Jane M. Alexander (November 10, 1929 – May 6, 2020) was an American politician and lawyer who served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1965 to 1969.

Personal life

Jane Lehmer was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on November 10, 1929. ^[1] Her family returned to Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, by the time she turned two, to live on land owned by her family since shortly after William Penn founded the Colony of Pennsylvania. ^{[2] [3]} Lehmer's grandfather was a justice of the peace, and allowed her, aged five, to observe court proceedings over which he presided. ^[3] After Lehmer graduated from Dillsburg High School, she earned her bachelor's degree from Dickinson College in 1951, ^[4] followed by a degree in law from the Dickinson College of Law in 1954. She married P. Nelson Alexander, ^[4] with whom she raised two biological children. ^[2] Her second marriage was to James A. McHale, ^[4] whom she met while both worked at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. ^{[2] [5]}

Legal and public service career

In 1955, Jane Alexander was admitted to the York County Bar Association. ^[6] She was the second woman to gain membership within the county bar, and the first to actively practice law. ^[2] Alexander began her legal career in criminal law. ^[3] She was elected to her first political office in 1955, and sat on the Dillsburg Borough Council as its first woman member. ^[2] She was named president of the body, serving from 1958 to 1959, ^[1] and was also the first woman to lead the council. ^[2] Alexander subsequently served as a member of the Northern Joint School Board. ^{[1] [2]} Affiliated with the Democratic Party, Alexander was elected to two terms on the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, serving the 92nd District from 1965 to 1969. ^{[1] [2]} Upon taking office, Alexander became the first women to represent York County in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. ^[7] She lost her second reelection campaign in 1968. ^{[1] [2]} Between 1969 and 1972, Alexander was appointed to the Children's Services Advisory Board. ^{[1] [6]} She then worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Foods and Chemistry. Governor Milton Shapp subsequently named her deputy agricultural secretary for the state. ^[3] Alexander became the first woman in the United States to serve as deputy secretary of agriculture at the state level. ^[3] She remained in that role through 1978, when she became the owner and president of J&J Agri-Products and Services Inc., in Dillsburg. ^[3] Alexander practiced law until her death, ^[4] focusing on family law, estates and real estate. ^[3] Alexander died at Harrisburg Hospital, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, aged 90, on May 6, 2020. ^{[6] [8]}

References