Gerald LaValle
Encyclopedia
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. He worked as a teacher, guidance counselor, and athletic coach at Midland High School and Rochester Area High School
from 1959 to 1984.
He served in the borough government of Rochester, Pennsylvania
, as councilman from 1973 to 1976 and mayor from 1976 to 1988. He then served as County Commissioner of Beaver County
. He was elected to represent the 47th senatorial district
in the Pennsylvania Senate in a 1990 special election. Within the Democratic caucus, he was elected Minority Caucus Secretary in 2005 and Minority Appropriations Committee Chairman on February 6, 2007.
In 2007 and 2008, LaValle was investigated by the Pennsylvania Attorney General
for his connections to two separate Beaver County non-profit organizations. The Beaver Initiative for Growth, an $11 million community development
nonprofit founded by LaValle and State Representative Mike Veon
, was implicated for loose financial management. The second, the Voluntary Action Center, was a small nonprofit call center partially funded by the Beaver Initiative for Growth and operated by LaValle's wife, Darla LaValle.
Investigations into the Voluntary Action Center began when Darla LaValle repaid the organization about $50,000 in "unauthorized compensation." On August 18, 2008, Pennsylvania Attorney General
Tom Corbett
charged LaValle's wife, Darla LaValle, with stealing thousands of dollars, inflating her salary, and denying employees pension benefits while serving as executive director of the Voluntary Action Center.
He retired following the 2008 Pennsylvania Senate elections
.
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 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...
.
A native of Beaver County, Pennsylvania
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...
, he earned a degree from Geneva College
Geneva College
Geneva College is a Christian liberal arts college in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States, north of Pittsburgh. Founded in 1848, in Northwood, Ohio, the college moved to its present location in 1880, where it continues to educate a student body of about 1400 traditional undergraduates in...
in 1956 and a Master of Education
Master of Education
The Master of Education is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in a large number of countries. This degree in education often includes the following majors: curriculum and instruction, counseling, and administration. It is often conferred for educators advancing in...
from Westminster College
Westminster College, Pennsylvania
Westminster College is a liberal arts college located in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1852, it is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church...
in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania
New Wilmington, Pennsylvania
New Wilmington is a borough in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, United States, first platted in 1824 and established as a borough on April 9, 1873. The population was 2,452 at the 2000 census...
in 1971. He worked as a teacher, guidance counselor, and athletic coach at Midland High School and Rochester Area High School
Rochester Area High School (Pennsylvania)
Rochester Area Junior-Senior High School is a secondary education school located in Rochester, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1890, it is one of the oldest high schools in the entire state of Pennsylvania. With a current student enrollment of approximately 450 students, Rochester Area Junior-Senior High...
from 1959 to 1984.
He served in the borough government of Rochester, Pennsylvania
Rochester, Pennsylvania
Rochester is a borough in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located northwest of Pittsburgh, it is part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The population was 4,014 at the 2000 census....
, as councilman from 1973 to 1976 and mayor from 1976 to 1988. He then served as County Commissioner of 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...
. He was elected to represent 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...
in the Pennsylvania Senate in a 1990 special election. Within the Democratic caucus, he was elected Minority Caucus Secretary in 2005 and Minority Appropriations Committee Chairman on February 6, 2007.
In 2007 and 2008, LaValle was investigated by the 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 :...
for his connections to two separate Beaver County non-profit organizations. The Beaver Initiative for Growth, an $11 million community development
Community development
Community development is a broad term applied to the practices and academic disciplines of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of local communities....
nonprofit founded by LaValle and 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:...
, was implicated for loose financial management. The second, the Voluntary Action Center, was a small nonprofit call center partially funded by the Beaver Initiative for Growth and operated by LaValle's wife, Darla LaValle.
Investigations into the Voluntary Action Center began when Darla LaValle repaid the organization about $50,000 in "unauthorized compensation." On August 18, 2008, 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 LaValle's wife, Darla LaValle, with stealing thousands of dollars, inflating her salary, and denying employees pension benefits while serving as executive director of the Voluntary Action Center.
He retired following the 2008 Pennsylvania Senate 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...
.
External links
- 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...
- 2006 2004 2002 2000 Campaign contributions (at Follow the Money)