John M. Perzel
Encyclopedia
John Michael Perzel is an American
politician
and member of the Republican Party
. Perzel represented 172nd Legislative District (Northeast Philadelphia
) in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from 1978 until 2010. From April 2003 to January 2007, he served as House Speaker. He lost his bid for re-election to Democrat Kevin Boyle in 2010
.
. 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
, a section of Northeast Philadelphia
.
, who selected him to be a GOP committeeman in 1972.
In 1976, after graduating from Troy State University, he unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the House. In 1978, he made a successful campaign for the House, focusing on the poor attendance record of the Democratic incumbent, Francis Gleeson. Over the years, he rose in seniority in the House, holding the offices of Republican Whip, Policy Committee Chairman and Chairman of the House Republican Campaign Committee. He was elected Majority Leader in 1994.
Perzel hit some bumps on his route to the leadership. In November 2000, Perzel nearly suffered defeat when a wave of support for then-Vice President
Al Gore
brought out Democratic voters in Philadelphia in larger than expected numbers. Perzel survived by less than 100 votes. 2002 brought redistricting and a more favorable district for Perzel.
In a 2002 PoliticsPA
Feature story
designating politicians with yearbook superlatives
, he was named the "Hardest Working." In 2001, he was named "Politician of the Year" by PoliticsPA
. Perzel was appointed as a commissioner to the Delaware River Port Authority
by Democratic Governor Ed Rendell
in 2003.
On November 2, 2010, Perzel lost his seat to Democrat Kevin Boyle, brother of Rep. Brendan Boyle. Perzel captured 46% of the vote to Boyle's 54%. Perzel was the only Republican incumbent in Pennsylvania to lose in the 2010 elections
.
, died after battling cancer
. On April 15, 2003, the House elected Perzel as Speaker. He became one of the post powerful legislative leaders in the Pennsylvania General Assembly
since James Manderino.
Perzel was instrumental in the state takeover of the poorly performing Philadelphia School District, the Philadelphia Parking Authority
, and the Philadelphia Convention Center.
He was also a key figure in the 2005 pay raise debacle
. During the furor, Perzel became the butt of jokes due to an unfortunate photograph. While reading to students in Pittsburgh, he was photographed in front of a class display full of pink pigs. The pay raise opposition had used a 25-foot pink pig in its demonstrations, and the photograph was widely circulated in order to embarrass the Speaker. In defending the pay raise, Perzel has made a number of controversial statements, including assertions that some cow-milkers and tattoo artists earned more than his members. In addition, Perzel has commented that some of the members were unable to obtain credit cards.
Perzel has been criticized by conservatives for compromising with fellow Philadelphian, Governor Ed Rendell
. Perzel supported the 2003 tax increase proposed by Rendell as well as Act 71, the law that legalized slot machine gambling in Pennsylvania
.
by one seat. Perzel sought to convince a Democrat to change parties or abstain from the election for speaker so that he could remain in office. After Democrat Tom Caltagirone of Reading
announced that he would support Perzel rather than Democrat Bill DeWeese for Speaker, it appeared likely that Perzel would be elected Speaker presiding over a Democratic majority. At the last minute, however, DeWeese nominated another Northeast Philadelphia Republican, Dennis O'Brien
. The tactic was successful, as O'Brien was elected by a vote of 105 to 97.
The Republican caucus created the new title of Speaker Emeritus which gave Perzel a role without displacing other members of the House leadership.
Even though he lost the majority of his power, he remained a "powerful force in the House due to his institutional knowledge."
Perzel made a bid to return to the House GOP leadership after the 2008 elections
, but was defeated by incumbent Sam Smith
for the position of Minority Leader.
Tom Corbett
announced that Perzel is under investigation for deals he made with the data firm Aristotle, Inc.
during his tenure as Speaker of the House. Perzel contracted the firm to provide the Republican Caucus with its Constituency Service program in deals worth over $1,870,000. Corbett's agents are investigating whether the sophisticated data collection software was used for reelection campaigns in violation of Pennsylvania's strict laws against the use of public funds for campaign purposes. On September 11, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
reported that the contract contained specific references for gathering information related to election purposes and the distribution of yard signs.
The Republican Attorney General's office has stated that it will issue indictments either before October 1 or after the election to avoid having "undue influence" on the November election. After indictment, Perzel turned himself into local police on November 13, 2009 and with fellow co-defendants stood before a Harrisburg District Judge. Perzel was released from custody on $100,000 bond that same day after surrendering his passport. Some feel it was mainly because of that scandal that he lost his 2010 re-election bid
to Democrat Kevin Boyle.
