Steve McCarter | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of thePennsylvania House of Representatives from the154th district | |
| In office January 1, 2013 (2013-01-01)[1] – November 30, 2020 (2020-11-30) | |
| Preceded by | Lawrence Curry |
| Succeeded by | Napoleon Nelson |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Deborah McCarter |
| Residence | Cheltenham Township |
| Occupation | Politician, schoolteacher |
Stephen McCarter (born February 16, 1947) is a retired American educator and politician. He was aDemocratic member of thePennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the154th legislative district from2012 until 2020. The district was located inMontgomery andPhiladelphia counties, includingCheltenham Township,Jenkintown,Springfield Township, and part of Philadelphia's 35th Ward.[2]
Prior to his election as a state representative, McCarter was a high school social studies teacher for 35 years in Abington and Lower Merion. He holds aBachelor of Science degree in education fromTemple University and a Masters of Science degree in education from theUniversity of Pennsylvania. He also worked as an adjunct professor of education at the University of Pennsylvania, and was a captain in theUS Army Reserve.[3]
McCarter has served as the Chairman of theCheltenham School District Local Tax Study Commission, and he was also a member of the Cheltenham Development Corporation, Cheltenham Historical Commission, and a board member and mideastern region president for thePennsylvania State Education Association.[4] McCarter and his wife Deborah currently reside inGlenside. They have lived in Cheltenham Township for 25 years, including nearbyElkins Park and Jenkintown.[3]
Following an announcement by incumbent State RepresentativeLawrence Curry that he would not be seeking re-election in2012, McCarter announced his candidacy for the 154th District's house seat.[5] He ran unopposed in the primary election and went on to defeat Republican Mark Sirinides with 72.62 percent of the vote.[2] McCarter won every precinct in the legislative district.[2][6]
McCarter serves on the Aging & Older Adult Services, Children & Youth, Environmental Resources & Energy, and Policy committees.[7]
As a state representative, McCarter has called for increased state funding for infrastructure and education, and supported an extraction tax on natural gas drillers.[8] Following the Supreme Court'sdecision on theDefense of Marriage Act, McCarter announced that he and State RepresentativeBrian Sims would introduce a bill to legalizesame-sex marriage in Pennsylvania.[9]
In December 2019, McCarter announced that he will not seek re-election in 2020.[10]