Preceded by Susan Laughlin Political party Democratic Party Name Sean Ramaley | Religion Catholic Occupation Attorney Succeeded by Robert Matzie | |
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Born May 13, 1975 (age 48)
Economy, Pennsylvania ( 1975-05-13 ) Alma mater Allegheny College
University of Pittsburgh School of Law Residence Economy, Pennsylvania, United States Education Allegheny College, University of Pittsburgh School of Law | ||
Sean Michael Ramaley (born May 13, 1975) is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 16th District was elected in 2004. He is a Democratic Pennsylvania Senate candidate for the 47th District in the 2008 elections.
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Personal life
Sean Ramaley was born in Economy, Pennsylvania, and attended Quigley Catholic High School, where in sports and other activities, including baseball, basketball, soccer, bowling and scouting. His father was a mechanic for US Airways for 38 years.
Ramaley graduated from Allegheny College in 1997 and was awarded the college's "Ethical Leader of the Year Award." He moved to Ohio and served as a Research and Policy Aide for the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, focusing on state finance and budgetary matters. Ramaley returned to Pennsylvania as a professional political operative, managing political campaigns for U.S. Congress, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Allegheny County Council, Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas, and several municipal offices.
He attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, joining the University of Pittsburgh Law Review. After graduating in 2002, he took a position with the United States Department of Labor, where he clerked for the department's Administrative Law Judges. While at the Department of Labor, he joined the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 644. He also has maintained a private legal practice, working on corporate transactions, wills and estates.
He volunteered for the American Legion’s Boys State Program and co-founded the non-profit Keystone Leadership Development Corporation. He is on the Penn State Beaver Advisory Board and the Allegheny College Alumni Council.
Career as State Representative
Ramaley won a 5-way race for the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania's 16th legislative district, an open seat upon the retirement of Susan Laughlin. In July 2004, he took a job as a legislative staffer for the powerful Beaver County state representative, Mike Veon. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives the November with a comfortable 20-point margin. He worked for Representative Veon until December of that year.
He was re-elected without opposition in 2006.
2008 race for State Senate
Ramaley won the Democratic primary to succeed the retiring Gerald LaValle in the 47th senatorial district.
Indictment
In July 2008, Ramaley was one of 12 individuals indicted by Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett as part of the 2006 Pennsylvania General Assembly bonus controversy. Ramaley was not indicted for accepting or authorizing bonuses, but for taking a "no-work' job with the General Assembly while running for office.
After pressure from party leaders, Ramaley withdrew from the race, although he and his lawyer alleged that the charges were politically motivated.
At a preliminary hearing on October 7, 2008, Melissa Lewis, now House Democratic caucus director for Allegheny County testified that Ramaley, then a legislative assistant in Mike Veon's district office, never performed legislative work. According to her testimony, he worked exclusively on his successful campaign for the 16th legislative district. Ramaley's attorney alleged that Lewis' testimony was mere hearsay. Ramaley was acquitted of all charges on December 10, 2009.