Sean Ramaley

Infobox State Representative
name = Sean Michael Ramaley


caption =
state_house = Pennsylvania
district = 16th
term_start = January 4, 2005
term_end =
predecessor =
successor = Incumbent
party = Democratic
date of birth = birth date and age|1975|5|13|mf=y
place of birth = Economy, Pennsylvania
date of death =
place of death =
alma_mater = Allegheny College University of Pittsburgh School of Law
occupation = Attorney
spouse =
residence = Economy, Pennsylvania
religion = Catholic
website =

Sean Michael Ramaley 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.

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. [http://www.seanramaley.com/about/ Sean Ramaley - Leadership, for a change - About ] ]

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 an 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 [http://www.corporations.state.pa.us/corp/soskb/Corp.asp?2004115 Keystone Leadership Development Corporation] . He is on the Penn State Beaver Advisory Board [ [http://www.beaver.psu.edu/Information/advboard.htm Penn State Beaver: Advisory Board 2008-2009 ] ] and the Allegheny College Alumni Council [ [http://www.allegheny.edu/alumni/involved/aaa.php?step=3 Allegheny College: Alumni ] ]

Political career

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. [ [http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=10&OfficeID=13 Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information ] ] In July 2004, he took a job as a legislative staffer for the powerful Beaver County state representative, Mike Veon. [http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_577061.html Veon, Ramaley charged in bonus scandal - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ] ] He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives the November with a comfortable 20-point margin. [ [http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=11&OfficeID=13#11 Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information ] ] He worked for Representative Veon until December of that year.

He was re-elected without opposition in 2006. [ [http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=20&OfficeID=13 Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information ] ]

2008 race for State Senate

Ramaley won the Democratic primary to succeed the retiring Gerald LaValle in the 47th senatorial district. [cite web |url=http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=27&OfficeID=12 |title=2008 Primary Election Results |accessdate=2008-08-03 |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of State |date= 2008-04-22] .

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.cite news |author=Bill Toland and Tom Barnes|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08214/901091-85.stm| title=Ramaley quits Senate race amid charges | publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date=2008-08-01 |accessdate=2008-08-03]

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.cite news | last = Mauriello | first = Tracie | coauthors = | title = Hearings begin for 2 in Bonusgate case | work = Pittsburgh Post Gazette | pages = | language = | publisher = | date = 2008-10-08 | url = http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08281/918040-100.stm | accessdate = ] According to her testimony, he worked exclusively on his successful campsign for the 16th legislative district. Ramaley's attorney alleged that Lewis' testimony was mere hearsay.

References

External links

* [http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?id=1048 Pennsylvania House of Representatives - Sean M. Ramaley] official PA House website
* [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=47154 Project Vote Smart - Representative Sean Michael Ramaley (PA)] profile
*"Follow the Money" - Sean M Ramaley
** [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=88499 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=65008 2004] campaign contributions
* [http://www.pahouse.com/Ramaley/ Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus - Rep. Sean Ramaley] official Party website