Early Career
His political career began in 1884 when he observed the Mummers on New Years Day and realized that this system of drill marches could be employed in political campaigns. In 1890 he started contracting with his two older brothers. By 1909, this contracting firm, known simply as "Vare Brothers," had contracts with the City of Philadelphia whose aggregate worth was over $100,000,000.
Bill was elected to City Council in 1898. Four years later, he was elected as Recorder of Deeds. In 1911, he decided to try a run for mayor as a moderate Republican. The primary was won by George Earle, Jr., but it split the Republican organization in Philadelphia three different ways, and it was these splits that accounted for Independent Rudolph Blankenburg's election in 1911.
He was elected to the State Senate in November 1922, winning a special election to fill the South Philadelphia-based first district seat left vacant by his brother Edwin's death that October. Vare resigned the seat a year later. His wife, Flora, won the ensuing special election, becoming the first woman to serve in the chamber.
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