Peter Camiel

Peter J. Camiel (January 30, 1910 – January 31, 1991) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 3rd district from 1953 to 1964.[2][3]

Peter J. Camiel
Chairman of the
Philadelphia Democratic City Committee
In office
December 26, 1969 – June 30, 1976
Preceded byBill Green
Succeeded byMartin Weinberg
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 3rd district
In office
January 6, 1953 – November 30, 1964
Preceded byJohn Meade
Succeeded byLouis Johanson
ConstituencyParts of Philadelphia
Member of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
In office
1975–1991
Succeeded byBob Brady
Personal details
BornJanuary 30, 1910
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DiedJanuary 31, 1991(1991-01-31) (aged 81)
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania[1]
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania[1]

Career

Camiel started his political career as a ward leader in Philadelphia. He became a millionaire running a wholesale beer distribution business.

He served as Chairman of the Philadelphia Democratic Party from 1969 to 1976, when he lost a power struggle with Mayor Frank Rizzo. Camiel had helped get Rizzo elected in 1971 but they became bitter rivals.

Camiel became leader of the 5th ward in Philadelphia, known as Center City, and served in that capacity for over 40 years.[4]

Camiel was nominated to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission by Governor Milton Shapp in 1975. In 1980, he and three other defendants, including Vince Fumo and Thomas Nolan, were convicted of placing "ghost workers" on state payroll.[1] The charges were thrown out in August 1981.[1] He was suspended from the Turnpike Commission as a result of the indictment but returned in December 1981. He was renominated for a four-year term by Governor Bob Casey Sr. in 1987.[5] He served on the commission until his death in 1991.[6]

Peter J Camiel died of lung cancer on January 31, 1991, at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, and is interred at Wetherills Cemetery in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.[7]

Legacy

A rest area on the Pennsylvania Turnpike is named in his honor.[8]

References
  1. "AROUND THE NATION; 3 Mail Fraud Convictions Upset in Pennsylvania". New York Times. August 5, 1981.
  2. Cox, Harold. "Senate Members N". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
  3. Kestenbaum, Lawrence (March 24, 2009). "Index to Politicians: Nolan". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
  4. "Peter J. Camiel, 81, Philadelphia Chief of '70's Democrats". www.nytimes.com. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  5. Cozzoli, Frank. "Peter Camiel, noted Democrat, turnpike official, dies at 81." Patriot-News, The (Harrisburg, PA), February 1, 1991: B1. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/10D8A321B65615F4 .
  6. Brutto, Carmen. "Yerusalim, Philly party head get backing of Senate panel." Patriot-News, The (Harrisburg, PA), March 20, 1991: B4. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/10D8A32D4D13A318 .
  7. "Peter J. Camiel". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  8. "Service Plazas - Peter J. Camiel". www.paturnpike.com. Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. Archived from the original on 2010-05-10. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
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