About Beth
For more than a decade, Beth Hafer has dedicated herself to improving educational opportunities for young people and encouraging innovation and efficiency in government for the people of Pennsylvania's 18th District.
Raised in the town of Elizabeth in Allegheny County, Beth saw firsthand the devastation of the town's steel mill closing, and she witnessed how government can make a difference for many families struggling to make ends meet. From her father, who served at a constituent service director for a local state representative to her mother, Barbara Hafer, who was the first woman to be elected to the Allegheny County Board of Commissioners and only the second woman in Pennsylvania's history to be elected as both Auditor General and Treasurer for the Commonwealth; Beth's earliest lessons were grounded in serving the people of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Beth received a Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State University and a Master of Science degree from Duquesne University. Combining her love of science and teaching, Beth traveled the world directing ecological and other scientific research before returning to Southwestern Pennsylvania and eventually becoming a science teacher at Moon Area Middle School. While her enthusiasm for teaching never flagged, her frustration with the lack of resources for her students and the ineffectiveness of the No Child Left Behind Act, led Beth to join her mother at Hafer & Associates, where she stepped up her fight to make sure government works better for the people it represents.
As Vice President of Hafer & Associates, Beth helps show government organizations how they can work harder and more efficiently for citizens without raising taxes. Hafer & Associates has helped state and local governments navigate through periods of fiscal crisis by helping them maximize non-tax revenues. Beth's ability to generate more money from existing money is rooted in her previous work experience with Legg Mason Real Estate Services, where she honed her analytical and financial skills.
Growing up on the campaign trail with her mother, Beth is no stranger to the world of politics. From handing out campaign flyers when she was just 8 years old, to her current efforts to help government work smarter and better, Beth has worked hard to uphold the Hafer tradition of service, bi-partisan respect and responsibility.
In Congress, Beth will work to address the challenges faced by the working families of Southwestern Pennsylvania - loss of jobs, lack of opportunity for young people and the rising cost of health care. She will also work to end the greatest drain on the lives, resources, and security of Pennsylvania citizens by working to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end.
In fact, with four close family members having served in the Armed Forces, including her late father, stepfather, brother and uncle, she has developed a deep appreciation for the importance of honoring our commitment to our Veterans. And one thing she learned from her brother, a Navy SEAL, is how critical it is for our civilian leadership to match the commitment and dedication of our men and women in uniform.
Beth lives in Mt. Lebanon with her husband Jeff, who is a native of Moon Township, and their dog Hershey.
