Former Delaware County Congressman Bob Edgar Dies At 69
by Mark Abrams
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A former suburban Congressman who kept his hands in politics and government reform has died. KYW's Mark Abrams reports.
Former Delaware County Congressman Bob Edgar, who had been serving as president of the Washington D.C.-based good government group Common Cause died Tuesday morning in his home in the Watergate area.
Edgar, who was first elected to Congress in 1974 from the Seventh District, served six terms. He gave up the seat in 1986 to make what turned out to be an unsuccessful bid to unseat then U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter.
Zach Stahlberg, president of the Committee of 70 in Philadelphia, was a reporter for the Daily News and covered Edgar's first campaign.
"He just had character that transcended party lines and made even people that disagreed with him admire him," said Stahlberg.
Philadelphia Congressman Bob Brady, was Democratic Party chairman during Edgar's congressional years.
"He had real strong convictions, strong faith and he never backed away from any of them," said Brady.
Edgar also served was a leader in the National Council of Churches and served on the Common Cause board for years before accepting residency of the organization.
He was 69.
