Fox, Jon D. (Jon David), 1947-2018

Jon David Fox (April 22, 1947 – February 11, 2018) was an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he notably served as the U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania's 13th congressional district from 1995 to 1999.

Born in Abington Township, Pennsylvania, he graduated from Cheltenham High School in Wyncote, Pennsylvania before earning a B.A. from Pennsylvania State University and a J.D. from the Delaware School of Law (now Widener University School of Law). Fox served in the United States Air Force Reserve from 1969 to 1975. He held positions with the General Services Administration, and was a guest lecturer for the Presidential Classroom for Young Americans. From 1976 to 1984 he was assistant district attorney for the state of Pennsylvania. Fox made his first successful run at political office in 1984, winning a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the Abington area after Democrat Joe Hoeffel retired. He would serve in the House until the 1991 primary election, when he challenged the incumbent GOP commissioners for a seat on the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners.

In 1992, he ran unsuccessfully for Congress against Democrat Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, losing by less than 1,400 votes. However, Fox sought a rematch in 1994 and, with Mezvinsky saddled with a vote for a tax increase, Fox became part of the Republican Revolution. Fox was re-elected once, in 1996, defeating Hoeffel by 84 votes out of nearly 250,000 cast. In 1998, three Republicans, Mike McMonagle, Melissa Brown and Jonathan Newman challenged him in the GOP primary. Fox staved off the internal challenge and faced Hoeffel in a rematch for the general election. Fox also faced a backlash after the impeachment of President Clinton; the 13th, long a classic "Yankee Republican" district, had become increasingly friendly to Democrats in the 1990s. In November, Fox was unable to overcome these challenges and lost 51.6%–46.6%. After the election, Fox voted for all four articles of impeachment against Clinton.

After leaving Congress, Fox practiced law and also worked as an instructor at Manor College in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. He ran for his old State House seat in 2004, losing to Democrat Josh Shapiro. Fox died on February 11, 2018 of complications with cancer.