Jeffrey Piccola
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey E. Piccola is member of the Pennsylvania State Senate
, representing the 15th State Senate District. He is in the Republican Party
.
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."
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." In a 2002 PoliticsPA
feature story
designating politicians with yearbook superlatives
, he was named the "Most Likely to Succeed."
In 2005, Senator Piccola announced that he would run for Governor of Pennsylvania, 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.
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 lost the Republican Primary in his home district. State Senate Republicans ultimately chose Senator Joe Scarnati
for the president pro tempore position instead of Piccola. Piccola was replaced as Republican Whip by State Senator Jane Orie
.
Piccola considered running for a position on the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
in 2007 but withdrew after he was unable to secure support for the state committee endorsement.
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.
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...
, representing the 15th State Senate District. He is in the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
Piccola is a 1970 graduate of Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College is a private four-year liberal arts college founded in 1832, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States, adjacent to the famous battlefield. Its athletic teams are nicknamed the Bullets. Gettysburg College has about 2,700 students, with roughly equal numbers of men and women...
, and a 1973 graduate of George Washington University Law School. From 1973 to 1974, he served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. Since 1974, he has been employed at a Harrisburg law firm.
Piccola 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....
in 1976. He held his seat there until he 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 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."
In 2002, the political website 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...
named him to the list of "Smartest Legislators," saying that he was known for being "[a]rticulate and quick on his feet." In a 2002 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...
feature story
Feature story
- Published Features & news :While the distinction between published features and news is often clear, when approached conceptually there are few hard boundaries between the two. It is quite possible to write a feature in the style of a news story, for instance...
designating politicians with yearbook superlatives
Yearbook
A yearbook, also known as an annual, is a book to record, highlight, and commemorate the past year of a school or a book published annually. Virtually all American, Australian and Canadian high schools, most colleges and many elementary and middle schools publish yearbooks...
, he was named the "Most Likely to Succeed."
In 2005, Senator Piccola announced that he would run for Governor of Pennsylvania, seeking the Republican nomination against incumbent Democratic
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...
Governor Ed 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...
. Piccola dropped out of the race for governor in early 2006, after it became clear that former professional football player Lynn Swann
Lynn Swann
-Collegiate:Swann attended the University of Southern California, where he was an All-American on the Trojans football team. He played under legendary coach John McKay, including the 1972 undefeated and national championship season. McKay said of Swann, "He has speed, soft hands, and grace." He...
had earned the support of most of the Pennsylvania Republican Party.
Following the 2006 elections, Piccola gave up his position as Senate Whip, and instead made a bid to become president pro tempore
President pro tempore
A President pro tempore is a constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer...
of the State Senate, after the sitting president pro tempore lost the Republican Primary in his home district. State Senate Republicans ultimately chose Senator Joe Scarnati
Joe Scarnati
Joseph B. Scarnati is an American politician from the U.S. State of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Republican Party and is currently the President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania State Senate...
for the president pro tempore position instead of Piccola. Piccola was replaced as Republican Whip by State Senator Jane Orie
Jane Orie
Jane Clare Orie is an American politician who currently serves in the Pennsylvania State Senate. She represents the 40th senate district, including portions of Allegheny County and Butler County. She is a Republican...
.
Piccola considered running for a position on the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the court of last resort for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It meets in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
in 2007 but withdrew after he was unable to secure support for the state committee endorsement.
In 2009, 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...
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.
External links
- State Senator Jeffrey Piccola official PA Senate website
- Senator Piccola official caucus website