John A. Lawless
Encyclopedia
John A. Lawless is a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
.
. He earned a degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania
in 1979 and has attended classes at Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science
. He was first elected to represent the 150th legislative district
as a Republican
in 1990. During his tenure, he frequently clashed with the Republican leadership in the House Republican Caucus; one newspaper account said that he had "a tendency to tell his party's secrets to the news media."
on the event. During the 4 hour hearing, Lawless played the much-hyped 5 minute tape that he made at the event, causing several legislators to remark it its relative tameness. State Rep. Dan Frankel
told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette "No, I wasn't offended. You can find worse things in advertisements in some mainstream publications." State Rep. Babette Josephs
said "I was very underwhelmed. This is what it was all about?," blaming the controversy on "somebody, it seems to me, with a problem in his personality and it gets played out because he is in a position of power." In a contentious moment, Lawless told Spanier of a Penn State student who made fun of his facial disfigurement in an e-mail message; Spanier responded by noting that the student had complained to a threatening call from Lawless. In the end, the legislature continued to fund Penn State University.
In that following May, Lawless ran for the Democratic nomination the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
in the 2002 election
, placing third. At the same time, he easily won the Democratic nomination for the newly reconfigured 150th legislative district; Jacqueline Crahalla
won the Republican nomination and would face Lawless in election that November. In September 2002, Lawless caused a controversy when he was pulled over for a minor traffic violation by a Lower Providence Township, Pennsylvania
police officer. Lawless used vulgar language to berated the officer and threatened the police department with a loss of state funds. In the November general election
, Lawless lost to Crahalla by a mere 168 votes. Following the loss, he destroyed many constituent-related documents, rather than surrender them to Crahalla.
's dual role as Pennsylvania Lt. Governor and President Pro Tem. of the Senate. When expenditures by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
(PHEAA) were publicly revealed, Lawless, who was a board member, was criticized for using PHEAA funds to purchase falconry
lessons for himself at The Greenbrier
in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
. He currently is employed as the Corporate Secretary
for the Delaware River Port Authority
, although he was escorted by officials from the office in April 2010 because of an undisclosed disability he still collects a six-figure salary for an unknown reason.
Pennsylvania 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....
.
Education and early career
He is a 1975 graduate of Methacton High SchoolMethacton High School
Methacton High School is a public high school located in Fairview Village, Pennsylvania that serves students in grades 9-12 from Worcester and Lower Providence townships.-History:The school was founded in 1961...
. He earned a degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
West Chester University of Pennsylvania is a public university located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, about miles west of Philadelphia. It is one of the 14 state universities of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education . West Chester was ranked 69th in the Master's Universities ...
in 1979 and has attended classes at Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science
Philadelphia University
Philadelphia University, founded in 1884, is a private university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Philadelphia University's student body consists of about 3,500 individuals from all 50 states and over 50 countries...
. He was first elected to represent the 150th legislative district
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 150
The 150th Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is located in Montgomery County and includes the following areas:* Collegeville* East Norriton Township ** District 01 [PART, Division 04]* Lower Providence Township ** District 01...
as a Republican
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...
in 1990. During his tenure, he frequently clashed with the Republican leadership in the House Republican Caucus; one newspaper account said that he had "a tendency to tell his party's secrets to the news media."
Sex Faire controversy
In February 2001, Lawless gained nationwide media attention when he began an effort to withhold state funding for Penn State University because of "Sex Faire," a student event featuring information on cervical cancer, sexually transmitted diseases, and safe sex practices that he labeled "classless acts of debauchery." The event also had games such as "orgasm bingo" and an "erotic-foods-guaranteed-to-turn-you-on" table. Lawless and a video crew attended the event, where he filmed tables with literature he labeled pornographic and "gingerbread men and women with artful icing." During the university's annual budget hearing, Lawless and several other legislators grilled Penn State President Graham SpanierGraham Spanier
Graham B. Spanier is an American academic, who served as the 16th president of the Pennsylvania State University from September 1, 1995, until he was forced to resign on November 9, 2011, in the aftermath of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal...
on the event. During the 4 hour hearing, Lawless played the much-hyped 5 minute tape that he made at the event, causing several legislators to remark it its relative tameness. State Rep. Dan Frankel
Dan Frankel
Dan B. Frankel is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 23rd District. He was first elected to the House in 1998.-External links:* official PA House website*Follow the Money - Dan Frankel...
