Sam Rohrer

Rohrer was born in Dover, Ohio, and is an alumnus of Tuscarawas Valley High School. After earning a degree in Business Administration from Bob Jones University in 1977, he managed a radio station for several years before becoming director of marketing for Graco, based in Elverson, Pennsylvania.{{cite web|title=Sam Rohrer: Pennsylvania governor candidate|date=21 April 2010|url=http://www.pennlive.com/elections/index.ssf/2010/04/sam_rohrer_pennsylvania_governor_candidate.html|publisher=The Patriot News|accessdate=November 23, 2011}}

Rohrer was elected to the State House in November 1992, succeeding retiring Republican Jim Gallen.{{cite news|last=Ayers|first=Chuck|title=2 More Candidates Intend to Seek 6th District Bids|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/mcall/access/92001089.html?dids=92001089:92001089&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+18%2C+1992&author=CHUCK+AYERS%2C+The+Morning+Call&pub=Morning+Call&desc=2+MORE+CANDIDATES+INTEND+TO+SEEK+6TH+DISTRICT+BIDS&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201152651/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/mcall/access/92001089.html?dids=92001089:92001089&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+18,+1992&author=CHUCK+AYERS,+The+Morning+Call&pub=Morning+Call&desc=2+MORE+CANDIDATES+INTEND+TO+SEEK+6TH+DISTRICT+BIDS&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 1, 2013|accessdate=November 24, 2011|newspaper=The Morning Call|date=March 18, 1992}} He typically won re-election with over 60% of the vote. However, he faced difficult contests in his last two elections. In 2006, he defeated Democrat Russell Hummel 55–45%.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=291903|title=Our Campaigns - PA State House 128 Race - Nov 07, 2006}} In 2008, he defeated Democrat John Woodward 52–48%.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=440959|title=Our Campaigns - PA State House 128 Race - Nov 04, 2008}}

He introduced legislation that would eliminate school property taxes in Pennsylvania.{{cite news|last=Phyrillas|first=Tony|title=Rohrer introduces school property tax elimination bill|url=http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2009/05/06/news/srv0000005269248.txt|accessdate=November 23, 2011|newspaper=The Mercury|date=May 6, 2009}} He was a strong opponent of the REAL ID Act.{{cite web|last=Rohrer|first=Sam|title=REAL ID and the PASS Act America's Growing Surveillance Society|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/42882333/America%E2%80%99s-Growing-Surveillance-Society-by-Rep-Sam-Rohrer|work=Address to the 10th Annual Freedom21 Conference|publisher=Scribd}} He authored the historic Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) scholarship. Today over 150,000 students have earned the scholarship to go to private schools.

• House Finance Committee (Chairman){{cite news|last=Phyrillas|first=Tony|title='False hope': Area reps say no deal to new pact|url=http://www.pottstownmercury.com/articles/2009/09/15/news/srv0000006395260.txt|accessdate=November 23, 2011|newspaper=The Mercury|date=September 15, 2009}}
• House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee (Chairman)
• House Game and Fisheries Committee
• House Appropriations Committee{{Cite web |url=http://www.rohrerforsenate.org/learn/sam-rohrer-biography |title=Biography of Sam Rohrer - Life-Long Conservative Public Servant | Sam Rohrer for U.S. Senate |access-date=2012-04-11 |archive-date=2012-03-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329133221/http://www.rohrerforsenate.org/learn/sam-rohrer-biography |url-status=dead }}

{{Main|Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2010}}

In November 2009, Rohrer announced that he would not seek re-election to the State House, and would instead seek the Republican nomination for governor.{{cite news|last=Mekeel|first=David|title=Rohrer to seek GOP nomination for governor|url=http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=168215|accessdate=November 23, 2011|newspaper=The Reading Eagle|date=November 18, 2009}} His campaign team, which was headed by Jeff Coleman, a former colleague of Rohrer's in the State House, received praise for its innovative and effective use of technology, including social media. Rohrer's primary opponent, State Attorney General Tom Corbett, was endorsed by the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania on February 13, 2010, but that endorsement also generated support for Rohrer from members of the Tea Party movement. Rohrer and his supporters organized a day-long rally entitled "Mobilize for Liberty", which included seminars and a speech from Rohrer, that took place down the hall from the main ballroom in which the State Committee was announcing its endorsement of Corbett.{{cite news|last=Fitzgerald|first=Tom|title=State GOP endorses Corbett for governor|url=http://www.tomcorbettforgovernor.com/articles/120/state-gop-endorses-corbett-for-governor/|accessdate=November 23, 2011|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=February 16, 2010}} Following its endorsement of Corbett, the State Committee sent out mailers attacking Rohrer's vote in favor of the 2005 legislative pay raise, as well as his 2001 vote in favor of a plan to increase lawmaker pensions by upwards of 50 percent.{{cite news|last=Gibson|first=Keegan|title=Rohrer Launches Senate Bid|url=http://www.politicspa.com/rohrer-launches-senate-bid/29678/|accessdate=November 23, 2011|newspaper=PoliticsPA|date=November 22, 2011}}

