Mark Singel
Encyclopedia
Mark Stephen Singel served as the Democratic lieutenant governor
of Pennsylvania
from 1987 to 1995 under Bob Casey
He was acting governor
from June 14, 1993, to December 13, 1993, during Casey's lengthy battle with amyloidosis
and subsequent multiple organ transplant.
A graduate of Pennsylvania State University
, Singel was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate
in 1980. After reelection in 1984, he sought and won the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in 1986. Acting as Casey's running mate
, the Casey/Singel team won a narrow victory over the Republican team of Lieutenant Governor William Scranton III and State Senator Mike Fisher
. The Casey/Singel team was re-elected in 1990.
During his second term, Governor Casey was diagnosed with Appalachian familial amyloidosis
, a rare and usually fatal liver disorder. Casey required a risky experimental multiple organ transplant
. During his lengthy recovery, Singel served as Pennsylvania's acting governor.
Singel sought and lost the Democratic senatorial nomination in 1992 to Lynn Yeakel
, who went on to lose the general election to Arlen Specter
by a narrow margin. He won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 1994 and faced Republican U.S. Congressman Tom Ridge
in the general election. Singel lost the general election to Ridge. Some people in the party blamed Casey for Singel's loss, noting that Casey, who was pro-life
, gave only lackluster support to the pro-choice
Singel. Casey declined to either campaign or raise money for Singel's candidacy an incident that caused a deep rift between the two men.
Another reason for Singel's loss was reportedly the case of Reginald McFadden. McFadden had been sentenced to life in prison in 1970 for a robbery/homicide. In 1992, the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons voted to release him. At the time, Singel, as Lt. Governor, served on the board and had voted in favour of McFadden's release. In 1994 (during the gubernatorial race), McFadden was released from prison (after Gov. Casey signed the commutation papers) and subsequently murdered two people and kidnapped and raped a third within 90 days of being released. When news of the murders broke, Singel's opponent, Tom Ridge
, turned Singel's vote to release McFadden into a campaign issue. This issue, which was compared to the case of Willie Horton
, was cited as another reason why Singel lost the campaign.
After Singel's unsuccessful gubernatorial bid, he remained active in Democratic politics. He served as chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party
and was a Presidential Elector in 1996. He briefly considered running against Senator Rick Santorum
in 2000, but withdrew his name from consideration and backed eventual party nominee Ron Klink
.
In 2000, Singel joined the Philadelphia-based law firm Duane Morris
as lobbyist and director of its Johnstown, Pennsylvania
, branch office. Singel started his own firm, The Winter Group, in 2005 and continues to practice government affairs today in downtown Harrisburg.
The Pennsylvania Report
named him to the 2003 "The Pennsylvania Report Power 75" list of influential figures in Pennsylvania politics, describing him as a Harrisburg lobbyist and "Rendell
Confidante" and nothing that he had been a prominent surrogate for Rendell during the 2002 gubernatorial election
and "had a big hand in filling positions with the new [Rendell] administration." He also occasionally teaches classes at the local Penn State Harrisburg
campus. He was named to the PoliticsPA
list of "Sy Snyder's Power 50" list of influential individuals in Pennsylvania politics in 2003.
On February 19, 2010, Singel announced his intention to run in the special election
to fill the seat of the late Democrat John Murtha
, provided Murtha's widow decided not to run. He ended his bid for Congress ten days later, citing the need for the party to unite behind one candidate.
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
of 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...
from 1987 to 1995 under Bob Casey
Robert P. Casey
Robert Patrick "Bob" Casey, Sr. was an American politician from Pennsylvania. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 42nd Governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995...
He was acting governor
Acting governor
An acting governor is a constitutional position created in some U.S. states when the governor dies in office or resigns. In some states, the governor may also be declared to be incapacitated and unable to function for various reasons, including illness and absence from the state for more than a...
from June 14, 1993, to December 13, 1993, during Casey's lengthy battle with amyloidosis
Amyloidosis
In medicine, amyloidosis refers to a variety of conditions whereby the body produces "bad proteins", denoted as amyloid proteins, which are abnormally deposited in organs and/or tissues and cause harm. A protein is described as being amyloid if, due to an alteration in its secondary structure, it...
and subsequent multiple organ transplant.
A graduate of Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, Singel was elected to 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...
in 1980. After reelection in 1984, he sought and won the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor in 1986. Acting as Casey's running mate
Running mate
A running mate is a person running together with another person on a joint ticket during an election. The term is most often used in reference to the person in the subordinate position but can also properly be used when referring to both candidates, such as "Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen were...
, the Casey/Singel team won a narrow victory over the Republican team of Lieutenant Governor William Scranton III and State Senator Mike Fisher
D. Michael Fisher
Dennis Michael Fisher is a United States federal judge of the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He was nominated on May 1, 2003 by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S...
. The Casey/Singel team was re-elected in 1990.
During his second term, Governor Casey was diagnosed with Appalachian familial amyloidosis
Amyloidosis
In medicine, amyloidosis refers to a variety of conditions whereby the body produces "bad proteins", denoted as amyloid proteins, which are abnormally deposited in organs and/or tissues and cause harm. A protein is described as being amyloid if, due to an alteration in its secondary structure, it...
, a rare and usually fatal liver disorder. Casey required a risky experimental multiple organ transplant
Organ transplant
Organ transplantation is the moving of an organ from one body to another or from a donor site on the patient's own body, for the purpose of replacing the recipient's damaged or absent organ. The emerging field of regenerative medicine is allowing scientists and engineers to create organs to be...
