Bob Barnett dies at 54;
Mayfair native worked
with Ed Rendell

Robert S. "Bob" Barnett, a Mayfair native who served in city and state government, died Friday after a year-long battle with a brain tumor. He was 54.
Barnett attended Abraham Lincoln High School (Class of 1967), Penn State University (1974), the University of Virginia Law School (1977) and Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government (1990).
Despite having a law degree, Barnett spent the majority of his professional life directing political campaigns and serving in administrations. He lived for many years in Northern Liberties.
His first taste of politics came in 1977, working for Ed Rendell’s successful campaign for district attorney. A year later, he helped Bob Casey in his unsuccessful effort in the Democratic primary for governor.
In 1980, Barnett ran the congressional campaign of Tom Foglietta, who won an upset victory as an independent. He later served as chief of staff for Foglietta, who died last month at age 75.
In 1988, while Casey was serving as governor, he appointed Barnett to deputy secretary in the Department of Labor and Industry. He also coordinated Casey’s 1990 re-election campaign in southeastern Pennsylvania and his transition to a second term.
In 1991, Barnett ran for an at-large City Council seat in the Democratic primary. He finished seventh among 25 candidates, ahead of incumbent Franny Rafferty and future Councilman Wilson Goode Jr., but not high enough to earn one of five nominations.
After Bill Clinton was elected president in 1992, he appointed Barnett to the Overseas Private Investment Corp. and as White House liaison to the U.S. Trade and Development Agency.
In 1994, Barnett replaced Tom Foley as the state labor and industry secretary when Foley resigned to run for lieutenant governor. In 1995, Rendell, then the city’s mayor, asked Barnett to serve as commissioner of the troubled Department of Licenses and Inspections.
Also on Barnett’s resumé were two stints as executive director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. He crossed party lines in 1999 to run the campaign of Republican Sam Katz against John Street.
After Rendell won the 2002 governor’s race, he named Barnett as secretary of the Department of Administration. He served as a senior adviser to Rendell over the last month, when his illness became more severe.
Barnett was diagnosed with a brain tumor in November 2003. Soon after, he had surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, but doctors couldn’t remove all parts of the tumor.
The tumor grew, and Barnett left Harrisburg in January, but remained in contact with administration officials. He died at a care home in Bryn Mawr.
During the many breaks in his career, he loved to travel overseas.
Barnett is survived by his mother and four brothers. Contributions in his memory can be sent to Temple Menorah Keneseth Chai, 4301 Tyson Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19135. ••