Prior to being elected to the Bucks County Board of Commissioners, he was Chief of Staff to State Senator Tommy Tomlinson. In 2000, he ran for a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 141st District. Incumbent Democrat State Representative Anthony Melio won re-election by defeating Cawley 56%–42%. He was also a former Pennsylvania state chairman and national co-chairman of the College Republicans and served as an elected member of the Bristol Township School Board.