Linda Bebko-Jones

Infobox State Representative
name = Linda Bebko-Jones


caption = Pennsylvania Driver's licence photo
birth_date = birth date and age|1946|5|1|mf=y
birth_place = Erie, Pennsylvania
residence = Erie, Pennsylvania
state_house = Pennsylvania
district = 1st
salary =
term_start = January 5, 1993
term_end = November 27, 2006
predecessor = Kenneth E. Kruszewski
successor = Patrick J. Harkins
party = Democrat
religion = Catholic
occupation =
spouse =
children =
website =

Linda Bebko-Jones (born May 1, 1946) is a retired American politician who represented the 1st district of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, which includes portions of Erie County.

Personal

Bebko-Jones was born in Erie, Pennsylvania. She attended Erie Business Academy from 1964 to 1965. [cite web|title=Linda Bebko-Jones|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=9084|publisher=Project Vote Smart|accessdate=2008-02-29] Prior to elective office, she spent time working as an alcohol and drug counselor and said that she had been an alcoholic herself in the past.

Later on, she was director of Women Against Sexual Harassment from 1989 to 1992 and a caseworker for Community House for Women from 1990 to 1991. Her career in politics began with a stint as an administrative assistant for Pennsylvania State Senator A. Buzz Andrezeski from 1984 to 1989, moving on to become a caseworker for former United States Senator Harris Wofford in 1990.

Political career

Bebko-Jones made her first run at the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1992 defeating freshman incumbent Ken Kruszewski in the Democratic primary. She went on to defeat Republican Jerry Knight, an aide to Rep. Phil English, [cite news |first=Michael |last=Mahler |title=1992 Jerry Knight Campaign Incident |work=Erie Gay News |date=1996 |accessdate=2008-03-01 |url=http://www.eriegaynews.com/news/article.php?recordid=1992jerry.html] in the general election by 1,100 votes.cite news |coauthors=Gary Wesman |first=Brenda |last=Martin |title=Election a Formality for Boyes, Bebko-Jones |work=Erie Times-News |date=1996-11-06]

Winning re-election was an easier task for Bebko-Jones. She won by over 5,000 votes, two-thirds of the vote, in 1994 over Jerry Podolsky. In 1996 and 2000, she ran unopposed for re-election and in 1998, she won after her GOP opponent quit the race and tried to withdraw from the ballot. [cite news |first=George |last=Miller |title=Longshot Assembly Candidate Quits Campaigning |work=Erie Times-News |date=1998-10-24]

The 2004 path to re-election was less easy. An opponent, Jim Herdzik, emerged for her in the Democratic primary. His challenge came on the heels of a minor scandal involving a fire in her district office. Immediately after the fire, there were reports that it has been caused by Bebko-Jones leaving a lit cigarette in the office. However, the fire marshal did not conclusively determine the cause, only that it was accidental. After the repairs were made to the office, Bebko-Jones moved out prior to lease expiration, claiming that the air inside the building was unhealthy. Eventually, her landlord agreed to a settlement with the state, although the incident generated some negative publicity for Bebko-Jones. [cite news |first=Lisa |last=Thompson |title=Bebko-Jones, landlord settle suit |work=Erie Times-News |date=2006-05-18] Herdzik even rented the former office as a campaign headquarters, presumably to remind voters of the incident. However, on election day, Bebko-Jones cruised with over 60% of the vote. [cite news |last=Flowers |first=Kevin |title=Bebko-Jones Rolls Over Herdzik |work=Erie Times-News |date=2004-04-28 |accessdate=2008-03-01 |url=http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040428/FRONTPAGE/104280330]

In 2005, she ran for mayor of Erie against incumbent Rick Filippi, who had been indicted on corruption charges. [cite news |last=Rhodes |first=Kara |title=Mayor takes debate's brunt |date=2005-04-22 |work=Erie Times-News |url=http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050422/NEWS02/504220435 |accessdate=2008-03-01] Bebko-Jones ultimately finished third in the race, behind Joseph Sinnott who went on to become mayor. [cite news |first=Kevin |last=Flowers |title=Sinnott nominated; Filippi drops to 4th |work=Erie Times-News |date=2005-05-18]

After initially running for re-election in 2006, she announced her retirement after a challenge to her nomination petitions by one of her primary opponents. She was succeeded by Pat Harkins.cite news |last=Guerriero |first=John |title=Dispute over petitions ended Bebko-Jones' career |date=2008-02-29 |work=Erie Times-News |accessdate=2008-02-29 |url=http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080229/NEWS02/802290453]

In November 2007, a state-wide grand jury was convened to investigate abnormalities in her nominating petitions for the 2006 Democratic primary. On 28 February 2007 Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett charged Bebko-Jones and her former chief-of-staff with forging nominating petitions and submitting the fraudulent forms to the Secretary of the Commonwealth. [cite news |title=Attorney General Corbett announces criminal charges... |date=2008-02-29 |publisher=Pennsylvania Attorney General |url=http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=3442 |accessdate=2008-02-29] [cite news |last=Roddy |first=Dennis B. |title=Ex-Erie legislator accused of forgery |date=2008-02-29 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |accessdate=2008-02-29 |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08060/861438-85.stm] [cite news |last=Bumstead |first=Brad |title=Ex-lawmaker accused of election fraud |date=2008-02-29 |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_554834.html |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |accessdate=2008-02-29] [cite news |title=Former Lawmaker Charged With Forging Signatures |publisher=The Morning Call |date=2008-02-29 |url=http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/state/all-a10_lawmaker.6292582feb29,0,7755201.story |accessdate=2008-02-29] [cite news |last=Thompson |first=Lisa |title=State charges former Erie legislator, top aide with forgery |date=2008-02-29 |work=Erie Times-News |url=http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080229/NEWS02/802290450 |accessdate=2008-02-29] [cite news |last=Palattella| first=Ed |title=Bebko-Jones, staff member charged in forgery case |date=2008-02-28 |work=Erie Times-News |url=http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080228/NEWS02/85584665/-1/NEWS |accessdate=2008-02-29]

On August 6, 2008, Bebko-Jones and her former chief of staff Mary B. Fiolek were both sentenced 12 months probation and fined $1,500 They each pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charges of forging and submitting false signatures, and criminal conspiracy. All other charges were Bebko-Jones was ordered to perform 200 hours of community service and Fiolek 100 hours. [cite news |author=Associated Press |title=Ex-Erie lawmaker, aide admit election fraud |date=2008-08-06 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08219/902172-100.stm |accessdate=2008-08-07]

References