Title
Congratulating and honoring Frederick L. Voigt for 50 years of dedicated service to the residents of Philadelphia on the occasion of his retirement from the Office of the Philadelphia City Commissioners.
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WHEREAS, Frederick L. Voigt has faithfully served the residents of Philadelphia with proud distinction since 1969, first as an Assistant City Solicitor, and later as an Assistant District Attorney under Arlen Specter. He then worked as a staff attorney for the Environmental Protection Agency, litigating some of the first asbestos cases in the United States; and
WHEREAS, In 1977, Fred became Executive Director of the Committee of Seventy, Philadelphia's independent civic watchdog organization established in 1904. Fred was considered one of the foremost experts on elections in Pennsylvania and consulted on election law throughout the United States. He served as both an advisor to, and a critic of, five mayoral administrations of Philadelphia government over his three decades there. Under his leadership, Seventy launched studies into the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, ports, housing, economic development, municipal utilities, personnel practices, transportation and police; and a judicial selection study that culminated in the creation of Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts. He also mentored and inspired hundreds of young people who went on to careers and significant volunteer work in public service; and
WHEREAS, In 2008, Fred joined the Office of the Philadelphia City Commissioners, lending his legal prowess and knowledge of election law to assist in transforming the electoral process in Philadelphia, including the selection of new voting systems and the assurance of checks and balances to protect the rights of voters and candidates to fair and free elections; and
WHEREAS, Fred was raised in Longport, New Jersey as the second of four sons to Jacob and Mary Voigt. His father was an executive with the Pennsylvania Railroad who commuted daily to Philadelp...
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