatorial District seat after John Sabatina resigned on December 31, 2021, after being elected to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas the previous month.name="SabSen"{{cite news |title=Special election slated for Pennsylvania 5th Senate district |url=https://apnews.com/article/elections-pennsylvania-philadelphia-senate-elections-special-elections-09f405387eeec7c6de243a45c507e17a |access-date=8 May 2022 |agency=Associated Press |date=January 8, 2022}} After a meeting of Democratic leaders asked to not be considered and Ward Leaders Shawn Dillon, Connie Dougherty, Alan Butkovitz, Pat Parkinson, Jim Donnelly, Bobby Henon, John Del Ricci, Harry Enggasser, Pete McDermott and John Sabatina Sr decided to support Shawn Dillion.{{cite news|last=Waring|first=Tom|title= Dems pick ward leader Dillon for Senate special election|url=https://northeasttimes.com/2022/01/10/dems-pick-ward-leader-dillon-for-senate-special-election/ |access-date=June 20, 2022|newspaper=The Northeast Times|date=January 10, 2022}}

Shawn Dillion failed to submit his financial disclosures which were required by law for candidacy and was forced to drop out. He was replaced as a candidate by his brother Jimmy Dillion.{{cite news|last=Waring|first=Tom|title= Dillon out of Senate race, replaced by brother|url= https://northeasttimes.com/2022/04/03/dillon-out-of-senate-race-replaced-by-brother/|access-date=June 20, 2022|newspaper=The Northeast Times|date=April 3, 2022}}

In November 2011, Republican Denny O'Brien was elected to one of the Philadelphia City Council's at-large seats. O'Brien, who had comfortably held the 169th District seat in the State House for several decades, resigned from the General Assembly the following January. O'Brien's departure in part precipitated the decision on the part of the House Republican leadership to move the 169th district out of Philadelphia and into York County. The existing 169th district was to be split among the districts of Democrats Brendan Boyle, Kevin Boyle, Michael McGeehan and John Sabatina, Jr., as well as Republican John Taylor. However, the State Supreme Court struck-down the map, ruling its splitting of cities, townships and boroughs was unconstitutional. Therefore, a special election held on the existing boundaries was called for April 24, 2012.{{cite web|last=Downs|first=Sana|title=Power Evident Behind Ed Neilson In 169th Legislative District Race|url=http://www.phillyrecord.com/2012/04/power-evident-behind-ed-neilson-in-169th/|work=News|publisher=The Philadelphia Public Record|access-date=July 4, 2012}}

Neilson entered the race to succeed O'Brien, and won the Democratic primary unopposed. In the special election, he faced Dave Kralle, a long-time aide to O'Brien who served as his chief of staff at the end of his legislative tenure. On election day, Neilson defeated Kralle, and will hold the seat until January 2013. He will again face Kralle in the November 2012 general election, this time vying for a full two-year term.

{{Election box begin |title=Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 169: April 24, 2012 Special Election{{cite web|title=Special Election - Representative In The General Assembly - 169th District|url=http://www.phillyelectionresults.com/Citywide_Election_Results.html|work=Philadelphia County April 24, 2012 Primary and Special Election Unofficial Results|publisher=The City of Philadelphia: Office of the City Commissioners|access-date=July 4, 2012}} }}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Ed Neilson

|votes = 3,453

|percentage = 53.95

|change = +53.95

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{{Election box candidate with party link

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|candidate = Dave Kralle

|votes = 2,941

|percentage = 45.95

|change = -54.05

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{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin |title=Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 174: August 11, 2016 Special Election{{cite web|title=Special Election - Representative In The General Assembly - 174th District|url=http://www.philadelphiavotes.com/en/resources-a-data/ballot-box-app|work=Philadelphia County August 11, 2015 | publisher=The City of Philadelphia: Office of the City Commissioners|access-date=February 8, 2016}} }}

{{Election box candidate with party link

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|votes = 2,343

|percentage = 62.33%

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Neilson was sworn in on May 8, 2012.{{cite web|title=6 New State Reps Sworn In|url=http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/politics/6-New-State-Reps-Sworn-In-150660095.html|work=Politics News|publisher=NBC 10 Philadelphia|access-date=July 4, 2012}} He served on the Children and Youth, and Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness committees.{{cite web|title=Biography|url=http://www.pahouse.com/Neilson/?pg=bio|work=Official Biography|publisher=The Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus|access-date=July 4, 2012}}

In February 2014, former City Council Member Bill Green and was sworn in as the chair of the School Reform Commission. He was nominated by Governor Tom Corbett.{{cite web|last=Dunn|first=Mike|title=Bill Green Sworn In As Chairman Of SRC, No Special Election Planned Yet To Fill His Council Seat|url=http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/02/19/bill-green-sworn-in-as-chairman-of-src-no-special-election-planned-to-fill-his-council-seat/|access-date=15 April 2014|date=2014-02-18}} In March 2014, Democratic ward leaders picked Neilson for the City Council special election that would be held in May 2014.{{cite news|last=Brennan|first=Chris|title=Democratic ward leaders pick Neilson for Council special election|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/cityhall/Democratic-ward-leaders-pick-Neilson-for-Council-special-election.html|access-date=January 5, 2015|newspaper=The Daily News|date=March 11, 2014}}

Neilson entered the race to succeed Bill Green, and won the special election to defeat Matt Wolfe, a Republican ward leader from West Philadelphia. He later resigned the seat on June 19, 2015.

{{Election box begin |title=City Council At-Large: May 20, 2014 Special Election{{cite web|title=Special Election - City Council At-Large|url=http://www.philadelphiavotes.com/en/resources-a-data/prior-year-election-results/2014-primary|work=Philadelphia County May 20, 2014 Primary Election Results|publisher=The City of Philadelphia: Office of the City Commissioners|access-date=January 31, 2015}} }}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Democratic Party (US)

|candidate = Ed Neilson

|votes = 66,204

|percentage = 78.65%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Republican Party (US)

|candidate = Matt Wolfe

|votes = 13,018

|percentage = 15.47%

|change =

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link

|party = Libertarian Party (US)

|candidate = Nikki Allen Poe

|votes = 4,403

|percentage = 5.23%

|change =

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{{Election box candidate|

|party = Write-ins

|candidate =

|votes = 551

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Neilson was sworn into Philadelphia City Council on August 14, 2014, and resigned on June 19, 2015.{{cite news|last=City|first=Council|title=Philadelphia City Council Welcomes Councilman At-Large Ed Neilson|url=http://phlcouncil.com/council-news/philadelphia-city-council-welcomes-councilman-at-large-ed-neilson/|access-date=January 6, 2015|date=August 14, 2014}}

Neilson, his wife and five sons currently reside in Northeast Philadelphia.

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.pahouse.com/neilson/ State Representative Ed Neilson] official caucus website
• [http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?id=1615 Ed Neilson (D)] official PA House website
• [http://edneilson.com/ Ed Neilson for State Representative] official campaign website

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{{Pennsylvania House of Representatives}}

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Category:Democratic Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Category:Philadelphia City Council members

Category:Living people

Category:1963 births

Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly