Tom Foerster

Thomas J. Foerster (April 17, 1927 – January 11, 2000) was an American Democratic politician. Foerster held a variety of political positions in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and began his career as part of the political "machine" of David Lawrence.

Career A native of Pittsburgh, Foerster was active in athletics while a high school student, and while attending Slippery Rock College (now a university). He also began coaching youth football.

The new form of government recommended by the study was advanced by the subsequent board, voted upon via a county-wide referendum, and officially instituted in 2000, and he became the first person to represent the 13th district on the council, which replaced the County Board of Commissioners.

He was defeated in the Democratic primary in his bid for an eighth term in 1995. That fall, Republicans Bob Cranmer and Larry Dunn both won seats on the Board, forming the first Republican majority in six decades.

County Council In 1999, Foerster was elected to the Allegheny County Council, which was created by the enactment of Allegheny County's home rule charter in 1998. He became the first person to represent the 13th district on the council, which replaced the County Board of Commissioners.

Death Foerster died on January 11, 2000, just eleven days into his term, from complications of cardiac arrest and diabetes. He was 72 years old and had been in a coma for nearly a week. He was survived by his wife, Georgeann, and five stepchildren.