Perzel pleaded guilty on August 31, 2011 to eight criminal charges, including two counts of conflict of interest, two counts of theft, and four counts of conspiracy.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and member of the Republican Party
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...
. Perzel represented 172nd Legislative District (Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia, nicknamed Northeast Philly, the Northeast and the Great Northeast, is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to the 2000 Census, the Northeast has a sizable percentage of the city's 1.547 million people — a population of between 300,000 and 450,000,...
) in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
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....
from 1978 until 2010. From April 2003 to January 2007, he served as House Speaker. He lost his bid for re-election to Democrat Kevin Boyle in 2010
Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2010
The 2010 elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 2, 2010, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on May 18, 2010. The term of office for those elected in 2010 will run from January 4, 2011 until November 30, 2012...
.
Early years
Perzel is a graduate of Abraham Lincoln High SchoolAbraham Lincoln High School (Pennsylvania)
Abraham Lincoln High School, a public school located in the Mayfair section of Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and with its main entrance located at Ryan and Rowland Avenues. The current principal is Dr. Donald J. Anticoli.-Overview:...
. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1975 from Troy State University in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. 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
Somerton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Somerton is located in the Far Northeast section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The neighborhood is generally bound by Red Lion Road to the south, Roosevelt Boulevard to the east, East County Line Road and Poquessing Creek to the north, and the Philadelphia County / Montgomery County...
, a section of Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia, nicknamed Northeast Philly, the Northeast and the Great Northeast, is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to the 2000 Census, the Northeast has a sizable percentage of the city's 1.547 million people — a population of between 300,000 and 450,000,...
.
Politics
Perzel was noticed by Philadelphia Republican boss Billy MeehanWilliam Meehan
William "Billy" Meehan was the de facto leader of the Philadelphia Republican Party for the second half of the twentieth century, though he formally held a title of "of counsel"...
, who selected him to be a GOP committeeman in 1972.
In 1976, after graduating from Troy State University, he unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the House. In 1978, he made a successful campaign for the House, focusing on the poor attendance record of the Democratic incumbent, Francis Gleeson. Over the years, he rose in seniority in the House, holding the offices of Republican Whip, Policy Committee Chairman and Chairman of the House Republican Campaign Committee. He was elected Majority Leader in 1994.
Perzel hit some bumps on his route to the leadership. In November 2000, Perzel nearly suffered defeat when a wave of support for then-Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
brought out Democratic voters in Philadelphia in larger than expected numbers. Perzel survived by less than 100 votes. 2002 brought redistricting and a more favorable district for Perzel.
In a 2002 PoliticsPA
PoliticsPA
- Content :The website focuses on news aggregation, linking to major political news making headlines across the state. The editors write occasional features, like the weekly "Up & Down" scorecard and one-off lists like "Harrisburg's Smartest Staffer" and "Best Dressed Lobbyist" lists...
Feature story
Feature story
- Published Features & news :While the distinction between published features and news is often clear, when approached conceptually there are few hard boundaries between the two. It is quite possible to write a feature in the style of a news story, for instance...
designating politicians with yearbook superlatives
Yearbook
A yearbook, also known as an annual, is a book to record, highlight, and commemorate the past year of a school or a book published annually. Virtually all American, Australian and Canadian high schools, most colleges and many elementary and middle schools publish yearbooks...
, he was named the "Hardest Working." In 2001, he was named "Politician of the Year" by PoliticsPA
PoliticsPA
- Content :The website focuses on news aggregation, linking to major political news making headlines across the state. The editors write occasional features, like the weekly "Up & Down" scorecard and one-off lists like "Harrisburg's Smartest Staffer" and "Best Dressed Lobbyist" lists...
. Perzel was appointed as a commissioner to 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...
by Democratic Governor Ed Rendell
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
in 2003.
On November 2, 2010, Perzel lost his seat to Democrat Kevin Boyle, brother of Rep. Brendan Boyle. Perzel captured 46% of the vote to Boyle's 54%. Perzel was the only Republican incumbent in Pennsylvania to lose in the 2010 elections
Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2010
The 2010 elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 2, 2010, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on May 18, 2010. The term of office for those elected in 2010 will run from January 4, 2011 until November 30, 2012...
.
Speakership
On March 29, 2003, Speaker of the House, Matt RyanMatthew J. Ryan
Matthew J. Ryan was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for over 40 years and served as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.Ryan was a 1950 graduate of Saint Joseph's Preparatory School, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, died after battling cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. On April 15, 2003, the House elected Perzel as Speaker. He became one of the post powerful legislative leaders in the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
since James Manderino.