Ultimately, Corbett defeated Rohrer 69–31%.{{cite web|url=http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/|title=Pennsylvania Governor Primary Results |date=May 18, 2010 |work=PA Secretary of State |accessdate=June 2, 2010}} Rohrer only won two counties in the state: Lancaster County (52%) and Berks County (80%). He nearly won Clinton and Lycoming Counties{{Cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=333373|title=Our Campaigns - PA Governor - R Primary Race - May 18, 2010}} During the following summer, supporters initiated a write-in campaign for the November election. Rohrer did not endorse nor denounce the ultimately unsuccessful campaign.{{cite news|last=Schultheis|first=Emily|title=Rohrer supporters launch write-in campaign|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/08/rohrer-supporters-launch-write-in-campaign-040809|access-date=November 23, 2011|newspaper=Politico|date=August 8, 2010}}

In February 2011 Rohrer became Pennsylvania state director for Americans for Prosperity.{{cite web|last=AFP Blog|title=AFP-PA welcomes Pennsylvania grassroots hero, Sam Rohrer as Pennsylvania's new state director|url=http://www.americansforprosperity.org/021511-afp-pa-welcomes-pennsylvania-grassroots-hero-sam-rohrer-pennsylvanias-new-state-director|publisher=Americans for Prosperity|accessdate=November 23, 2011}} Rohrer resigned from the position in November, in preparation for a run for the United States Senate.{{cite news|last=Levy|first=Marc|title=Sam Rohrer to run for Casey's Senate seat|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45166461/ns/local_news-delaware_valley_pa_nj/t/sam-rohrer-run-caseys-senate-seat/#.TrcOx_Ssc9c|accessdate=6 November 2011|newspaper=MSNBC|date=4 November 2011}}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{Main|United States Senate election in Pennsylvania, 2012}}

On Friday, November 4, 2011, Jeff Coleman, who again signed-on to advise Rohrer's campaign, told the Associated Press{{cite news|title=Former state Rep. Sam Rohrer joins U.S. Senate race|url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/state/s_765716.html|accessdate=6 November 2011|newspaper=Pittsburgh Tribune|date=5 November 2011}} that Rohrer was considering a run for the United States Senate seat currently held by Democrat Bob Casey Jr., and would likely officially announce his candidacy later in the month. Rohrer officially announced his candidacy at rally near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on November 21.{{cite news|last=Olson|first=Laura|title=Ex-state legislator joins race for Casey seat|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11326/1191683-454.stm|accessdate=23 November 2011|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=22 November 2011}} He also released a web video announcing his entrance to the race.{{cite web|title=Video Announcement|url=http://rohrerforsenate.org/video-announcement/|publisher=Sam Rohrer for U.S. Senate|accessdate=November 22, 2011}}

A poll taken shortly after his entrance into the race found Rohrer ahead of the rest of the primary field, besting his closest competitor by ten percentage points.{{cite news|last=Foster|first=Brittany|title=Poll: Rohrer Leads Senate Field|url=http://www.politicspa.com/poll-rohrer-leads-senate-field/29674/|accessdate=November 23, 2011|newspaper=PoliticsPA|date=November 22, 2011}}{{cite web|title=Gingrich winning in both Arizona and Pennsylvania|url=http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_AZPA_1121925.pdf|publisher=Public Policy Polling|accessdate=24 November 2011}} In a Pittsburgh Tribune Review/WPXI-TV poll taken February 2–6, 2012, Rohrer continued to lead his opponents, albeit by a slighter margin; businessman Tom Smith had the support of 8% of those polled to Rohrer's 10%.{{cite news|last=Fontaine|first=Tom|title=GOP lacks name recognition in Casey bid|url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_780935.html|accessdate=26 February 2012|newspaper=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|date=10 February 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213072514/http://pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_780935.html|archivedate=13 February 2012}} A later poll conducted by Franklin & Marshall College on March 20–25 placed Rohrer slightly behind Smith, with 7% and 9% support, respectively, with 81% of those surveyed remaining undecided.{{cite news|last=Krawczeniuk|first=Borys|title=Poll: Santorum, Romney neck-and-neck in Pennsylvania|url=http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/poll-santorum-romney-neck-and-neck-in-pennsylvania-1.1291523#axzz1qPEcdU6X|accessdate=24 April 2012|newspaper=The Scranton Times Tribune|date=28 March 2012}}

Rohrer was endorsed by former 2012 Presidential candidates Michele Bachmann and Herman Cain.{{cite news|last=Gibson|first=Keegan|title=Bachmann Endorses Rohrer|url=http://www.politicspa.com/bachmann-endorses-rohrer/33353/|accessdate=24 April 2012|newspaper=PoliticsPA|date=28 March 2012}}

Rohrer was defeated in the primary by fellow Republican Tom Smith on April 24, 2012.

Rohrer and his wife, Ruth Ann, have six children and five grandchildren. He currently serves as president of the Pennsylvania Pastors' Network, a branch of Let Freedom Ring, Inc. that informs clergy on issues pertaining to public policy. On March 21, 2013 he was awarded "Alumnus of the Year" at the annual Bob Jones University Bible Conference.{{cite web |url=http://www.bju.edu/communities/alumni/awards/ |title=Alumni Association Awards {{!}} Bob Jones University |website=www.bju.edu |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210202640/http://www.bju.edu/communities/alumni/awards/ |archive-date=2012-02-10}}

{{reflist|2}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110207144128/http://www.samrohrer.org/ Sam Rohrer for U.S. Senate] official senatorial campaign website
• {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=9223 | fec= | congress= }}

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Category:1955 births

Category:Bob Jones University alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Republican Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Category:Politicians from Berks County, Pennsylvania

Category:People from Dover, Ohio

Category:20th-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly

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