Dennis M. O'Brien
Encyclopedia
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. O'Brien is currently a City Councilman-Elect having won one of the top 7 spots in the November 8, 2011 general election.
O'Brien's district is located in Northeast Philadelphia
. Born in Philadelphia in 1952, he is a graduate of Archbishop Ryan High School
and La Salle University
, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration. He is married to the former Bernadette M. Benson and they have three sons, Dennis Jr., Brendan and Joseph.
of Charles Dougherty
O'Brien lost by 480 votes in the Republican primary and, in 1982, ran for his old seat in the Pennsylvania House. O'Brien has been re-elected in every succeeding election.
Prior to his elevation to the Speakership, he served as chairman of the House Committees on Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness, Health and Human Services, Consumer Affairs and most recently, Judiciary. Currently, he serves as the majority chairman of the Committee on Children and Youth and continues to chair the Autism Caucus.
to organize a Bureau of Autism Services within the state's Office of Developmental Programs. In 2008, one of his bills, requiring insurance companies to cover autism treatment, was passed and signed into law.
majority, the Democratic leader, Bill DeWeese
, was unable to gather the votes necessary to win back the Speakership due to some dissatisfaction within his own caucus because of his handling of matters as leader, and notably due to the decision by one member in his caucus to vote for John Perzel
, the incumbent Speaker. DeWeese nominated O'Brien, a Republican and a Perzel rival, in a surprise move. O'Brien went on to defeat Perzel 105-97. O'Brien was the first minority-party Speaker in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
to ensure implimation of Act 62 (mandating Autism insurance in Pennsylvania) which he wrote and passed while he was the Speaker. O'Brien easily went back to his old role as a behind-the-scenes player in the Pennsylvania General Assembly where he continues his representation of the 169th Legislative District.
were considered the clear favorites among the Republican contenders. On May 17, 2011, in spite of not being supported by any of the party organizations, O'Brien won one of the five GOP nominations for the City Council's at-large seats, with 17.32% of the vote. Oh won 18.50% of the vote, good for first among the field of candidates, while Rizzo was soundly defeated, coming in 7th out of nine candidates running—-a result some have attributed to his involvement in DROP, the Deferred Retirement Option Plan. O'Brien went onto be the top finisher among the minority party candidates with an approximately 10,000 vote lead. He will be sworn into Council on Jan. 2, 2012.
Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives holds the oldest state-wide elected office in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Since its first session under the Frame of Government in 1682, presided over by William Penn, over 130 House members have been elevated to the speaker's chair...
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....
. He is the majority chairman of the House Committee on Children & Youth. O'Brien is currently a City Councilman-Elect having won one of the top 7 spots in the November 8, 2011 general election.
O'Brien's district is located in 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,...
. Born in Philadelphia in 1952, he is a graduate of Archbishop Ryan High School
Archbishop Ryan High School
Archbishop Ryan High School is a Roman Catholic high school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA...
and La Salle University
La Salle University
La Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the school was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. As of 2008 the school has approximately 7,554...
, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration. He is married to the former Bernadette M. Benson and they have three sons, Dennis Jr., Brendan and Joseph.
Political career
O'Brien was first elected in 1976 and served two terms before giving up his house seat in 1980 to run the congressional seatPennsylvania's 4th congressional district
Pennsylvania's fourth district is located in western Pennsylvania and includes suburbs of Pittsburgh as well as Beaver County, Lawrence County, and Mercer County....
of Charles Dougherty
Charles F. Dougherty
Charles Francis Dougherty is a former Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.Charles F. Dougherty was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, 1957-1977 . He graduated from St...
O'Brien lost by 480 votes in the Republican primary and, in 1982, ran for his old seat in the Pennsylvania House. O'Brien has been re-elected in every succeeding election.
Prior to his elevation to the Speakership, he served as chairman of the House Committees on Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness, Health and Human Services, Consumer Affairs and most recently, Judiciary. Currently, he serves as the majority chairman of the Committee on Children and Youth and continues to chair the Autism Caucus.
Autism
Inspired by his late nephew Christopher's diagnosis, O'Brien has been an advocate for autism issues and founded the Pennsylvania Legislative Autism Caucus. Over 20 years, he has proposed a number of bills requiring mandatory school and health care funding for patients. In addition, he worked with Governor Ed RendellEd 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...
to organize a Bureau of Autism Services within the state's Office of Developmental Programs. In 2008, one of his bills, requiring insurance companies to cover autism treatment, was passed and signed into law.
2007 Speaker Election
O'Brien became the Speaker of the House following deals between Republicans and Democrats. Despite a one-seat DemocraticDemocratic 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...
majority, the Democratic leader, Bill DeWeese
H. William DeWeese
H. William "Bill" DeWeese, is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and has served as 135th Speaker of the Pennsylvania House in 1993-1994...
, was unable to gather the votes necessary to win back the Speakership due to some dissatisfaction within his own caucus because of his handling of matters as leader, and notably due to the decision by one member in his caucus to vote for John Perzel
John M. Perzel
John Michael Perzel is an American politician and member of the Republican Party. Perzel represented 172nd Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1978 until 2010. From April 2003 to January 2007, he served as House Speaker...
, the incumbent Speaker. DeWeese nominated O'Brien, a Republican and a Perzel rival, in a surprise move. O'Brien went on to defeat Perzel 105-97. O'Brien was the first minority-party Speaker in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
2008 Primary Election
O'Brien defeated what was described as an “underground write-in campaign” in the 2008 Democratic primary election. With no Democrat on the ballot a write-in candidate emerged in an attempt to secure a position on the November ballot as a Democrat. O'Brien organized his own campaign and defeated his opponent 1,372 – 416 meaning that O'Brien was listed on both parties' ballots in the general election.Post-Speakership
Upon the election of 2008, the Democrats saw the opportunity to put their own in the Speaker's office. Representative Keith McCall of Carbon County was elected Speaker with O'Brien opting out of the race. He was named the minority chairman of the House Committee on Children and Youth. In addition to those responsibilities, O'Brien is working with the Department of Public WelfarePennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare is a cabinet-level state agency in Pennsylvania. The agency, based in the Health and Welfare Building in Harrisburg, provides public welfare programs and services...
to ensure implimation of Act 62 (mandating Autism insurance in Pennsylvania) which he wrote and passed while he was the Speaker. O'Brien easily went back to his old role as a behind-the-scenes player in the Pennsylvania General Assembly where he continues his representation of the 169th Legislative District.
2011 City Council Election
O'Brien announced his intention to run for one of the minority seats on Philadelphia's City Council in 2011. He, attorney David Oh, and incumbent Frank RizzoFrank L. Rizzo, Jr.
Frank L. Rizzo, Jr., nicknamed "Franny", born March 5, 1943, is an American politician. He is son of former Mayor Frank Rizzo, and is a Republican Philadelphia City Councilman....
were considered the clear favorites among the Republican contenders. On May 17, 2011, in spite of not being supported by any of the party organizations, O'Brien won one of the five GOP nominations for the City Council's at-large seats, with 17.32% of the vote. Oh won 18.50% of the vote, good for first among the field of candidates, while Rizzo was soundly defeated, coming in 7th out of nine candidates running—-a result some have attributed to his involvement in DROP, the Deferred Retirement Option Plan. O'Brien went onto be the top finisher among the minority party candidates with an approximately 10,000 vote lead. He will be sworn into Council on Jan. 2, 2012.
External links
- State Representative Dennis O'Brien official PA House website
- Denny O'Brien for City Council official campaign website