Biography

06/04/1949 -


COHEN, Mark B., a Representative from Philadelphia County; born, June 4, 1949 in New York City, New York County, NY; graduated, Central High School, 1966; B.A., University of Pennsylvania, 1970; graduate study, Temple University, Gratz College, The Pennsylvania State University, Antioch School of Law; J.D., Widener University School of Law, 1993; M.B.A. Lebanon Valley College, 2000; intern, United States Congress (1967), United States Senate (1968); staff member, various political campaigns; vice-chair, 1st Ward Democratic Committee; member, 17th Ward Democratic Executive Committee; elected as a Democrat to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives by Special Election on May 21, 1974 to serve the remaining 1973 term; Sworn-In, June 10, 1974 and was reelected to serve 21 more consecutive terms; elected, Caucus Chair (January 23, 1990-1992 and 1995-2010); elected, Majority Whip (1993-1994); appointed, Select Committee on Three Mile Island (1979); appointed, Select Committee on Seasonal Farm Laborers (1984); appointed, chair, Select Committee to Study the Feasibility of a Harrisburg University (1990); appointed, Joint State Government Commission (1991-2010); appointed, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (1997-2016); appointed, Select Committee on Alternatives for the Operation of the Philadelphia International Airport (2000); appointed, Joint Select Committee to Examine Election Issues (2001); appointed, Select Committee on Information Security (2006); appointed, Speaker's Commission on Legislative Reform (2007); elected, delegate, Democratic National Convention (2004, 2008, 2016); unsuccessful campaign, United States Congress (1978); unsuccessful campaign for reelection to the House (2016); columnist, Logan Times; elected, judge, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia (2018-present).

 

 

Bibliography



Author, several “Laws of Politics” in Paul Dickinson’s The Official Rules (Praeger, 1978) and The Official Explanations (Praeger, 1980)
 
Cohen, Mark B., U.S. Supreme Court Amicus Brief Supporting Diversity in Higher Education, Gratz v. Bollinger  539 U.S. 244 (2003)

 

 

 

Archival Collections

 

Papers of Mark B. Cohen, 1974-2016 (2016.017), Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives, Harrisburg.

Papers of Mark B. Cohen, 1974-2016 (2017.012), Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives, Harrisburg.


If you wish to contact your current State Representative, please visit the Find Your Legislator page; or visit the Members of the House page to view a list of all current Representatives.