Dennis M. O'Brien

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Dennis O'Brien
DennisO.jpg
Member of the Philadelphia City Council
from the at-large district
In office
January 2, 2012 –January 3, 2016

O'Brien became the Speaker of the House following deals between Republicans and Democrats. Despite a one-seat Democratic majority, the Democratic leader, Bill DeWeese, was unable to garner 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. [10] O'Brien was the first minority-party Speaker in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. [11]

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. He 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. [12]

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 worked with the Department of Public Welfare to ensure implementation of Act 62 (mandating autism insurance in Pennsylvania) which he wrote and passed while he was the Speaker.

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 Rizzo Jr. 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,[ citation needed ] 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, being first among the field of candidates, while Rizzo was soundly defeated, coming in 7th out of nine candidates—a result some have attributed to his involvement in DROP, the Deferred Retirement Option Plan. O'Brien went on to be the top finisher among the minority party candidates with an approximately 10,000-vote lead. He was sworn into Council on January 2, 2012. [13]

He was the sole member of Council voting to oppose a public water rate setting board, opting to instead leave that decision in the hands of the Water Commissioner. [14]

2015 Council Re-Election

O'Brien again ran for re-election to one of the two minority seats. He faced a field of five candidates, including the other incumbent, David Oh. With 100 percent of the ballots counted, O'Brien lost to Oh and Councilman Al Taubenberger. [15]

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References

  1. ↑ "Session of 1977 - 16lst of the General Assembly - Vol. 1, No. 1" (PDF). Legislative Journal. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. January 4, 1977.
  2. ↑ "DENNIS M. O'BRIEN - PA House of Representatives". Legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  3. ↑ Julianna Cerruti (November 20, 2015). "Ryan Review : Star studded AR". Archbishopryanreview.com. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  4. ↑ "La Salle University News". Lasalle.edu. January 16, 2007. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Speaker: Dennis M. O'Brien, Former City Councilman – Autism Conference". Lasalle.edu. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  6. ↑ Tom Waring (January 4, 2007). "O'Brien's new man of the House". Northeast Times . Retrieved August 23, 2008.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. ↑ "PA Report 100" (PDF). Pennsylvania Report. Capital Growth, Inc. January 23, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 27, 2020.
  8. ↑ Chris Buckley (June 28, 2007). "O'Brien champion to autistic citizens". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review . Archived from the original on May 19, 2007. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  9. ↑ Dave Pidgeon (July 3, 2008). "Revised autism bill passes Legislature". Intelligencer Journal . Archived from the original on August 20, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  10. ↑ Tracie Mauriello (January 3, 2008). "New House speaker hailed as firm, fair, passionate". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  11. ↑ Amy Worden (June 18, 2008). "O'Brien's speaker deal upset GOP". The Philadelphia Inquirer . Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  12. ↑ Jeff Shields (May 5, 2008). "O'Brien effort thwarts challenge". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 18, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  13. ↑ "Citywide Election Results". Municipal General and Special Election Unofficial Results. Philadelphia County: The Philadelphia City Commissioners. November 8, 2011. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
  14. ↑ "View Section: Council meeting, 12 December 2013 :: Philadelphia City Council Meetings :: SayIt". Philadelphia.sayit.mysociety.org. December 12, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Live Election Results: November 3, 2015 Municipal General & Special Election". Archived from the original on December 17, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
Philadelphia City Council
Preceded by Member of the Philadelphia City Council for the At-Large District
2012–2016		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
2007–2008		Succeeded by
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 169th District
1977–1980		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 169th District
1983–2012		Succeeded by
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