Paul Costa (Pennsylvania politician)
Encyclopedia
Paul Costa is a Democratic
member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
representing the 34th District
since 1999. He currently serves as chairman
of the Subcommittee on Licensing (Liquor Control) and on Cities and Counties (Urban Affairs), as well as sitting on the Committees on Tourism & Recreational Development and on Transportation.
treasurer
) and Louise Costa. One of six children, he has brother, Jay Jr.
, who is also a member of the Pennsylvania legislature
, serving as state senator
for the 43rd district
.
He graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School
in 1978 in the same class as Gary Graff
and Maxine Lapiduss
. He then studied at Community College of Allegheny County
, where he obtained an A.G.S.
in 1988, and at Point Park College, earning a B.S.
in Accounting
in 1994.
He served on the Wilkins Township
board of commissioners
for three years, including one year as board president
, and worked in the Allegheny County prothonotary
's office for over two decades. Vice-chairman of the Wilkins Township Democratic Committee since 1992] Costa served as an alternate delegate to that year's Democratic National Convention
, which nominated Bill Clinton
. He is also a member of the parish council
of St. Colman Catholic Church in Turtle Creek
.
In October 2010, Costa was cited by Pittsburgh Police
for possession of marijuana outside a Steelers
game.
Costa is married to Kathleen Gallant, with whom he has three children: Michael, Maria, and Dante.
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....
representing the 34th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 34
The 34th Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is located in Allegheny County and includes the following areas:* Braddock* Braddock Hills* Chalfant* Churchill* East McKeesport* Edgewood* Forest Hills* North Braddock...
since 1999. He currently serves as chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of the Subcommittee on Licensing (Liquor Control) and on Cities and Counties (Urban Affairs), as well as sitting on the Committees on Tourism & Recreational Development and on Transportation.
Biography
Costa was born to Jay Sr. (once Allegheny CountyAllegheny 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...
treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
) and Louise Costa. One of six children, he has brother, Jay Jr.
Jay Costa
Jay Costa is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate who has represented the 43rd District since 1996. He is a member of the Costa political family in Pittsburgh...
, who is also a member of the Pennsylvania legislature
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
, serving as state senator
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...
for the 43rd district
Pennsylvania Senate, District 43
Pennsylvania's 43rd Senatorial District consists of parts of Allegheny County. It includes the following:City of PittsburghParts of Wards 4 [PART, Divisions 02, 14, 15, 16 and 17], 07, 14 [PART, Divisions 01 through 11, 15 through 41], 15, 16, 17 [PART, Division 04], 29 and 31.Allegheny County*Penn...
.
He graduated from Taylor Allderdice High School
Taylor Allderdice High School
Taylor Allderdice High School, also referred to by the Pittsburgh Public Schools as “Pittsburgh Allderdice” or informally by students as "Dice", is a public high school located in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh’s East End. Allderdice is the "largest of the Pittsburgh Public Schools'...
in 1978 in the same class as Gary Graff
Gary Graff
Gary Graff is an American music journalist and author.-Biography:Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Graff attended Taylor Allderdice High School where he wrote for school newspaper The Taylor Allderdice Foreword. He received his Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri...
and Maxine Lapiduss
Maxine Lapiduss
Maxine Lapiduss is an American television producer, television writer, comedian and businessperson.She has written and produced for such television shows as Charles in Charge, Dharma & Greg, The Jeff Foxworthy Show, Ellen, Roseanne, and Home Improvement.In most recent years, Lapiduss has also...
. He then studied at Community College of Allegheny County
Community College of Allegheny County
Community College of Allegheny County, or CCAC as it is officially abbreviated, is a community college in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With four campuses and six centers, the college offers associate's degrees, certificate and diploma programs....
, where he obtained an A.G.S.
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
in 1988, and at Point Park College, earning a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Accounting
Accountancy
Accountancy is the process of communicating financial information about a business entity to users such as shareholders and managers. The communication is generally in the form of financial statements that show in money terms the economic resources under the control of management; the art lies in...
in 1994.
He served on the Wilkins Township
Wilkins Township, Pennsylvania
Wilkins Township is a township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,357 at the 2010 census. It is served by Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district, the 43rd District of the Pennsylvania State Senate, and the 34th District of the Pennsylvania State House of...
board of commissioners
County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals...
for three years, including one year as board president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
, and worked in the Allegheny County prothonotary
Prothonotary
The word prothonotary is recorded in English since 1447, as "principal clerk of a court," from L.L. prothonotarius , from Greek protonotarios "first scribe," originally the chief of the college of recorders of the court of the Byzantine Empire, from Greek protos "first" + Latin notarius ; the -h-...
's office for over two decades. Vice-chairman of the Wilkins Township Democratic Committee since 1992] Costa served as an alternate delegate to that year's Democratic National Convention
1992 Democratic National Convention
The 1992 National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party nominated Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas for President and Senator Al Gore of Tennessee for Vice President; Clinton announced Gore as his running-mate on July 9, 1992. The convention was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New...
, which nominated Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. He is also a member of the parish council
Parish council (US Catholic Church)
Not to be confused with Pastoral CouncilIn American Roman Catholic parishes, the parish council arose after Vatican II in the new era of lay participation in parish decision making. It was a response to the Vatican II Decree on the Apostolate of Lay People...
of St. Colman Catholic Church in Turtle Creek
Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania
Turtle Creek is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, southeast of Pittsburgh. The population was 5,349 at the 2010 census. George Westinghouse gave life to the place by constructing a manufacturing plant nearby. Turtle Creek takes its name from a small stream that flows into the...
.
In October 2010, Costa was cited by Pittsburgh Police
Pittsburgh Police
The Pittsburgh Police, or officially the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, is the largest law enforcement agency in Western Pennsylvania and the third largest in Pennsylvania...
for possession of marijuana outside a Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
game.
Costa is married to Kathleen Gallant, with whom he has three children: Michael, Maria, and Dante.
External links
- Pennsylvania House of Representatives - Paul Costa official PA House website
- Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus - Rep. Frank Dermody official Party website