[6] Baker also served twelve years as a member of the Chester County Board of Commissioners, and as Chairman of the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania from 1986 to 1990.
Baker was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and graduated from Ben Lippen High School.
and Ph.D. in government from American University in Washington, D.C.. Baker served as an officer in the U.S. Navy.
He worked for The American Political Science Association in Washington and taught at Temple University before entering public service.
[7] Baker did not seek re-election to the Board of Commissioners in 1988,[4] opting instead to run for the State Senate seat being vacated by retiring incumbent John Stauffer.