Ralph Acosta

Ralph D. Acosta (born September 28, 1934) is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.[2] He was the first Latino to be elected to the state House.[3]

Ralph D. Acosta
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 180th district
In office
January 1, 1985 – November 30, 1994
Preceded byJames McIntyre
Succeeded byBenjamin Ramos
Personal details
Born (1934-09-28) September 28, 1934[1]
Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico
Political partyDemocratic

Background

Born in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico on September 28, 1934, Acosta was professionally involved in long-haul trucking.[4]

Political career

A Democrat, he was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 1985 term. The first Latino to be elected to the state House, he served a total of five consecutive terms. In 1995, he ran an unsuccessful campaign for reelection.[5][6][7] During his tenure, Acosta was appointed as one of two vice chairs of the Pennsylvania Governor's Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs, serving under Governor Robert P. Casey. One of the concerns on which he focused was safe, affordable housing for senior citizens.[8]

Acosta was succeeded by Benjamin Ramos.[9]

gollark: Just harvest 5 times its mass to use in mass drivers.
gollark: Gilly should be small enough to spin round reasonably well, especially since resources on planets are infinite.
gollark: Though with enough boosters it could just spin the *planet* instead...
gollark: Er, vacuum, not air.
gollark: Maybe it could be done with some detachable component to do the launch in the air if I was better at docking.

References
  1. Unterburger, A.L.; Gale Research Inc; Delgado, J.L. (1994). Who's who Among Hispanic Americans. Gale Research. ISBN 9780810385504. Retrieved 2014-11-18.
  2. Cox, Harold. "House Members A". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
  3. Gamboa, Ana (8 October 2015). "Rep. Acosta recognizes National Hispanic Heritage Month at state Capitol". AL DÍA News. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  4. "Ralph Acosta" (biography). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania House of Representatives, retrieved online July 12, 2019.
  5. "Ralph Acosta, Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
  6. Arnau, Ariel. "The Evolution of Leadership within the Puerto Rican Community of Philadelphia, 1950s-1970s," in The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. 136, No. 1. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Press, January 2012.
  7. Mahon, Grant. "Hispanics miffed by board trip." Reading, Pennsylvania: Reading Eagle, February 28, 1990.
  8. "Latinos in Pennsylvania: Summary Report & Recommendations." Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Governor's Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs, April 1991.
  9. Whalen, Carmen Teresa. From Puerto Rico to Philadelphia: Puerto Rican Workers and Post-War Economy, p. 237. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Temple University Press, 2001.
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