Ed Rendell

Ed Rendell is a public servant with a career spanning law enforcement, urban governance, and statewide leadership. After completing his legal education at the University of Pennsylvania and Villanova Law School and serving in the U.S. Army Reserve, Rendell joined the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, eventually becoming the city's top prosecutor.

Rendell served as Mayor of Philadelphia, where he addressed a $250 million deficit and the lowest credit rating among major American cities. He eliminated the deficit, balanced the budget, and generated five consecutive budget surpluses. The New York Times described this as "the most stunning turnaround in recent urban history." Rendell's leadership in Philadelphia is chronicled in the book "Prayer for the City" by Buzz Bissinger.

As the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania, Rendell oversaw a $28.3 billion budget. His administration reduced spending, saving more than $1 billion, and implemented property tax relief funded by gaming revenues. He expanded healthcare access for children, made prescription drugs more affordable for seniors, and advanced early childhood education. Pennsylvania's job ranking improved significantly during his tenure. Rendell also served as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee during a presidential election and chaired the National Governors Association.

Rendell co-founded "Building America's Future" with Michael Bloomberg and Arnold Schwarzenegger, focusing on infrastructure investment. He has worked as a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC, served as Special Counsel at Ballard Spahr, became a Brookings Fellow, and taught government and politics at the University of Pennsylvania. In his book "A Nation of Wusses: How America's Leaders Lost the Guts to Make Us Great," Rendell discusses his political career and advocates for principled leadership in government and public policy.