Perzel was instrumental in the state takeover of the poorly performing Philadelphia School District, the Philadelphia Parking Authority
Philadelphia Parking Authority
The Philadelphia Parking Authority was created by a Philadelphia City Council ordinance adopted on January 11, 1950, as authorized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Parking Authority Law The Philadelphia Parking Authority was created by a Philadelphia City Council ordinance adopted on January 11,...
, and the Philadelphia Convention Center.
He was also a key figure in the 2005 pay raise debacle
2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy
In the early morning hours of July 7, 2005, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed pay increases for state lawmakers, judges, and top executive-branch officials. The vote took place at 2 a.m. without public review or commentary and Governor Ed Rendell signed the bill into law...
. During the furor, Perzel became the butt of jokes due to an unfortunate photograph. While reading to students in Pittsburgh, he was photographed in front of a class display full of pink pigs. The pay raise opposition had used a 25-foot pink pig in its demonstrations, and the photograph was widely circulated in order to embarrass the Speaker. In defending the pay raise, Perzel has made a number of controversial statements, including assertions that some cow-milkers and tattoo artists earned more than his members. In addition, Perzel has commented that some of the members were unable to obtain credit cards.
Perzel has been criticized by conservatives for compromising with fellow Philadelphian, Governor Ed Rendell
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
. Perzel supported the 2003 tax increase proposed by Rendell as well as Act 71, the law that legalized slot machine gambling in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
2007 Speaker election
Republicans lost the majority in the 2006 electionsPennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2006
The 2006 Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 7, 2006, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on May 16, 2006. Members elected in 2006 were inaugurated on January 2, 2007...
by one seat. Perzel sought to convince a Democrat to change parties or abstain from the election for speaker so that he could remain in office. After Democrat Tom Caltagirone of Reading
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
announced that he would support Perzel rather than Democrat Bill DeWeese for Speaker, it appeared likely that Perzel would be elected Speaker presiding over a Democratic majority. At the last minute, however, DeWeese nominated another Northeast Philadelphia Republican, Dennis O'Brien
Dennis M. O'Brien
Dennis Michael "Denny" O'Brien is the representative from the 169th Legislative District and was the 137th Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He is the majority chairman of the House Committee on Children & Youth...
. The tactic was successful, as O'Brien was elected by a vote of 105 to 97.
The Republican caucus created the new title of Speaker Emeritus which gave Perzel a role without displacing other members of the House leadership.
Even though he lost the majority of his power, he remained a "powerful force in the House due to his institutional knowledge."
Perzel made a bid to return to the House GOP leadership after the 2008 elections
Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2008
The 2008 Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 4, 2008, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on April 22, 2008. The term of office for those elected in 2008 will run from January 6, 2009 until November 2010...
, but was defeated by incumbent Sam Smith
Samuel H. Smith (politician)
Samuel H. "Sam" Smith is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 66th District and was elected in 1986. The district includes portions of Jefferson, Indiana and Armstrong counties...
for the position of Minority Leader.
Aristotle Scandal
On September 10, 2008 the office of State Attorney GeneralPennsylvania Attorney General
The Pennsylvania Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It became an elected office in 1980. Currently, the office is held by Linda Kelly.- Authority and Responsibilities :...
Tom Corbett
Tom Corbett
Thomas W. Corbett is the 46th and current Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. He is a former Attorney General of Pennsylvania and was elected to that office in 2004 and reelected in 2008...
announced that Perzel is under investigation for deals he made with the data firm Aristotle, Inc.
Aristotle, Inc.
Aristotle, Inc. is a U.S. company founded and led by brothers John Aristotle Phillips and Dean Aristotle Phillips in 1983, specializing in data-mining voter data for political campaigns....
during his tenure as Speaker of the House. Perzel contracted the firm to provide the Republican Caucus with its Constituency Service program in deals worth over $1,870,000. Corbett's agents are investigating whether the sophisticated data collection software was used for reelection campaigns in violation of Pennsylvania's strict laws against the use of public funds for campaign purposes. On September 11, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
reported that the contract contained specific references for gathering information related to election purposes and the distribution of yard signs.
The Republican Attorney General's office has stated that it will issue indictments either before October 1 or after the election to avoid having "undue influence" on the November election. After indictment, Perzel turned himself into local police on November 13, 2009 and with fellow co-defendants stood before a Harrisburg District Judge. Perzel was released from custody on $100,000 bond that same day after surrendering his passport. Some feel it was mainly because of that scandal that he lost his 2010 re-election bid
Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2010
The 2010 elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 2, 2010, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on May 18, 2010. The term of office for those elected in 2010 will run from January 4, 2011 until November 30, 2012...
to Democrat Kevin Boyle.
Perzel pleaded guilty on August 31, 2011 to eight criminal charges, including two counts of conflict of interest, two counts of theft, and four counts of conspiracy.