Frank Mascara
This article has an unclear citation style. (July 2023) |
Frank Mascara | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 20th district | |
In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2003 | |
Preceded by | Austin Murphy |
Succeeded by | Tim Murphy (Redistricting) |
Personal details | |
Born | Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, U.S. | January 19, 1930
Died | July 10, 2011 Monongahela, Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 81)
Political party | Democratic |
Relatives | Ken Mascara (nephew) |
Signature | |
Frank Robert Mascara (January 19, 1930 – July 10, 2011)[1] was an American Democratic politician from Pennsylvania who served four terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.
Early life, education, and early political career
Mascara briefly served in the
Mascara next served as an elected official in
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
- Before 2000 Census
In 1992, Mascara launched a primary challenge to U.S. Congressman
- After 2000 Census
The Republican-controlled state legislature significantly altered Mascara's district.[2] The district was renumbered as the 18th District, and was considerably more affluent than its predecessor. It was also somewhat friendlier to Republicans, even though there were still 70,000 more registered Democrats in the district than Republicans. A large portion of the area Mascara had represented for the past eight years was shifted to the neighboring Johnstown-based 12th District, represented by 28-year incumbent Democrat John Murtha.
The newly drawn district was widely criticized, since portions of several neighborhoods were split between two districts. In some cases, one side of the street was in the 18th while the other was in the 12th; in others, one side of the street was in the 18th while the other was in the Pittsburgh-based 14th. In one of the more extreme examples, most of Mascara's hometown, Charleroi—including most of his neighborhood—was drawn into the 12th. However, a long tendril extending from his house to Allegheny County remained in the 18th.[3]
Mascara opted to run against Murtha in the 12th's Democratic primary, since the redrawn 12th contained more of Mascara's old territory than Murtha's. After a bruising primary filled with negative campaigning by both candidates, Murtha won by a wider than expected margin. The 18th was taken over by Republican
Tenure
In Congress, Mascara was a moderate Democrat who opposed abortion and gun control, but whose voting record was otherwise consistent with the Democratic line. He was regarded as a political powerbroker among Democrats with a record of scoring federal money for local projects.
In both Washington and his home district, Mascara projected a
Death
Mascara died of lung cancer on July 10, 2011, at Mon Valley Hospital in Monongahela, Pennsylvania.[1]
Electoral history
Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1994
|
Frank Mascara | 95,251 | 53% | Mike McCormick | 84,156 | 47% | * | ||
1996
|
Frank Mascara | 113,394 | 54% | Mike McCormick | 97,004 | 46% | * | ||
1998
|
Frank Mascara | 97,885 | 100% | (no candidate) | * | ||||
2000
|
Frank Mascara | 145,131 | 64% | Ronald J. Davis | 80,312 | 36% |
References
- ^ a b Shapiro, T. Rees (July 11, 2011). "Frank Mascara, four-term congressman, dies". Washington Post. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ISBN 9780203929728. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- ^ Jeffrey Toobin (December 12, 2003). "The Great Election Grab". The New Yorker.
- ^ "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Archived from the original on August 20, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
- Joe Smydo. "Political Survival at Stake." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 05/12/2002. p. B1.
- Joe Smydo. "Morgan Encouraged Mascara Candidacy to Make Murphy 'Hustle.'" Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 05/03/1992. p. W1.
- David Templeton. "Mascara is Victor." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 05/11/1994. p A12.
- "Rep.Frank Mascara". Archived from the original on 2000-05-18. Retrieved 2016-12-24.
- United States Congress. "Frank Mascara (id: M000212)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
External links
- Congrssman Frank Mascara at the Wayback Machine (archive index) official U.S. House website (archived)
- Appearances on C-SPAN