Biography

11/21/1956 -

Chaka Fattah, Sr. (D7) Philadelphia County 1989-1994

Early Life: 

Chaka Fattah, Sr., born Arthur Davenport, November 21, 1956, city of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, son of Russell Davenport and Frances Davenport; education, Overbrook High School; Philadelphia Community College, 1976; Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, 1978; John Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, 1984; M.G.A., Fels Institute for State and Local Government, University of Pennsylvania, 1986; special assistant, director, Philadelphia Housing and Community Development, 1980; special assistant, managing director, Philadelphia Housing and Community Development, 1981; policy assistant, Greater Philadelphia Partnership; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1983-1988; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1989- resigned, August 31, 1994; elected, Democrat, United States House of Representatives, 1995-June 23, 2016; founded, consulting firm, Fattah Neuroscience Global Advisors (FNGA), 2016-; married, third wife, Renee Chenault-Fattah, daughter, Chandler Fattah, stepfather, daughter Cameron Chenault; daughter, Frances "Fran", son, Chaka "Chip" Fattah Jr..  

Early Career:

Special assistant, director, Philadelphia Housing and Community Development, 1980; special assistant, managing director, Philadelphia Housing and Community Development, 1981; policy assistant, Greater Philadelphia Partnership.  

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1983-1988; appointed, Select Committee to Investigate Limerick II, 1984; appointed, Select Committee to Investigate Alcohol Abuse in Pennsylvania Institutions of Higher Education, 1987-1988.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 7th district, Philadelphia County, 1989-1994; appointed, board, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) 1985-1994; appointed, Pennsylvania Higher Educational Facilities Authority, 1991-1994; Chair Education Committee; member Communication and High Technology, Community and Economic Development, Finance, Law and Justice and State Government Committees; resigned, August 31, 1994, Vincent Hughes, seated November 21, 1994. 

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Elected, Democrat, United States United States House of Representatives, 104th, 105th, 106th, 107th, 108th, 109th, 110th, 111th, 112th, 113th, 114th, 1995 -resigned, June 23, 2016.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Legacy:

Wife, Renee Chenault-Fattah, a former Philadelphia television news broadcaster, on WCAU-TV (NBC 10).

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members F". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project Wilkes University.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (1993). McQuown, L. (Editor). Ehgartner, G. (Editor). (Volume 111). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, page, 3-40. Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 3-14.

FATTAH, Chaka | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives