Edwin Erickson
{{Short description|American politician (1938–2019)}}
{{for|the Alberta politician|Edwin Erickson (Alberta politician)}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Edwin "Ted" Erickson
| image = Edwin Erickson.jpg
| caption =
| state = Pennsylvania
| state_senate = Pennsylvania
| district = 26th
| term_start = April 23, 2001
| term_end = January 2, 2015
| predecessor = F. Joseph Loeper
| successor = Thomas J. McGarrigle
| constituency =
| majority =
| party = Republican
| birth_date = May 18, 1938
| birth_place =Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and given age|2019|01|08|80}}
| death_place =
| alma_mater = Albright College, Bryn Mawr College
| profession =
| residence =Newtown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
| spouse =
| website =
}}
Edwin B. Erickson III (May 18, 1938 – January 8, 2019{{cite web |author=Edwin B. Erickson III |url=https://www.frankvideonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Edwin-B-Erickson-III?obId=4001074#/obituaryInfo |title=Edwin B. Erickson III Obituary – Visitation & Funeral Information |publisher=Frankvideonfuneralhome.com |access-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110183423/https://www.frankvideonfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Edwin-B-Erickson-III?obId=4001074#/obituaryInfo |url-status=dead }}) was an American politician. He served multiple terms on the Council of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, including two years as its chairman. He was later elected to the Pennsylvania Senate, representing the 26th District from 2001 to 2015. The district included most of Delaware County and parts of Chester County. From 1989 to 1992, Erickson served as a regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Region III, which encompassed several states in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Biography
Erickson was born in Philadelphia on May 18, 1938. He earned a B.S. in biology and chemistry from Albright College in 1960, and taught general biology, anatomy and physiology, cell physiology and zoology at Drexel University and East Stroudsburg State College from 1962 to 1969.{{cite news |work=Senator Edwin Erickson |title=Profile |url=http://www.senatorerickson.com/profile.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123225306/http://www.senatorerickson.com/profile.htm |archive-date=November 23, 2010 |access-date=February 19, 2020}} In 1969, he earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry and microbiology from Bryn Mawr College.{{cite news|work=Project Vote Smart|title=Senator Edwin B. 'Ted' Erickson (PA)|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=47186|access-date=March 13, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930232854/http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=47186|archive-date=September 30, 2010|url-status=live}} From 1969 to 1973, he was tenured assistant professor of Biology at Hamilton College, where he taught microbiology, biochemistry and general biology.{{cite web|url=https://www.albright.edu/reporter/winter2004/ourman.html|title=Our Man in Harrisburg - From state capital to home district with Pennsylvania State Senator Ted Erickson|last=Marshall|first=Barbara|date=2004|publisher=Albright College|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213031134/http://albright.edu/reporter/winter2004/ourman.html|archive-date=December 13, 2010|url-status=live|access-date=January 10, 2019}} He was member of the Army Science Board, in which capacity he served as an advisor to the United States Army on scientific and technological matters.{{cite news|work=Pennsylvania Senate|title=Edwin B. Erickson (R)|url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/senate_bio.cfm?id=284|access-date=January 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112181231/http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/senate_bio.cfm?id=284|archive-date=January 12, 2011|url-status=live}}
Erickson served as director of Public Health and later the chief administrative officer (1976–82) of Upper Darby Township. He was elected to the Delaware County Council in 1982, and served as council chairman from 1987 to 1989. While serving on the council, he was known for being active in guiding the policy behind the Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority, which served most of Delaware County.{{cite web|url=https://www.delcora.org/customer-service/faqs/|title=Customer Service {{!}} FAQs|website=Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority|access-date=January 10, 2019}}
Pennsylvania Senate