told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette "No, I wasn't offended. You can find worse things in advertisements in some mainstream publications." State Rep. Babette Josephs
Babette Josephs
Babette Josephs is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Rep. Josephs was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1984 and represents the 182nd Legislative District, which encompasses Center City and South Philadelphia...
said "I was very underwhelmed. This is what it was all about?," blaming the controversy on "somebody, it seems to me, with a problem in his personality and it gets played out because he is in a position of power." In a contentious moment, Lawless told Spanier of a Penn State student who made fun of his facial disfigurement in an e-mail message; Spanier responded by noting that the student had complained to a threatening call from Lawless. In the end, the legislature continued to fund Penn State University.
Career as a Democrat
In the 2001 redistricting negotiations, House Republican leaders "eviscerated" Lawless' district, splitting it three ways in the 2002 Pennsylvania reapportionment plan. Lawless said "They shafted me. They took away my base. This was about cowards at work. This is about paying the debts to the boys." He said that he was considering running for re-election in spite of losing his political base or running for Pennsylvania Senate. Instead, in November 2001, Lawless changed his party registration to Democrat.In that following May, Lawless ran for the Democratic nomination the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
The Lieutenant Governor is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Lieutenant Governor is elected every four years along with the Governor. Jim Cawley of Bucks County is the incumbent Lieutenant Governor...
in the 2002 election
Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2002
The Pennsylvania gubernatorial election of 2002 was held on November 5, 2002, and included the races for the governor and lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania.-Gubernatorial Primaries:Attorney General Mike Fisher ran unopposed for the Republican nomination...
, placing third. At the same time, he easily won the Democratic nomination for the newly reconfigured 150th legislative district; Jacqueline Crahalla
Jacqueline Crahalla
Jacqueline R. Crahalla is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.She is a 1958 graduate of Collingswood High School in Collingswood, New Jersey. She worked in Merck Sharp & Dohme and other corporations before retiring to "stay home and raise a family". During that...
won the Republican nomination and would face Lawless in election that November. In September 2002, Lawless caused a controversy when he was pulled over for a minor traffic violation by a Lower Providence Township, Pennsylvania
Lower Providence Township, Pennsylvania
Lower Providence Township is a township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States, about 17 miles west of Philadelphia. The population was 25,436 at the 2010 census.- History :...
police officer. Lawless used vulgar language to berated the officer and threatened the police department with a loss of state funds. In the November general election
Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2002
Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 5, 2002, with all districts being contested. State Representatives are elected for two-year terms, with the entire House of Representatives up for a vote every two years. The term of office for those elected in 2002 ran...
, Lawless lost to Crahalla by a mere 168 votes. Following the loss, he destroyed many constituent-related documents, rather than surrender them to Crahalla.
Post-legislative career
He was one on the plaintiffs in the 2001 lawsuit challenging Robert JubelirerRobert Jubelirer
Robert C. Jubelirer is a Republican Pennsylvania political leader. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1975 to 2006, and simultaneously served as the President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania State Senate and Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania between 2001 and...
's dual role as Pennsylvania Lt. Governor and President Pro Tem. of the Senate. When expenditures by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency
Created in 1963 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency has evolved into one of the nation's leading student aid organizations...
(PHEAA) were publicly revealed, Lawless, who was a board member, was criticized for using PHEAA funds to purchase falconry
Falconry
Falconry is "the taking of wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of a trained raptor". There are two traditional terms used to describe a person involved in falconry: a falconer flies a falcon; an austringer flies a hawk or an eagle...
lessons for himself at The Greenbrier
The Greenbrier
The Greenbrier is a Forbes four-star and AAA Five Diamond Award winning luxury resort located just outside the town of White Sulphur Springs in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States....
in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
White Sulphur Springs is a city in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,444 at the 2010 census.-Geography:White Sulphur Springs is located at ....
. He currently is employed as the Corporate Secretary
Company secretary
A company secretary is a senior position in a private company or public organisation, normally in the form of a managerial position or above. In the United States it is known as a corporate secretary....
for the Delaware River Port Authority
Delaware River Port Authority
The Delaware River Port Authority is a bi-state instrumentality created by a Congressionally approved interstate compact between the governments of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey...
, although he was escorted by officials from the office in April 2010 because of an undisclosed disability he still collects a six-figure salary for an unknown reason.
External links
- State Representative John A. Lawless official PA House profile (archived)