Linda Bebko-Jones
Encyclopedia
Linda Bebko-Jones was an American politician who represented the 1st district
of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
, which includes portions of Erie County
.
, and graduated from Villa Maria Academy
in 1964. She attended the Erie Business Academy from 1964 to 1965. Prior to elective office, she spent time working as an alcohol and drug counselor and said that she had been an alcoholic herself in the past. Later on, she was director of Women Against Sexual Harassment from 1989 to 1992 and a caseworker for Community House for Women from 1990 to 1991. Her career in politics began with a stint as an administrative assistant for Pennsylvania State Senator
A. Buzz Andrezeski from 1984 to 1989, moving on to become a caseworker for former United States Senator Harris Wofford
in 1990. Her husband, Tom Jones, died in 2001 after a bout with throat and neck cancer.
in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
in 1992, defeating freshman incumbent Ken Kruszewski in the Democratic primary. She went on to defeat Republican Jerry Knight, an aide to Rep. Phil English
, in the general election by 1,100 votes. Bebko-Jones easily won the 1994 election by over 5,000 votes over Jerry Podolsky. In 1996 and 2000, she ran unopposed for re-election and in 1998, she won after her GOP opponent quit the race and tried to withdraw from the ballot.
, Bebko-Jones faced Jim Herdzik. His challenge came on the heels of a scandal involving a fire in her district office. Immediately after the fire, there were reports that it has been caused by Bebko-Jones leaving a lit cigarette in the office. The fire marshal never conclusively determined the cause, only that it was accidental. After the repairs were made to the office, Bebko-Jones moved out prior to lease expiration, claiming that the air inside the building was unhealthy. Eventually, her landlord agreed to a settlement with the state at the taxpayer's expense. Herdzik even rented the former office as a campaign headquarters, highlighting the incident. On election day, Bebko-Jones won easily with 60% of the vote.
when questions arose over the propriety of her nomination petitions. Pat Harkins
won the primary and went on to win the general election. In November 2007, a state-wide grand jury was convened to investigate abnormalities in her nominating petitions for the 2006 Democratic primary. On February 28, 2007, Pennsylvania Attorney General
Tom Corbett
charged Bebko-Jones and her former chief-of-staff with forging nominating petitions and submitting the fraudulent forms to the Secretary of the Commonwealth
. On August 6, 2008, Bebko-Jones and her former chief of staff Mary B. Fiolek were both sentenced 12 months probation
and fined $1,500. They each pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charges of forging and submitting false signatures, and criminal conspiracy. All other charges were Bebko-Jones was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and Fiolek 100 hours.
In 2007, it was revealed that Bebko-Jones, as a lame duck
legislator, attended legislative training trips at the public's expense after her defeat.
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 1
The 1st District of an electoral district of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and is currently represented by Democrat Pat Harkins. The district is located within Erie County and includes the following areas:* Erie** Ward 1...
of 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....
, which includes portions of Erie County
Erie County, Pennsylvania
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 280,566. Its county seat is the City of Erie.- Geography :...
.
Personal
Bebko-Jones was born in Erie, PennsylvaniaErie, Pennsylvania
Erie is a city located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the United States. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city , with a population of 102,000...
, and graduated from Villa Maria Academy
Villa Maria Academy (Erie, Pennsylvania)
Villa Maria Academy is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie.-History:...
in 1964. She attended the Erie Business Academy from 1964 to 1965. Prior to elective office, she spent time working as an alcohol and drug counselor and said that she had been an alcoholic herself in the past. Later on, she was director of Women Against Sexual Harassment from 1989 to 1992 and a caseworker for Community House for Women from 1990 to 1991. Her career in politics began with a stint as an administrative assistant for Pennsylvania State Senator
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...
A. Buzz Andrezeski from 1984 to 1989, moving on to become a caseworker for former United States Senator Harris Wofford
Harris Wofford
Harris Llewellyn Wofford served as a Democratic U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania from 1991 to 1995 and as the fifth president of Bryn Mawr College, and is a noted advocate of national service and volunteering...
in 1990. Her husband, Tom Jones, died in 2001 after a bout with throat and neck cancer.
Early career
Bebko-Jones was first elected to represent the 1st DistrictPennsylvania House of Representatives, District 1
The 1st District of an electoral district of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and is currently represented by Democrat Pat Harkins. The district is located within Erie County and includes the following areas:* Erie** Ward 1...
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....
in 1992, defeating freshman incumbent Ken Kruszewski in the Democratic primary. She went on to defeat Republican Jerry Knight, an aide to Rep. Phil English
Phil English
Philip Sheridan "Phil" English served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 - 2009 from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, representing the state's 3rd Congressional district....
, in the general election by 1,100 votes. Bebko-Jones easily won the 1994 election by over 5,000 votes over Jerry Podolsky. In 1996 and 2000, she ran unopposed for re-election and in 1998, she won after her GOP opponent quit the race and tried to withdraw from the ballot.
2004 election
In the 2004 Democratic primary electionPennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2004
The 2004 Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 2, 2004, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on April 27, 2004. Necessary primary elections were held on May 21, 2002. The term of office for those elected in 2004 ran from...
, Bebko-Jones faced Jim Herdzik. His challenge came on the heels of a scandal involving a fire in her district office. Immediately after the fire, there were reports that it has been caused by Bebko-Jones leaving a lit cigarette in the office. The fire marshal never conclusively determined the cause, only that it was accidental. After the repairs were made to the office, Bebko-Jones moved out prior to lease expiration, claiming that the air inside the building was unhealthy. Eventually, her landlord agreed to a settlement with the state at the taxpayer's expense. Herdzik even rented the former office as a campaign headquarters, highlighting the incident. On election day, Bebko-Jones won easily with 60% of the vote.
Campaign for Erie Mayor
In 2005, she ran for mayor of Erie against incumbent Rick Filippi, who had been indicted on corruption charges. Bebko-Jones ultimately finished third in the race, behind Joseph Sinnott who went on to become mayor.Retirement and indictment
Bebko-Jones was forced to withdraw from the 2006 Democratic primaryPennsylvania 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...
when questions arose over the propriety of her nomination petitions. Pat Harkins
Pat Harkins
Patrick J. "Pat" Harkins is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for 1st District and was elected in 2006.-Personal:...
won the primary and went on to win the general election. In November 2007, a state-wide grand jury was convened to investigate abnormalities in her nominating petitions for the 2006 Democratic primary. On February 28, 2007, Pennsylvania Attorney General
Pennsylvania 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...
charged Bebko-Jones and her former chief-of-staff with forging nominating petitions and submitting the fraudulent forms to the Secretary of the Commonwealth
Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania administers the Pennsylvania Department of State of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania...
. On August 6, 2008, Bebko-Jones and her former chief of staff Mary B. Fiolek were both sentenced 12 months probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
and fined $1,500. They each pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charges of forging and submitting false signatures, and criminal conspiracy. All other charges were Bebko-Jones was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and Fiolek 100 hours.
In 2007, it was revealed that Bebko-Jones, as a lame duck
Lame duck
Lame duck can refer to:*Lame duck , an elected official who is approaching the end of his or her tenure, and especially an official whose successor has already been elected....
legislator, attended legislative training trips at the public's expense after her defeat.
External links
- Pennsylvania House of Representatives – Linda Bebko-Jones official PA House website (archived)