John Perzel: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:36, 5 May 2007

Revision as of 08:34, 30 August 2007

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'''John Michael "Jay" Perzel''' (born [[January 7]] [[1950]]) is a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[politician]] who represents the 172nd Legislative District ([[Northeast Philadelphia]]) in the [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives]]. From April 2003 to January 2007, he served as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House.

==Early years==

Perzel is a graduate of [[Abraham Lincoln High School (Pennsylvania)|Abraham Lincoln High School]]. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1975 from [[Troy State University]] in [[Alabama]]. After graduating from university, he returned to Philadelphia and became a waiter. Immediately before his political career, he was [[maitre d']] at Pavio's Restaurant in [[Somerton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Somerton]], a section of [[Northeast Philadelphia]].

==Politics==

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==Speakership==

On [[March 29]] [[2003]], Speaker of the House, [[Matthew J. Ryan]], passeddied away after battling [[cancer]]. On [[April 15]] [[2003]], the House elected Perzel as Speaker.

Rep. Perzel was instrumental in the state takeover of the poorly performing [[Philadelphia School District]] and the [[Philadelphia Parking Authority]].

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===2007 Speaker Election===

Republicans lost the majority in the [[Pennsylvania General Assembly Election, 2006|2006 elections]] by one seat; however Perzel refused to vacate the Speaker's office. <ref>[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06365/750290-85.stm ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', Democrat gives GOP Pa. House majority. December 30, 2006].</ref> All along, Perzel had been seeking to convince a Democrat to change parties or abstain from the election for speaker so that he could remain in office. On [[December 30]] [[2006]], Democrat [[Thomas R. Caltagirone]] of [[Reading, Pennsylvania|Reading]] announced that he would support Perzel rather than Democrat [[H. William DeWeese]] for Speaker of the House. Although Caltagirone has not formally switched parties, his support of Perzel made it appear likely that Perzel would be elected Speaker in January 2007 and preside over a Democratic majority.<ref>[http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/16363590.htm Colleagues: Pa. House switch is revenge], ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'', [[January 2]] [[2007]]</ref> At the last minute, however, DeWeese nominated another Northeast Philadelphia Republican, [[Dennis M. O'Brien]]. The tactic was successful, as O'Brien was elected by a vote of 105 to 97.

==External links ==

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{{PASpeakers}}

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[[Category:1950 births]]

[[Category:Living people]]

{{PASpeakers}}