LeAnna M. Washington | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 4th district | |
| In office June 14, 2005 [1] –January 6, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Allyson Schwartz |
| Succeeded by | Arthur L. Haywood III |
| Constituency | Part of Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties |
| Member of the PennsylvaniaHouseofRepresentatives from the 200th district | |
| In office November 22,1993 [2] –June 14,2005 [3] | |
| Preceded by | Gordon Linton |
| Succeeded by | Cherelle Parker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 28,1945 Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Divorced |
| Children | 3 children |
| Alma mater | Lincoln University |
LeAnna M. Washington (born July 28,1945) is an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 4th district from 2005 to 2014. She served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives,District 200 from 1993 to 2005. She resigned in 2014 after being charged with a felony for using campaign staff and state resources to plan her birthday party fundraiser.
Washington was born in Philadelphia. She attended West Philadelphia High School and received a Master of Health Science degree from Lincoln University in 1989. [4] [5]
Washington was a high school dropout,teen parent,and victim of domestic violence early in her marriage. [6] [7]
She worked as District Office Manager for former Pennsylvania State Senator Joseph Rocks and as manager of the Philadelphia Parking Authority Employee Assistance Program. [7] [5]
She was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives,District 200 in a special election on November 2,1993,following the resignation of Gordon J. Linton. [8] [9]
She was elected to represent the 4th senatorial district in the Pennsylvania Senate in a special election held on May 17,2005. [10]
On March 12,2014,the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office announced felony charges of diversion of services and conflict of interest against Washington. [11] The charges included usage of staff members and state equipment to plan her birthday party fundraiser. [6]
In October 2014,Washington agreed to leave office early (she had already lost the primary) in exchange for being permitted to retain her retirement benefits. These benefits include lifetime health insurance and a state pension. She agreed to serve three months house arrest,five years of probation,and restitution of $200,000 to the Senate. [12] [13]
She was a high school dropout, teen parent, and victim of domestic violence early in her marriage. Her tenacity, perseverance and faith in God allowed her to transform victimhood to victory.