Gene Stilp
{{Short description|Pennsylvania activist}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Gene Stilp
|image = GeneStilpProtest.jpg
|caption = Gene Stilp at an anti-pay raise rally in front of the Pennsylvania Capitol
|image_size = 175px
|birth_date ={{Birth date and age|1950|7|1}}
|birth_place = Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|other_names =
|known_for = Political activism
|occupation =
|nationality =
}}
Eugene Paul Stilp (born July 1, 1950) is a Pennsylvania State Government reformer and activist, former congressional candidate and current Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania's 125th State House of Representatives district.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-22 |title=Harrisburg-area activist Gene Stilp announces run for Pennsylvania General Assembly |url=https://www.abc27.com/pennsylvania-politics/harrisburg-area-activist-gene-stilp-announces-run-for-pennsylvania-general-assembly/ |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=ABC27 |language=en-US}} Stilp is well known for opposing the 2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise and his combined use of targeted legal action and creative media-generating props to achieve political change in Pennsylvania. He was born in Wilkes-Barre.{{Cite web |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/campaign-2012/candidates/eugene-gene-paul-stilp-61606/ |title=EUGENE 'GENE' PAUL STILP |access-date=2014-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219071646/http://www.washingtontimes.com/campaign-2012/candidates/eugene-gene-paul-stilp-61606/ |archive-date=2014-02-19 |url-status=dead }}
Political advocacy
He is a non-practicing attorney who has filed many public advocacy suits against the government of Pennsylvania.{{cite news | last = Barnes| first = Tom| authorlink = Tom Barnes (American journalist) | title = Political watchdog battles for change in Harrisburg | work = Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date = 2007-02-05| url = http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07036/759540-85.stm
| accessdate = 2008-04-20}} He is best known as an opponent of the 2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy.{{cite news| last = Bumsted| first = Brad| authorlink = Brad Bumsted| title = Gene Stilp, the court jester| work = Pittsburgh Tribune Review| date = 2006-01-08| url = http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_411047.html| accessdate = 2008-04-20| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080427152119/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_411047.html| archive-date = 2008-04-27| url-status = dead}}
The Philadelphia Inquirer named Stilp one of the three "Citizens of the Year" in 2005.{{cite news
| last =
| first =
| title = Citizens of the Year
| work = The Philadelphia Inquirer
| pages =
| language =
| publisher =
| date = 2006-01-04
| url = http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/13524249.htm
| accessdate = 2008-04-20 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060104052321/http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/13524249.htm |archivedate = 2006-01-04}}
File:PinkPiginHarrisburg.jpg in 2005.]]
The Pennsylvania Report named him to the 2009 "The Pennsylvania Report 100" list of influential figures in Pennsylvania politics.{{cite web |title=PA Report 100 |work=Pennsylvania Report |publisher=Capital Growth, Inc. |date=January 23, 2009 |url=http://www.pa-report.com/uploaded_pdf/PA%20Report%20100%20-%20Jan%2023,%202009.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127050652/http://www.pa-report.com/uploaded_pdf/PA%2520Report%2520100%2520-%2520Jan%252023,%25202009.pdf |archivedate=2020-01-27 |url-status=dead }}
Stilp designed the Flight 93 Memorial Flag.{{cite news|last=Arbogast |first=Sarah |title=Thousands Remember Victims of Flight 93 in Shanksville |url=http://www.fox43.com/news/wpmt-shanksville-911-service,0,4619819.story |accessdate=28 October 2012 |newspaper=FOX43 |date=September 11, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
He was praised by Ralph Nader for his use of props for political activism.{{cite web
|last = Nader
|first = Ralph
|title = Art Attack: Gene Stilp Uses Props And A Wicked Sense Of Humor To Focus Media Attention On Public Policy Issues
|publisher = Common Dreams
|date = 2000-03-28
|url = http://www.commondreams.org/views/032000-103.htm
|accessdate = 2008-04-20
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080331102149/http://www.commondreams.org/views/032000-103.htm
|archivedate = 2008-03-31
}}
| last = Nader
| first = Ralph
| authorlink =
| title = In Pursuit of Justice: Collected Writings 2000-2003
| publisher = Seven Stories Press
| year = 2004
| location =
| pages = 435
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ZrsDlmkfgaIC&q=Gene+Stilp&pg=PA432
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = 1-58322-629-X}}
Known for ribbing former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell about his weight, Stilp passed out bumper stickers in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on February 2 during Rendell's term as governor which read, "PLEASE, GOV. RENDELL - DON'T EAT THE GROUNDHOG!"[https://archive.today/20120906134956/http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/news-and-opinion/38471404.html?page=2&comments=1&showAll= Philadelphia Weekly article which references Stilp passing out bumper stickers] Retrieved 2011-11-13
