Anthony Verga

{{Short description|American politician (1935–2023)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = 1995 Anthony Verga Massachusetts House of Representatives.png

| imagesize =

| name = Anthony Verga

| birth_date = {{birth date|1935|4|26}}

| birth_place = Gloucester, Massachusetts, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|03|10|1935|4|26}}

| death_place = Beverly, Massachusetts, U.S.

| restingplace = Calvary Cemetery
Gloucester, Massachusetts

| nationality =

| website =

| occupation = Politician
Director of Fisheries

| residence = Gloucester, Massachusetts

| party = Democrat

| spouse =

| alma_mater =

| title = Member of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 5th Essex district

| term_start = 1995

| term_end = 2009

| predecessor = Bruce Tarr

| successor = Ann-Margaret Ferrante

| caption = Verga, circa 1995

}}

Anthony J. Verga (April 26, 1935 – March 10, 2023) was an American politician who represented the 5th Essex district in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1995 to 2009.{{cite book |title=2007–2008 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |url=https://archive.org/stream/publicofficersof20072008bost#page/232/mode/2up }} He was defeated by attorney Ann-Margaret Ferrante in the 2008 Democratic primary.{{cite news|title=Incumbent Verga silent in defeat|url=http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x645311242/Incumbent-Verga-silent-in-defeat|access-date=17 August 2012|newspaper=Gloucester Times|date=September 17, 2008|author=Patrick Anderson|author2=Amanda Flitter}}

Verga was a champion of veterans' causes during his tenure and in 2006 was endorsed by the Massachusetts Veterans Services Officers Association for the position of state Secretary of Veterans' affairs.{{cite news|last=Moser |first=Douglas A. |title=Reading official calls Verga endorsement 'completely inappropriate' Considers ending town's membership in state veterans group |url=http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x645247618/Reading-official-calls-Verga-endorsement-completely-inappropriate-Considers-ending-towns-membership-in-state-veterans-group/print |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124185429/http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x645247618/Reading-official-calls-Verga-endorsement-completely-inappropriate-Considers-ending-towns-membership-in-state-veterans-group/print |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 24, 2013 |access-date=17 August 2012 |newspaper=Gloucester Times |date=December 11, 2006 }} In 2008 he was awarded the National Guard Association of the United States's Charles Dick Medal of Merit.{{cite news|last=L'Ecuyer |first=Jonathan |title=Rep. Verga awarded national 'Medal of Merit' |url=http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x645309510/Rep-Verga-awarded-national-Medal-of-Merit?keyword=topstory |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124084434/http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x645309510/Rep-Verga-awarded-national-Medal-of-Merit?keyword=topstory |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 24, 2013 |access-date=17 August 2012 |newspaper=Gloucester Times |date=August 13, 2008 }}

In 2012, Verga broke with his party and endorsed Republican Scott Brown over Democrat Elizabeth Warren in that year's United States Senate election.{{cite news|last=Schoenberg|first=Shira|title=Democratic and independent Gloucester politicians endorse Sen. Scott Brown|url=http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/06/democratic_and_independent_glo.html|access-date=4 July 2012|newspaper=The Republican|date=June 25, 2012}}

Verga died in Beverly, Massachusetts, on March 10, 2023, at the age of 87.{{cite news |title=Anthony J. Verga Sr. |url=https://obituaries.gloucestertimes.com/obituary/anthony-verga-sr-1087269934 |access-date=14 March 2023 |work=Gloucester Times |date=March 13, 2023}}