Sean Ramaley
Encyclopedia
Sean Michael Ramaley is a Democratic
member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
for the 16th District
was elected in 2004. He is a Democratic Pennsylvania Senate candidate for the 47th District
in the 2008 elections
.
, and attended Quigley Catholic High School
, where in sports and other activities, including baseball, basketball, soccer, bowling and scouting. His father was a mechanic for US Airways
for 38 years.
Ramaley graduated from Allegheny College
in 1997 and was awarded the college's "Ethical Leader of the Year Award." He moved to Ohio and served as a Research and Policy Aide for the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, focusing on state finance and budgetary matters. Ramaley returned to Pennsylvania as a professional political operative, managing
political campaigns for U.S. Congress, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
, Allegheny County Council, Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas, and several municipal offices.
He attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law
, joining the University of Pittsburgh Law Review. After graduating in 2002, he took a position with the United States Department of Labor
, where he clerked for the department's Administrative Law Judges
. While at the Department of Labor, he joined the American Federation of Government Employees
, Local 644. He also has maintained a private legal practice, working on corporate transactions, wills and estates.
He volunteered for the American Legion’s Boys State Program
and co-founded the non-profit Keystone Leadership Development Corporation. He is on the Penn State Beaver Advisory Board
and the Allegheny College Alumni Council
.
, an open seat upon the retirement of Susan Laughlin
. In July 2004, he took a job as a legislative staffer for the powerful Beaver County
state representative, Mike Veon
. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
the November with a comfortable 20-point margin. He worked for Representative Veon until December of that year.
He was re-elected without opposition in 2006
.
in the 47th senatorial district
.
Tom Corbett
as part of the 2006 Pennsylvania General Assembly bonus controversy
. Ramaley was not indicted for accepting or authorizing bonuses, but for taking a "no-work' job with the General Assembly while running for office.
After pressure from party leaders, Ramaley withdrew from the race, although he and his lawyer alleged that the charges were politically motivated.
At a preliminary hearing
on October 7, 2008, Melissa Lewis, now House Democratic
caucus director for Allegheny County
testified that Ramaley, then a legislative assistant in Mike Veon's
district office, never performed legislative work. According to her testimony, he worked exclusively on his successful campaign
for the 16th legislative district
. Ramaley's attorney alleged that Lewis' testimony was mere hearsay
. Ramaley was acquitted of all charges on December 10, 2009.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member 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....
for the 16th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 16
The 16th Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is made up parts of Allegheny County and Beaver County. The district includes the following areas:* Allegheny County** Crescent Township** Leet Township** Ross Township *** Ward 04...
was elected in 2004. He is a Democratic Pennsylvania Senate candidate for the 47th District
Pennsylvania Senate, District 47
Pennsylvania's 47th Senatorial district includes parts of Allegheny, Beaver, and Lawrence Counties.Allegheny County* Crescent TownshipBeaver County* Baden* Industry* Aliquippa* Ambridge* Beaver* Beaver Falls* Big Beaver* Bridgewater* Brighton Township...
in the 2008 elections
Pennsylvania Senate elections, 2008
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate were held on November 4, 2008, with odd-numbered districts being contested. Republicans had a net gain of 1 seat for the 2008 elections, expanding their majority to 30-20. State Senators are elected for four-year terms, with half of the Senate seats up...
.
Personal life
Sean Ramaley was born in Economy, PennsylvaniaEconomy, Pennsylvania
Economy is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 9,363 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Economy is located at ....
, and attended Quigley Catholic High School
Quigley Catholic High School
Quigley Catholic High School is located in Baden, Pennsylvania. It is the only Roman Catholic high school in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The school opened in 1967 and is named for Monsignor Thomas J. Quigley, who was superintendent of schools for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh until...
, where in sports and other activities, including baseball, basketball, soccer, bowling and scouting. His father was a mechanic for US Airways
US Airways
US Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
for 38 years.
Ramaley graduated from Allegheny College
Allegheny College
Allegheny College is a private liberal arts college located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the town of Meadville. Founded in 1815, the college has about 2,100 undergraduate students.-Early history:...
in 1997 and was awarded the college's "Ethical Leader of the Year Award." He moved to Ohio and served as a Research and Policy Aide for the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, focusing on state finance and budgetary matters. Ramaley returned to Pennsylvania as a professional political operative, managing
Campaign manager
A campaign manager is a paid or volunteer individual, whose role is to coordinate the campaign's operations such as fundraising, advertising, polling, getting out the vote , and other activities supporting the effort, directly.Apart from the candidate, they are often a campaign's most visible leader...
political campaigns for U.S. Congress, 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....
, Allegheny County Council, Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas, and several municipal offices.
He attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law
University of Pittsburgh School of Law
The University of Pittsburgh School of Law was founded in 1895, and became a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools in 1900...
, joining the University of Pittsburgh Law Review. After graduating in 2002, he took a position with the United States Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
, where he clerked for the department's Administrative Law Judges
Administrative law judge
An administrative law judge in the United States is an official who presides at an administrative trial-type hearing to resolve a dispute between a government agency and someone affected by a decision of that agency. The ALJ is usually the initial trier of fact and decision maker...