In 2024, Stilp filed a suit to disqualify Congressman Scott Perry from running for re-election because of Perry's efforts to help overturn the 2020 presidential election, citing the Insurrection clause. Stilp withdrew the suit after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that only Congress can disqualify federal candidates.{{cite news |last1=Prose |first1=J.D. |title=Political activist withdraws lawsuit to remove U.S. Rep. Scott Perry from primary ballot |url=https://www.pennlive.com/news/2024/03/political-activist-withdraws-lawsuit-to-remove-us-rep-scott-perry-from-primary-ballot.html |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=PennLive Patriot-News |publisher=Advance Local Media LLC |date=March 19, 2024}}
Statue of Liberty replica
Stilp built and installed a replica of the Statue of Liberty on a pier of the late Marysville Bridge in the Dauphin Narrows of Susquehanna River north of Harrisburg. It was made of venetian blinds and stood 18 feet (5.5 m) tall. Six years later, after it was destroyed in a windstorm, it was rebuilt by Stilp and other local citizens, of wood, metal, glass and fiberglass, to a height of 25 feet (7.6 m).{{cite news|last=Hartman|first=Steve|title=Mystery builders of Lady Liberty replica revealed|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mystery-builders-of-lady-liberty-replica-revealed/|access-date=28 October 2012|newspaper=CBS Evening News|date=October 28, 2011}}{{cite news|last=Scolforo|first=Mark|year=2004|url=http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-02142004-246490.html|title=Master of props lends visual effects to memorable publicity campaigns|publisher=Associated Press|access-date=2008-04-20|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080108084232/http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-02142004-246490.html|archive-date=2008-01-08|url-status=dead}}U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, [http://www.fish.state.pa.us/watertrails/susqmid/trailguide.htm Susquehanna River Trail] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422163731/http://www.fish.state.pa.us/watertrails/susqmid/trailguide.htm |date=2009-04-22 }}, "Dauphin Narrows/Statue of Liberty"{{Cite web |url=http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/kochel/classes/susqriver/august31.htm |title=R. Craig Kochel, personal website, image of the Stilp statue |access-date=2008-04-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929090250/http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/kochel/classes/susqriver/august31.htm |archive-date=2007-09-29 |url-status=dead }}
2012 congressional campaign
Stilp announced in January 2012 that he would seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican incumbent Lou Barletta in Pennsylvania's 11th congressional district.{{cite web|url=http://www.politicspa.com/anti-pay-raise-activist-gene-stilp-to-challenge-barletta/30558/|title=Updated: Anti-Pay Raise Activist Gene Stilp to Challenge Barletta|date=January 9, 2012|accessdate=January 10, 2012|work=PoliticsPA|first=Keegan|last=Gibson}} In the April 2012 primary, Stilp won 54.6% of the vote defeating Wilkes-Barre attorney Bill Vinsko. Vinsko's campaign spending far outpaced Stilp's; Vinsko spent $102,463 to Stilp's $13,814.{{cite news|last=Sisak|first=Michael|title=Stilp outpolls Vinsko in 11th, will face Barletta|url=http://standardspeaker.com/news/stilp-outpolls-vinsko-in-11th-will-face-barletta-1.1305213|accessdate=28 October 2012|newspaper=StandardSpeaker.com|date=April 25, 2012}}
On October 31, 2012, Gene Stilp was endorsed by the greater Harrisburg, PA area by The Patriot-News.{{cite web|author=Patriot-News Editorial Board|title=Give Gene Stilp a chance: Activist makes sense for 11th District|url=http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/10/give_gene_stilp_a_chance_activist_makes_sense_for_11th_district.html|publisher=Patriot-News|date=2012-10-31}} This article is titled "Give Gene Stilp a chance: Activist makes sense for 11th District." In the article, Gene is heralded for protesting against government excess and acting upon it. For example, after Pennsylvania lawmakers enacted a late-night pay raise in 2005, Stilp was the one who filed the lawsuit and won part of the state Supreme Court case against the method used to award the pay increases. While there are many examples of Gene's candor and resolve, he continues to champion higher education and job creation, a vitally important and current issue in Pennsylvania.{{cite web|author=The Patriot News|title=Gene Stilp: We need real reformers in government|url=http://genestilp.com/205/gene-stilp-we-need-real-reformers-in-government|publisher=Patriot-News}}
On November 3, 2012, right on the heels of the endorsement by the Harrisburg Patriot-News, Gene Stilp was endorsed by the Citizens' Voice, one of the largest and influential newspapers in the 11th Congressional District.{{cite web|first=|title=Gene Stilp|url=http://citizensvoice.com/news/gene-stilp-1.1397874|publisher=Citizens' Voice}} The major points the article goes on to say in its endorsement for Gene as a candidate representative of the 11th Congressional District are as follows: Gene "has proven to be an effective taxpayer advocate and his positions on the issues," he "[will] protect Medicare benefits, supporting fairer taxes, implementing Obamacare", and he "[will] better reflect the interests of residents of the 11th Congressional District, which, after redistricting, now stretches from Wyoming County in the north to Cumberland County in the south."
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.facebook.com/genestilp Gene Stilp's Facebook page]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stilp, Gene}}
Category:Political activists from Pennsylvania