Jim Ferlo

James Ferlo (May 19, 1951 – May 15, 2022) was an American politician who was a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate representing the 38th Senatorial District from 2003–2015. His district consisted of parts of Allegheny, Westmoreland, and Armstrong counties.[6] He did not run for reelection in 2014.[7]

Jim Ferlo
Ferlo at an anti-war protest, 2006
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 38th district
In office
January 7, 2003 – January 5, 2015
Preceded byLeonard Bodack
Succeeded byRandy Vulakovich
President of the Pittsburgh City Council
In office
January 3, 1994 – January 6, 1998[1]
Preceded byJack Wagner
Succeeded byBob O'Connor
Member of the Pittsburgh City Council
from the 7th District[a]
In office
January 4, 1988 – January 7, 2003
Preceded byStephen Grabowski
Succeeded byLeonard Bodack, Jr.[2]
Personal details
Born(1951-05-19)May 19, 1951
Rome, New York, U.S.
DiedMay 15, 2022(2022-05-15) (aged 70)
Political partyDemocratic
a.^ Ferlo was originally elected to Grabowski's at-large seat, but won re-election after a voter-approved referendum divided City Council seats into districts.[3][4][5]

Background and career

Ferlo was born to Italian immigrant parents in the small upstate town of Rome, New York, and credited part of his legislative effectiveness as being one of ten siblings.

Ferlo was a liberal community activist in Pittsburgh before being elected to Pittsburgh City Council in 1987. He served on council for 15 years until his election to the State Senate in 2002. Ferlo served as president of City Council from 1994 to 1997.

A Democrat, Ferlo was elected to the state senate in 2002, receiving 65 percent of the vote to 35 percent for Republican candidate Ted Tomson. In 2003, the political website PoliticsPA named him to "The Best of the Freshman Class" list.[8] Ferlo was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2006 in his heavily Democratic district. In that race, Ferlo received 84 percent of the vote, while his opponent Joe Murphy of the Constitution Party received 16 percent.

Following his 2014 retirement from the State Senate, Ferlo served two three-year terms on the board of directors of the ACLU of Pennsylvania. He also involved himself in a variety of community activities.[9]

Personal life

Ferlo came out as gay on September 23, 2014, thus becoming the Pennsylvania Senate's first openly gay legislator.[10][11]

Ferlo died on May 15, 2022, aged 70.[12]

References
  1. McNulty, Timothy (January 6, 1998). "O'Connell is surprise council president". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 31, 2011.
  2. James, Ellen (February 23, 2003). "Bodack wins council seat by few votes". The Pittsburgh Tribune. Retrieved December 31, 2011.
  3. Uhl, Sherley (May 17, 1987). "Election to test city image". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
  4. Barnes, Tom (May 20, 1987). "Council by district wins". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 31, 2011.
  5. Barnes, Tom (January 5, 1988). "Apportionment to begin in Pittsburgh". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 31, 2011.
  6. James Ferlo Papers, 1963-2002, AIS 1998.02, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh
  7. State Sen. Jim Ferlo won't seek re-election
  8. "The Best of the Freshman Class". PoliticsPA. The Publius Group. 2003. Archived from the original on January 19, 2003.
  9. "James Ferlo". LinkedIn. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  10. "Sen. Ferlo makes it official". Philly.com. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  11. "Pennsylvania lawmakers push to change hate crime law". WPVI-DT, September 23, 2014.
  12. Bacaro, Matt (May 16, 2022). "Flags in Pennsylvania lowered to half staff to honor former state Sen. Jim Ferlo". WGAL. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
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