. While at the Department of Labor, he joined the American Federation of Government Employees
American Federation of Government Employees
The American Federation of Government Employees is an American labor union representing over 625,000 employees of the federal government, about 5,000 employees of the District of Columbia, and a few hundred private sector employees, mostly in and around federal facilities...
, Local 644. He also has maintained a private legal practice, working on corporate transactions, wills and estates.
He volunteered for the American Legion’s Boys State Program
Boys/Girls State
Boys State and Girls State are summer leadership and citizenship programs sponsored by the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary for high school students between their junior and senior years. Boys and Girls State programs both began in 1937 and are held in each of the U.S. states ,...
and co-founded the non-profit Keystone Leadership Development Corporation. He is on the Penn State Beaver Advisory Board
Penn State Beaver
Penn State Beaver is a commonwealth campus of Pennsylvania State University located in Monaca, PA in Center Township, PA-Campus History:The land where the campus now exists was once a farm owned by the Hartenbach family. The family home still stands today and faces Brodhead Road...
and the Allegheny College Alumni Council
Allegheny College
Allegheny College is a private liberal arts college located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the town of Meadville. Founded in 1815, the college has about 2,100 undergraduate students.-Early history:...
.
Career as State Representative
Ramaley won a 5-way race for the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania's 16th legislative districtPennsylvania House of Representatives, District 16
The 16th Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is made up parts of Allegheny County and Beaver County. The district includes the following areas:* Allegheny County** Crescent Township** Leet Township** Ross Township *** Ward 04...
, an open seat upon the retirement of Susan Laughlin
Susan Laughlin
Susan Laughlin is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.She is a 1950 graduate of Ambridge High School. She was first elected to represent the 16th legislative district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1988, a position she held until her retirement...
. In July 2004, he took a job as a legislative staffer for the powerful Beaver County
Beaver County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 181,412 people, 72,576 households, and 50,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 418 people per square mile . There were 77,765 housing units at an average density of 179 per square mile...
state representative, Mike Veon
Mike Veon
Michael R. Veon is a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 14th District from 1985 through 2006.-Personal life:...
. He was elected to 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....
the November with a comfortable 20-point margin. He worked for Representative Veon until December of that year.
He was re-elected without opposition in 2006
Pennsylvania 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...
.
2008 race for State Senate
Ramaley won the Democratic primary to succeed the retiring Gerald LaValleGerald LaValle
Gerald J. LaValle is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate.A native of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, he earned a degree from Geneva College in 1956 and a Master of Education from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania in 1971...
in the 47th senatorial district
Pennsylvania Senate, District 47
Pennsylvania's 47th Senatorial district includes parts of Allegheny, Beaver, and Lawrence Counties.Allegheny County* Crescent TownshipBeaver County* Baden* Industry* Aliquippa* Ambridge* Beaver* Beaver Falls* Big Beaver* Bridgewater* Brighton Township...
.
Indictment
In July 2008, Ramaley was one of 12 individuals indicted by Pennsylvania 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...
as part of the 2006 Pennsylvania General Assembly bonus controversy
2006 Pennsylvania General Assembly bonus controversy
In 2007, Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett began investigating $3.8 million in bonuses paid to legislative staffers in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. While the bonuses themselves are not illegal under state law, the Attorney General is investigating the possibility that the bonuses...
. Ramaley was not indicted for accepting or authorizing bonuses, but for taking a "no-work' job with the General Assembly while running for office.
After pressure from party leaders, Ramaley withdrew from the race, although he and his lawyer alleged that the charges were politically motivated.
At a preliminary hearing
Preliminary hearing
Within some criminal justice systems, a preliminary hearing is a proceeding, after a criminal complaint has been filed by the prosecutor, to determine whether there is enough evidence to require a trial...
on October 7, 2008, Melissa Lewis, now House Democratic
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....
caucus director for Allegheny County
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County is a county in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,223,348; making it the second most populous county in Pennsylvania, following Philadelphia County. The county seat is Pittsburgh...
testified that Ramaley, then a legislative assistant in Mike Veon's
Mike Veon
Michael R. Veon is a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 14th District from 1985 through 2006.-Personal life:...
district office, never performed legislative work. According to her testimony, he worked exclusively on his successful campaign
Pennsylvania 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...
for the 16th legislative district
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 16
The 16th Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is made up parts of Allegheny County and Beaver County. The district includes the following areas:* Allegheny County** Crescent Township** Leet Township** Ross Township *** Ward 04...
. Ramaley's attorney alleged that Lewis' testimony was mere hearsay
Hearsay
Hearsay is information gathered by one person from another person concerning some event, condition, or thing of which the first person had no direct experience. When submitted as evidence, such statements are called hearsay evidence. As a legal term, "hearsay" can also have the narrower meaning of...
. Ramaley was acquitted of all charges on December 10, 2009.
External links
- Pennsylvania House of Representatives - Sean Ramaley Official PA House website.
- Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus - Representative Sean Ramaley Official Party website.
- 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 - Sean M. Ramaley.