On March 20, 2001, Erickson won a special election with 60% of the vote to the Pennsylvania Senate to fill the unexpired term of F. Joseph Loeper, who resigned after pleading guilty to falsifying tax documents.{{Cite web|url=https://www.poconorecord.com/article/20001108/news/311089994|title=Top senator pleads guilty to falsifying documents|website=poconorecord.com|language=en|access-date=2019-01-12}} Erickson was seated on April 23, 2001.{{Cite web|url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=4595&body=S|title=Edwin B Erickson|website=The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.|language=English|access-date=2019-01-12}} He represented the 26th District from 2001 to 2015, which included most of Delaware County and parts of Chester County. He was a member of the following caucuses: Arthritis Caucus, Autism Caucus, Biotechnology/Life Science Caucus, Delaware River Basin Caucus, Delaware River Port Caucus, Firefighter and Emergency Services Caucus, and Pro-Life Caucus. In addition, Senator Erickson served on the Local Government Commission, Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority, and Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency Board of Directors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailylocal.com/news/national/erickson-to-retire-from-state-senate/article_c5854342-9d6f-5ab2-ab32-6cd48abf20f0.html|title=Erickson to retire from state senate|last=Lynch|first=Danielle|date=August 23, 2013|website=Daily Local News|access-date=12 January 2019|archive-date=April 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415101001/https://www.dailylocal.com/news/national/erickson-to-retire-from-state-senate/article_c5854342-9d6f-5ab2-ab32-6cd48abf20f0.html|url-status=dead}} He also served as the Majority Policy Chair from 2010 to 2014. Erickson was a key part of the enactment of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 2006, and also led efforts to pass the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act. In 2013, Erickson announced that he would not run for reelection again.{{cite web|url=http://www.politicspa.com/delco-state-senator-erickson-to-retire/50375/|title=Delco State Senator Erickson to Retire|last=Gibson|first=Keegan|date=August 23, 2013|website=PoliticsPA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712142859/http://www.politicspa.com/delco-state-senator-erickson-to-retire/50375/|archive-date=July 12, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=January 10, 2019}} He spent his last term in office sponsoring, among other bills, a plan to create and expand community-based healthcare clinics within Pennsylvania.{{cite web|url=https://cumberlink.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/pa-lawmakers-approve-health-care-clinic-grants/article_9f0b38f6-bcd0-11e2-be48-001a4bcf887a.html|title=Pa. lawmakers approve health care clinic grants|date=May 14, 2013|website=Cumberlink.com|publisher=The Sentinel|access-date=January 10, 2019}} Erickson's last term in the Senate ended in January 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20141021_They_re_slinging_mud_and_magnets_in_Delco_Senate_race.html|title=They're slinging mud and magnets in Delco Senate race|last=Bender|first=William|date=October 21, 2014|website=Philly.com|publisher=Philadelphia Media Network|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222211925/http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20141021_They_re_slinging_mud_and_magnets_in_Delco_Senate_race.html|archive-date=December 22, 2014|url-status=live|access-date=January 10, 2019}}
Later life
From 1989 to 1992, Erickson served as a regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Region III (Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia). He was executive director of Delaware County from 1992 to 2001. Erickson died on January 8, 2019, at the age of 80. Delaware County flags were lowered to half-mast in his honor.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecourierexpress.com/news/state/former-state-senator-ted-erickson-dies-at/article_a4797cb1-b98a-55d5-b860-c33221548e75.html|title=Former state senator Ted Erickson dies at 80|last=Carey|first=Kathleen E.|website=TheCourierExpress.com|language=en|access-date=January 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109152736/http://www.thecourierexpress.com/news/state/former-state-senator-ted-erickson-dies-at/article_a4797cb1-b98a-55d5-b860-c33221548e75.html|archive-date=January 9, 2019|url-status=live}}
References
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{{succession box | before=F. Joseph Loeper | title=Member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 26th District | years=2001–2015| after=Thomas J. McGarrigle}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Erickson, Edwin}}
Category:People from Newtown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Category:Politicians from Philadelphia
Category:Republican Party Pennsylvania state senators
Category:Albright College alumni
Category:Bryn Mawr College alumni
Category:Drexel University faculty
Category:Hamilton College (New York) faculty
Category:People of the United States Environmental Protection Agency
Category:East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania faculty
Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly