Jeffrey Piccola

Jeffrey E. Piccola
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 15th district
In office
November 21, 1995[1] – November 30, 2012
Preceded by John Shumaker
Succeeded by Rob Teplitz
Republican Whip
of the Pennsylvania Senate
In office
January 2, 2001 – November 30, 2006
Preceded by David Brightbill
Succeeded by Jane Orie
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 104th district
In office
January 4, 1977[2] – November 7, 1995[3]
Preceded by Joseph Hepford
Succeeded by Jeff Haste
Personal details
Born (1948-05-16) May 16, 1948
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Denise Piccola
Residence Susquehanna Township, Pennsylvania
Alma mater Gettysburg College
George Washington University Law School
Religion Presbyterian
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service 1973 — 1974

Jeffrey E. "Jeff" Piccola is a Republican politician from Pennsylvania. He is a former member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, where he represented the 15th District, and the Pennsylvania State House, where he represented the 104th District.

Piccola is a 1970 graduate of Gettysburg College, and a 1973 graduate of George Washington University Law School. From 1973 to 1974, he served in the United States Air Force. Since 1974, he has been employed at a Harrisburg law firm.

Piccola was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1976. He held his seat there until he was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1994. Piccola was made Majority Caucus Administrator of the State Senate in 1999, and, in 2001, he was elected Senate Majority Whip. He was considered a "[l]eader of the impatient hard right wing of the Pennsylvania Republican Senate."[4]

In 2002, the political website PoliticsPA named him to the list of "Smartest Legislators," saying that he was known for being "[a]rticulate and quick on his feet."[5] In a 2002 PoliticsPA feature story designating politicians with yearbook superlatives, he was named the "Most Likely to Succeed."[6]

In 2005, Piccola announced that he would run for Governor, seeking the Republican nomination against incumbent Democratic Governor Ed Rendell. Piccola dropped out of the race for governor in early 2006, after it became clear that former professional football player Lynn Swann had earned the support of most of the Pennsylvania Republican Party.[7]

Following the 2006 elections, Piccola gave up his position as Senate Whip, and instead made a bid to become president pro tempore of the State Senate, after the sitting president pro tempore, Bob Jubelirer, lost the Republican Primary in his home district.[8] State Senate Republicans ultimately chose Senator Joe Scarnati for the president pro tempore position instead of Piccola. Piccola was replaced as Republican Whip by Jane Orie.[9]

Piccola considered running for a spot on the State Supreme Court in 2007 but withdrew after he was unable to secure support for the state committee endorsement.[10]

In 2009, the Pennsylvania Report noted that Piccola had been "left for dead" after the 2006 leadership election, but was able to return to a leadership role as Chairman of the Senate Education Committee.[11]

Piccola did not seek re-election in 2012, and was succeeded by Democrat Rob Teplitz.

References

  1. ↑ Cox, Harold (2004). "Pennsylvania Senate - 1995-1996" (PDF). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
  2. ↑ "Session of 1977 - 16lst of the General Assembly - Vol. 1, No. 1" (PDF). Legislative Journal. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. 1977-01-04.
  3. ↑ Cox, Harold (November 3, 2004). "Pennsylvania House of Representatives - 1995-1996" (PDF). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
  4. ↑ "The PA Report "Power 75" List" (PDF). Pennsylvania Report. Capital Growth, Inc. January 31, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-20.
  5. ↑ "Smartest Legislators". PoliticsPA. The Publius Group. 2002. Archived from the original on 2002-01-15.
  6. ↑ "Keystone State Yearbook Committee". PoliticsPA. The Publius Group. 2001. Archived from the original on 2002-08-03.
  7. ↑ Neri, Al (February 2006). "Back to Reality". The Insider.
  8. ↑ Neri, Al (December 2006). "Insider Info". The Insider.
  9. ↑ Tom Barnes, Sen. Orie wins leadership post, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 11/21/06
  10. ↑ "Judicial Races Take Shape" (PDF). Pennsylvania Report. Capital Growth, Inc. February 2, 2007.
  11. ↑ "PA Report 100". Pennsylvania Report. Capital Growth, Inc. January 23, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-08-14.
Pennsylvania State Senate
Preceded by
John Shumaker		 Member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 15th District
1995–2012 		Succeeded by
Rob Teplitz
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Preceded by
Joseph Hepford		 Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 104th District
1977–1995 		Succeeded by
Jeff Haste
Party political offices
Preceded by
David Brightbill		 Republican Whip of the Pennsylvania Senate
2001–2006 		Succeeded by
Jane Orie
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