CAMPAIGNS and Elections Politics Magazine named Jeff Coleman a 2006 "Rising Star" among the nation’s political consultants. Coleman became the first Filipino American to be elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2000 and, at 25 yrs old, also its youngest member. He is recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s influential and committed public servant.
Jeff Coleman was born to a Filipino American family at Whidbey Island Naval Base in Washington in 1975. In the 1980s, his family returned to Manila, Philippines where his parents served as Presbyterian missionaries. In 1986, Jeff and his family were living just minutes away from the site of the historic "People Power Revolution" in Manila when the country experienced the peaceful overthrow of Ferdinand Marcos. It was during that time of the People Power Revolution when the teen-aged Jeff saw immovable mountains tumble when courage is guided by great purpose. He credits this time for inspiring his "passion for public service", calling the Philippines the roots of his professional calling.
Jeff graduated from Orchard Hills Christian Academy in 1994. He attended Liberty University in Virginia, earning his degree in Government in 2001. While in the university, Jeff worked as a waiter and part-time newsman at a local talk radio station. He also worked as an intern for Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and was elected to the Apollo Borough Council.
In the 2000 election for the 60th legislative district, Jeff, a Republican, defeated the long-time Democratic incumbent Tim Pesci, in spite of the district being 70% Democratic. The then-25-year old Coleman was under-funded and relied on an aggressive "door-to-door" campaign with hundreds of campaign volunteers. He served two-terms as one of the state’s youngest and most outspoken lawmakers. In a 2002 PoliticsPA feature story designating politicians with yearbook superlatives, Jeff Coleman was named the "Most Ambitious".
In 2004, Coleman surprised many political observers when he decided to retire from the House prior to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections to pursue "a new venue of public service." He hosted a Harrisburg-based political radio program and then joined The Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvania’s independent public policy research and educational institute.
In 2005, Jeff became a political consultant and founded Churchill Strategies. He and his team have successfully mentored candidates for public office, built compelling brand strategies for corporate and non-profit clients and developed a signature approach to unraveling complex public policy issues.
Jeff has remained a visible leader in the fight to reform state government. He and his wife, the former Rebecca Collins, live in Hershey with their daughter, Anna Grace.
( Published January 6, 2009 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. B2 )
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