Frank Pecora

Frank Pecora
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 44th district
In office
January 2, 1979 – November 30, 1994
Preceded by Thomas Nolan
Succeeded by Jim Gerlach
Personal details
Born (1930-08-08) August 8, 1930[1]
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Political party Republican (1979–1992)
Democrat (1992-present)

Frank A. Pecora is a former member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, who represented the 44th District from 1979 to 1995.

Political career

Pecora was first elected to the Senate in 1978.

Several prominent Pennsylvania Democrats previously worked for Pecora, including former State Senator Sean Logan[2] and Congressman Michael Doyle.[3]

Reapportionment

Pecora, a political moderate, had fallen out of favor with his party's leadership by the early 1990s, despite the fact that he had served over thirteen years in the State Senate as a member of the Republican Party. In 1991, the Republican-controlled legislature passed a reapportionment plan that moved Pecora's district several hundred miles across the state, from Allegheny County to Chester County. Determined to continue in the Senate, Pecora followed his district and rented an apartment in Chester County, and continued serving his new constituents.[4]

Party switch

By late 1992, Republicans held a 26-24 majority in the chamber. Pecora, still upset with the reapportionment decision, decided to switch parties and vote with the Democrats. This decision changed the Senate's partisan makeup to an even 25-25, allowing Democratic Lieutenant Governor Mark Singel to cast the tie-breaking vote that allowed Democrats to gain control of the chamber. Republican Bob Jubelirer, who lost his position as President pro tempore of the body to Bob Mellow, characterized the decision as "a knife in the back".

Retirement

Pecora announced prior to the 1994 elections that he would not seek re-election in his new district. His former seat was won by Republican State Representative Jim Gerlach (who was later elected to Congress), helping Republicans regain control of the Senate.[5]

References

  1. ↑ DiFlaviana, K.; Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania. Dept. of Property and Supplies; Pennsylvania. Bureau of Publications (1991). The Pennsylvania Manual 110. Department of Property and Supplies for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Retrieved 2014-11-16.
  2. ↑ Project Vote Smart: State Senator Sean F. Logan
  3. ↑ Biographical Directory of Congress: Michael F. Doyle
  4. ↑ "The old switcheroo | TribLIVE". pittsburghlive.com. Retrieved 2014-11-16.
  5. ↑ The Free Library: Power Plays in Pennsylvania
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