Robert J. Mellow
Encyclopedia
Robert J. "Bob" Mellow is a Democratic
politician and former member of the Pennsylvania State Senate
, who represented the 22nd District
from 1971 to 2010. He also served as the Minority Floor Leader and President pro tempore
.
to James and Alice (Generotti) Mellow. He is of mixed Irish and Italian ancestry. He has lived in Lackawanna County
his entire life. Mellow served in the National Guard from 1962 to 1968 and, afterwards, attended Lackawanna Junior College
and University of Scranton
. He earned his BS in accounting from Bethel College
.
, and was the Democratic caucus leader 1989 through 2010. Mellow represented the 22nd district
, which included all of Lackawanna County and neighboring portions of Monroe County
and Luzerne County
. When the Democrats held the majority in the Senate from 1993 to 1995, Mellow served as Senate President Pro Tempore.
Mellow is a supporter of efforts to establish a medical school in Scranton. He successfully appropriated $35 million of the estimated $100 million cost in the state capital budget.
As president pro tempore, Mellow was the first lawmaker to authorize the use of television cameras on the state Senate floor to broadcast live Senate sessions.
Mellow indicated interest in running for the Governor's office in 2010
. However, he ultimately did not run for Governor, and announced his intention not to seek re-election to the Senate in 2010
. He was succeeded as the Democratic floor leader by Jay Costa
.
in 2005. He told constituent Bill McIntyre to "Get a life" in an email exchange about the pay raise bill. This phrase became a rallying cry for reformers that year.
and IRS
in relation to office leases inside buildings he once owned. Investigators raided the home in Archbald
and district office in Peckville
of Senator Mellow as well as searching the home of a former aide, Gabriel J. Giordano, on June 22, 2010. In July, as many as fifteen staffers were subpoenaed in connection with the investigation.
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...
politician and former 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...
, who represented the 22nd District
Pennsylvania Senate, District 22
Pennsylvania's 22nd Senatorial District includes parts of Lackawanna, Luzerne and Monroe CountiesAll of Lackawanna CountyLuzerne County* Avoca* Dupont* DuryeaMonroe County* Barrett Township* Coolbaugh Township* Mount Pocono* Paradise Township...
from 1971 to 2010. He also served as the Minority Floor Leader and President pro tempore
President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate
The President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate is a constitutionally-created office in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...
.
Personal
Mellow was born on December 10, 1943 in Scranton, PennsylvaniaScranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
to James and Alice (Generotti) Mellow. He is of mixed Irish and Italian ancestry. He has lived in Lackawanna County
Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 213,295 people, 86,218 households, and 55,783 families residing in the county. The population density was 465 people per square mile . There were 95,362 housing units at an average density of 208 per square mile...
his entire life. Mellow served in the National Guard from 1962 to 1968 and, afterwards, attended Lackawanna Junior College
Lackawanna College
Lackawanna College is a college in Scranton, Pennsylvania with satellite centers in the towns of Hazleton, Hawley, Towanda, and New Milford....
and University of Scranton
University of Scranton
The University of Scranton is a private, co-educational Catholic and Jesuit university, located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in the northeast region of the state. The school was founded in 1888 by Most Rev. William O'Hara, the first Bishop of Scranton, as St. Thomas College. It was elevated to a...
. He earned his BS in accounting from Bethel College
Bethel College
Bethel College can refer to:* Bethel College * Bethel College * Bethel College * Bethel University , called Bethel College until 2004* Bethel University , called Bethel College until 2009...
.
Political career
He was elected to the State Senate in 1970, defeating Republican incumbent Arthur PiaseckiArthur Piasecki
Arthur A. Piasecki is a former member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, serving from 1969 to 1970.-References:...
, and was the Democratic caucus leader 1989 through 2010. Mellow represented the 22nd district
Pennsylvania Senate, District 22
Pennsylvania's 22nd Senatorial District includes parts of Lackawanna, Luzerne and Monroe CountiesAll of Lackawanna CountyLuzerne County* Avoca* Dupont* DuryeaMonroe County* Barrett Township* Coolbaugh Township* Mount Pocono* Paradise Township...
, which included all of Lackawanna County and neighboring portions of Monroe County
Monroe County, Pennsylvania
-National protected areas:* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area * Middle Delaware National Scenic River -Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there are 176,567 people, 49,454 households, and 36,447 families residing in the county. The population density was 228 people per square mile...
and Luzerne County
Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
- Demographics :As of the 2010 census, the county was 90.7% White, 3.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 3.3% were of some other race, and 1.5% were two or more races. 6.7% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino ancestry...
. When the Democrats held the majority in the Senate from 1993 to 1995, Mellow served as Senate President Pro Tempore.
Mellow is a supporter of efforts to establish a medical school in Scranton. He successfully appropriated $35 million of the estimated $100 million cost in the state capital budget.
As president pro tempore, Mellow was the first lawmaker to authorize the use of television cameras on the state Senate floor to broadcast live Senate sessions.
Mellow indicated interest in running for the Governor's office in 2010
Pennsylvania gubernatorial election, 2010
The Pennsylvania gubernatorial election of 2010 was held on November 2, 2010. The winning candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor will serve a four-year term from 2011 to 2015. Candidates for Lieutenant Governor were nominated in a separate primary contest; however, the Lieutenant Governor,...
. However, he ultimately did not run for Governor, and announced his intention not to seek re-election to the Senate in 2010
Pennsylvania Senate elections, 2010
The 2010 elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate were held on November 2, 2010, with the even-numbered districts contested. Necessary primary elections were held on May 18, 2010. The term of office for those elected in 2010 run from January 4, 2011 until November 30, 2014...
. He was succeeded as the Democratic floor leader by Jay Costa
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...
.
2005 Pay Raise
Mellow was one of the leaders of the ill-fated legislative pay raise2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy
In the early morning hours of July 7, 2005, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed pay increases for state lawmakers, judges, and top executive-branch officials. The vote took place at 2 a.m. without public review or commentary and Governor Ed Rendell signed the bill into law...
in 2005. He told constituent Bill McIntyre to "Get a life" in an email exchange about the pay raise bill. This phrase became a rallying cry for reformers that year.
Federal investigation
Mellow is currently under criminal investigation by the FBIFederal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
and IRS
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
in relation to office leases inside buildings he once owned. Investigators raided the home in Archbald
Archbald, Pennsylvania
Archbald is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is named for James Archbald, who was the first mayor of Carbondale, Pennsylvania. Before being re-named in Mr. Archbald's honor, the name of the settlement was White Oak Run. The vast majority of the settlers were Irish...
and district office in Peckville
Peckville, Pennsylvania
Peckville is a village in Pennsylvania, a few miles north of Scranton. The governing borough of Peckville is Blakely. About 93% of peckville is above the poverty line....
of Senator Mellow as well as searching the home of a former aide, Gabriel J. Giordano, on June 22, 2010. In July, as many as fifteen staffers were subpoenaed in connection with the investigation.