Current and former elected officials are remembering former U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, who died Monday at age 56 after a long fight with cancer.
Former Gov. Mark Schweiker issued the following statement:
“Bucks County and Pennsylvania has lost a fine public servant. Mike Fitzpatrick worked tirelessly to improve the lives of those he served. As Bucks County Commissioner, and later in Congress, we could always count on Mike to fight for his fellow citizens. More than anything, I will remember him as my friend for over 40 years, and I will miss him. Kathy and I will hold his wife, Kathleen, their children and family in our prayers.”
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey released the following statement:
“Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick served our commonwealth and country with great integrity, competence, and dignity. During his time as a Bucks County Commissioner, and then as a member of Congress, Mike proved time and again that it is possible to work across the aisle to make progress while remaining true to one’s principles. Kris and I extend our condolences to Mike’s wife Kathleen, their children, and the entire Fitzpatrick family.”
Meanwhile, Gov. Tom Wolf ordered the United States and state flags on all state facilities, public buildings and grounds fly at half-staff to honor Fitzpatrick. The U.S. and state flags will be lowered to half-staff until sunset on Jan. 6 and on the day of interment, which has not yet been announced.
“Mike Fitzpatrick honorably served Bucks County as a commissioner and as a congressman, fighting to make our communities stronger and find compromise in a bipartisan way,” Wolf said. “After receiving a cancer diagnosis in the prime of his life, he chose to not just courageously fight, but to share his story with the hope of giving strength to others. He will be greatly missed, and we offer our deepest condolences to his family and friends.”
A Republican, Fitzpatrick was a Bucks County commissioner when he ran for the 8th Congressional District seat in 2004. The district included all of Bucks County, the Far Northeast and a small portion of eastern Montgomery County.
Fitzpatrick won that race, but lost the seat in 2006 to Democrat Patrick Murphy.
After a successful battle against colon cancer, he returned in 2010 for a rematch with Murphy. He won that race, then was re-elected in 2012 and ‘14 in a district that no longer included the Northeast. He did not run in 2016, honoring a pledge to serve no more than four terms. Brian Fitzpatrick, his younger brother, ran for and won the seat that year and was re-elected in 2018.
In office, Fitzpatrick was pro-life, opposed amnesty for illegal immigrants, supported additional border security and opposed American flag burning and frivolous medical lawsuits. He supported environmental issues, earning the backing of the Sierra Club.
When President Barack Obama nominated Debo Adegbile to the civil rights commission, Fitzpatrick was in opposition, citing Adegbile’s work on the appeal of convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal. Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 endorsed Fitzpatrick, who also enjoyed support from firefighters Local 22 and the building trades.
After leaving office, he received a Doctor of Humane Letters from Holy Family University. ••
