Gerald LaValle

Gerald J. LaValle (January 25, 1932 – September 12, 2018) was an American politician who was member of the Democratic Party in the Pennsylvania State Senate.

Gerald J. LaValle
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 47th district
In office
June 4, 1990[1] – November 30, 2008
Preceded byJames Ross
Succeeded byElder Vogel
ConstituencyParts of Allegheny, Beaver, and Lawrence Counties
Personal details
Born(1932-01-25)January 25, 1932
Rochester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedSeptember 12, 2018(2018-09-12) (aged 86)
Beaver, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Darla J.
Children2 children
ResidenceRochester, Pennsylvania
Alma materGeneva College
Westminster College
OccupationEducator
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps and United States Marine Corps Reserve
Years of service1956—1981
RankLieutenant colonel
Unit4th Marine Division

A native of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, he earned a degree from Geneva College in 1956 and a Master of Education from Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania in 1971.[1] He worked as a teacher, guidance counselor, and athletic coach at Midland High School and Rochester Area High School from 1959 to 1984.[2]

He served in the borough government of Rochester, Pennsylvania, as councilman from 1973 to 1976 and mayor from 1976 to 1988.[2] He then served as County Commissioner of Beaver County.[2][3] He was elected to represent the 47th senatorial district in the Pennsylvania Senate in a 1990 special election.[1] Within the Democratic caucus, he was elected Minority Caucus Secretary in 2005 and Minority Appropriations Committee Chairman on February 6, 2007.[1]

In 2007 and 2008, LaValle was investigated by the Pennsylvania Attorney General for his connections to two separate Beaver County non-profit organizations.[4] The Beaver Initiative for Growth, an $11 million community development nonprofit founded by LaValle and State Representative Mike Veon, was implicated for loose financial management.[5] The second, the Voluntary Action Center, was a small nonprofit call center partially funded by the Beaver Initiative for Growth and operated by LaValle's wife, Darla LaValle.[4][6]

Investigations into the Voluntary Action Center began when Darla LaValle repaid the organization about $50,000 in "unauthorized compensation."[4] On August 18, 2008, Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett charged LaValle's wife, Darla LaValle, with stealing thousands of dollars, inflating her salary, and denying employees pension benefits while serving as executive director of the Voluntary Action Center.[7][8][9]

He retired following the 2008 Pennsylvania Senate elections.[3][4] LaValle died on September 12, 2018 at the age of 86.[10][11]

References
  1. "Gerald J. LaValle (D)". Official Pennsylvania Senate Profile. Pennsylvania Senate. Archived from the original on 2007-08-19.
  2. "Senator Gerald J. LaValle (PA)". Vote Smart. Archived from the original on 2008-11-18.
  3. Cioffi, Laure (2008-01-06). "LaValle plans to retire". The Vindicator. Archived from the original on 2011-05-24.
  4. Erdley, Debra (January 3, 2008). "Beaver County senator LaValle to retire this year". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  5. David, Brian (November 6, 2008). "Election 2008/West: GOP shocks Beaver Dems". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  6. Bumsted, Brad; Debra Erdley (December 1, 2007). "State senator's wife received 'unauthorized' pay". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on December 2, 2007.
  7. "Beaver County Court of Common Pleas Court Summary". Court Summary Report. Unified Court System of Pennsylvania. 2008-09-26. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
  8. "Attorney General Corbett announces theft charges against former Executive Director of Beaver County nonprofit" (Press release). Office of the Pennsylvania Attorney General. 2008-08-14. Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
  9. Associated Press (2008-09-26). "Pa. senator's wife faces trial on theft charges". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2012-09-10.
  10. http://www.ncnewsonline.com/news/local_news/former-state-senator-dies/article_f09ea699-198d-56ac-83f7-d6ecf8e9ed82.html
  11. http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/obituaries/20180914/senator-gerald-j-lavalle
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