. During his lengthy recovery, Singel served as Pennsylvania's acting governor.
Singel sought and lost the Democratic senatorial nomination in 1992 to Lynn Yeakel
Lynn Yeakel
Lynn Hardy Yeakel is a former Democratic Party politician from Pennsylvania. Yeakel ran for Senate in 1992 against powerful but vulnerable incumbent Arlen Specter; despite leading in the polls early in the campaign, she ultimately lost due to political inexperience.Yeakel is the daughter of Porter...
, who went on to lose the general election to Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter
Arlen Specter is a former United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Specter is a Democrat, but was a Republican from 1965 until switching to the Democratic Party in 2009...
by a narrow margin. He won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 1994 and faced Republican U.S. Congressman Tom Ridge
Tom Ridge
Thomas Joseph "Tom" Ridge is an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives , the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania , Assistant to the President for Homeland Security , and the first United States Secretary of Homeland Security...
in the general election. Singel lost the general election to Ridge. Some people in the party blamed Casey for Singel's loss, noting that Casey, who was pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
, gave only lackluster support to the pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
Singel. Casey declined to either campaign or raise money for Singel's candidacy an incident that caused a deep rift between the two men.
Another reason for Singel's loss was reportedly the case of Reginald McFadden. McFadden had been sentenced to life in prison in 1970 for a robbery/homicide. In 1992, the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons voted to release him. At the time, Singel, as Lt. Governor, served on the board and had voted in favour of McFadden's release. In 1994 (during the gubernatorial race), McFadden was released from prison (after Gov. Casey signed the commutation papers) and subsequently murdered two people and kidnapped and raped a third within 90 days of being released. When news of the murders broke, Singel's opponent, Tom Ridge
Tom Ridge
Thomas Joseph "Tom" Ridge is an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives , the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania , Assistant to the President for Homeland Security , and the first United States Secretary of Homeland Security...
, turned Singel's vote to release McFadden into a campaign issue. This issue, which was compared to the case of Willie Horton
Willie Horton
William R. "Willie" Horton is an American convicted felon who, while serving a life sentence for murder, without the possibility of parole, was the beneficiary of a Massachusetts weekend furlough program...
, was cited as another reason why Singel lost the campaign.
After Singel's unsuccessful gubernatorial bid, he remained active in Democratic politics. He served as chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party
Pennsylvania Democratic Party
The Pennsylvania Democratic Party is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of Pennsylvania. The party has had strong support in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia area for a long time, having controlled the mayoral office in Philadelphia since 1952, and the Pittsburgh...
and was a Presidential Elector in 1996. He briefly considered running against Senator Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum
Richard John "Rick" Santorum is a lawyer and a former United States Senator from the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Santorum was the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference -making him the third-ranking Senate Republican from 2001 until his leave in 2007. Santorum is considered both a social...
in 2000, but withdrew his name from consideration and backed eventual party nominee Ron Klink
Ron Klink
Ronald "Ron" Klink is a Democratic politician and former United States Representative from Pennsylvania.Klink was born in Canton, Ohio, and graduated from Meyersdale High School in Pennsylvania in 1969. Klink originally worked behind the scenes at WTAJ-TV in Altoona, Pennsylvania...
.
In 2000, Singel joined the Philadelphia-based law firm Duane Morris
Duane Morris
Duane Morris LLP is a law firm headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1904 as Duane, Morris, Heckscher & Roberts, the firm has 24 offices in the United States, London, Singapore and Vietnam. In addition to legal services, Duane Morris has independent affiliates employing...
as lobbyist and director of its Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
, branch office. Singel started his own firm, The Winter Group, in 2005 and continues to practice government affairs today in downtown Harrisburg.
The Pennsylvania Report
Pennsylvania Report
The Pennsylvania Report is an independent bi-weekly subscription-based political newspaper published in Pennsylvania. It is "widely read by the state's political junkies." It was founded in 1985 by David Buffington, a former public relations worker for the Pennsylvania Government.It provides...
named him to the 2003 "The Pennsylvania Report Power 75" list of influential figures in Pennsylvania politics, describing him as a Harrisburg lobbyist and "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...
Confidante" and nothing that he had been a prominent surrogate for Rendell during the 2002 gubernatorial 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...
and "had a big hand in filling positions with the new [Rendell] administration." He also occasionally teaches classes at the local Penn State Harrisburg
Penn State Harrisburg
Penn State Harrisburg, also called The Capital College, is an undergraduate college and graduate school of the Pennsylvania State University. The main campus of Penn State Harrisburg is located in Lower Swatara Township, 9 miles south of Harrisburg...
campus. He was named to the 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...
list of "Sy Snyder's Power 50" list of influential individuals in Pennsylvania politics in 2003.
On February 19, 2010, Singel announced his intention to run in the special election
Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district special election, 2010
The 2010 special election for the 12th congressional district of Pennsylvania was held on May 18, 2010 to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Democratic U.S. Representative John Murtha. Democratic nominee Mark Critz, Murtha's former district director, defeated Republican nominee Tim Burns...
to fill the seat of the late Democrat John Murtha
John Murtha
John Patrick "Jack" Murtha, Jr. was an American politician from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Murtha, a Democrat, represented Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1974 until his death in 2010....
, provided Murtha's widow decided not to run. He ended his bid for Congress ten days later, citing the need for the party to unite behind one candidate.