James J. Rhoades
Encyclopedia
James J. Rhoades was a Republican
member of the Pennsylvania State Senate
who represented the 29th District
from 1980 until his death.
Rhoades is the cousin of Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades
, the former Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
. and the current Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
.
in 1964 with a bachelor's degree in education and later earned a masters degree in education from Lehigh University
in 1966. After graduation, Rhoades started as a teacher and football coach at the Pottsville
and Mahanoy City High School
. After seven years of teaching, Rhoades was appointed as the principal of the Mahanoy Area Middle School
. He served as principal for ten years before his election to the State Senate.
Rhoades died in the hospital on October 18, 2008, a day after being injured in an automobile accident near Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania
, in Monroe County. Rhoades was on his way to a Pleasant Valley High School football game. His wife, Mary, was also injured in the crash. Thomas Senavitis was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence and causing the accident with a blood alcohol level of 0.355%, over 4 times the Pennsylvania state limit of 0.08%.
in 1978. However, in 1980, he won a seat in the Senate, defeating Democratic incumbent Joseph Gurzenda.
As a former educator, Rhoades had an interest in education issues and ultimately became Chairman of the Senate Education Committee. As chairman of that committee, Rhoades had influence over almost all education related laws, including the Pennsylvania Safe Schools Act and the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.
He also served on the Appropriations, Transportation, Law and Justice, and Environmental Resources and Energy committees.
At the time of Rhoades' death, he was running for his eighth term in the State Senate, making him second behind Stewart Greenleaf
on the list of longest serving senators. With absentee ballots having already been mailed in the state, the county could not remove Rhoades' name from the ballot.
Rhoades was posthumously re-elected with 64% of the vote, meaning that a special election would be held for his seat.
In a special election held on March 3, 2009, Republican state Representative Dave Argall
was elected to Rhoades' seat over his Democratic opponent, Schuylkill County Clerk of Courts Steven Lukach, by a margin of 62% to 38%.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the Pennsylvania State Senate
Pennsylvania State Senate
The Pennsylvania State Senate has been meeting since 1791. It is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered every two years such...
who represented the 29th District
Pennsylvania Senate, District 29
Pennsylvania's 29th Senatorial district includes parts of Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, and Schuylkill Counties. It is represented by Senator David G...
from 1980 until his death.
Rhoades is the cousin of Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades
Kevin C. Rhoades
Kevin Carl Rhoades is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the ninth Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, having served as Bishop of Harrisburg from 2004 to 2009.-Early life:...
, the former Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg covers 15 counties of South Central Pennsylvania: Adams, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Union and York. The seat of the bishop is in St...
. and the current Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend is a Roman Catholic diocese in north-central and northeastern Indiana. The Most Reverend Kevin C. Rhoades was appointed diocesan bishop by Pope Benedict XVI on November 14, 2009, and was installed on January 13, 2010...
.
Biography
Rhoades graduated from East Stroudsburg University of PennsylvaniaEast Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. It is one of the 14 state universities that compose the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education . It is commonly referred to as ESU by its students and members of the community...
in 1964 with a bachelor's degree in education and later earned a masters degree in education from Lehigh University
Lehigh University
Lehigh University is a private, co-educational university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the United States. It was established in 1865 by Asa Packer as a four-year technical school, but has grown to include studies in a wide variety of disciplines...
in 1966. After graduation, Rhoades started as a teacher and football coach at the Pottsville
Pottsville Area School District
Pottsville Area School District is a public school district located in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, serving students in central Schuylkill County. The district includes the City of Pottsville and five additional municipalities: the boroughs of Mechanicsville, Mount Carbon, Port Carbon, Palo Alto, and...
and Mahanoy City High School
Mahanoy Area School District
The Mahanoy Area School District is a public school district in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. It serves the municipalties of Mahanoy City, Mahanoy Township, Delano Township, Ryan Township, and Gilberton. Mahanoy Area School District encompasses approximately 53 square miles. According to 2000...
. After seven years of teaching, Rhoades was appointed as the principal of the Mahanoy Area Middle School
Mahanoy Area School District
The Mahanoy Area School District is a public school district in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. It serves the municipalties of Mahanoy City, Mahanoy Township, Delano Township, Ryan Township, and Gilberton. Mahanoy Area School District encompasses approximately 53 square miles. According to 2000...
. He served as principal for ten years before his election to the State Senate.
Rhoades died in the hospital on October 18, 2008, a day after being injured in an automobile accident near Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania
Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania
Brodheadsville is a census-designated place in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,637 at the 2000 census. The community is served by Pleasant Valley School District.-Geography:...
, in Monroe County. Rhoades was on his way to a Pleasant Valley High School football game. His wife, Mary, was also injured in the crash. Thomas Senavitis was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence and causing the accident with a blood alcohol level of 0.355%, over 4 times the Pennsylvania state limit of 0.08%.
Career
Rhoades was defeated for a seat in the Pennsylvania House of RepresentativesPennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
in 1978. However, in 1980, he won a seat in the Senate, defeating Democratic incumbent Joseph Gurzenda.
As a former educator, Rhoades had an interest in education issues and ultimately became Chairman of the Senate Education Committee. As chairman of that committee, Rhoades had influence over almost all education related laws, including the Pennsylvania Safe Schools Act and the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.
He also served on the Appropriations, Transportation, Law and Justice, and Environmental Resources and Energy committees.
At the time of Rhoades' death, he was running for his eighth term in the State Senate, making him second behind Stewart Greenleaf
Stewart Greenleaf
Stewart J. Greenleaf is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, representing the 12th District since 1979. His district includes portions of Montgomery and Bucks Counties.-Biography:...
on the list of longest serving senators. With absentee ballots having already been mailed in the state, the county could not remove Rhoades' name from the ballot.
Rhoades was posthumously re-elected with 64% of the vote, meaning that a special election would be held for his seat.
In a special election held on March 3, 2009, Republican state Representative Dave Argall
Dave Argall
David G. Argall, Ph.D. is a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, elected in a special election on March 3, 2009 following the death of fellow Republican James J. Rhoades. He was previously a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives where he was first elected to the House in 1984 and...
was elected to Rhoades' seat over his Democratic opponent, Schuylkill County Clerk of Courts Steven Lukach, by a margin of 62% to 38%.
External links
- Pennsylvania Senate - James J. Rhoades official PA Senate website (archived)
- Pennsylvania Senate Republican Caucus - Senator James J. Rhoades official Party website (archived)
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
- Follow the Money - James J. Rhoades