Christine Tartaglione
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| smallimage =
| name = Christine Tartaglione
| image = File:Christine Tartaglione.jpg
| state = Pennsylvania
| state_senate = Pennsylvania
| district = 2nd
| term_start = January 3, 1995
| term_end =
| predecessor = Bruce Marks
| successor = Incumbent
| office2 = Chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party{{Ref label|aaa|a}}
| predecessor2 = Mark Singel
| successor2 =Allen Kukovich
| constituency =
| majority =
| party = Democratic
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|9|21|mf=y}}
| birth_place =Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| alma_mater = Peirce College
| occupation =
| residence =Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| spouse =
| religion =
| website =
|footnotes = a. {{note|aaa}}Acting Chairwoman from January 2, 1998{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kjpdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IlsNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1543,37729|title=Observer-Reporter - Google News Archive Search|work=google.com|accessdate=April 15, 2015|archive-date=April 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403235202/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=kjpdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IlsNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1543,37729|url-status=live}}{{spaced ndash}}June 21, 1998
}}
Christine M. "Tina" Tartaglione (born September 21, 1960) is an American politician from Pennsylvania currently serving as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, representing the 2nd District since 1995.{{cite news|work=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Legislative Journal|title=Session of 1995 - 179th of the General Assembly|url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/HJ/1995/0/19950103.pdf|access-date=January 3, 2012|archive-date=October 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005201722/http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/HJ/1995/0/19950103.pdf|url-status=live}} The district is located in lower Northeast Philadelphia.{{cite news|work=State Senator Christine M. Tartaglione|title=2nd District|url=http://www.senatortartaglione.com/2nd-district|access-date=January 3, 2012|archive-date=March 31, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331225223/http://www.senatortartaglione.com/2nd-district|url-status=live}}
Early life and career
Christine Tartaglione was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Eugene M. and Margaret (née Warenecki) Tartaglione.{{cite news|work=State Senator Christine M. Tartaglione|title=About Me|url=http://www.senatortartaglione.com/about-me|access-date=January 3, 2012|archive-date=March 31, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331224651/http://www.senatortartaglione.com/about-me }} Her mother was a longtime political figure in Philadelphia, serving as a Democratic ward leader and city commissioner (1976-2011).{{cite news|date=December 23, 2011|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|title=Marge Tartaglione decides to go quietly|url=http://articles.philly.com/2011-12-23/news/30551301_1_poll-workers-election-day-top-election-official|last=Warner|first=Bob|archive-date=January 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101095957/http://articles.philly.com/2011-12-23/news/30551301_1_poll-workers-election-day-top-election-official }} She received her early education at the parochial school of St. Martin of Tours Church and later graduated from St. Basil Academy in 1978.
Tartaglione studied at Peirce College, from where she graduated maxima cum laude in 1980.{{cite news|work=Pennsylvania Department of General Services|title=Pennsylvania Manual|volume=119|url=http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_8486_1294_244739_43/http%3B/pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_general_government_operations/dgs/community_content/publications_and_media_services/subcommunities/publications/portlets/pa_manual___home/vol_119___entire_manual.pdf|access-date=January 3, 2012|archive-date=January 5, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105125316/http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_8486_1294_244739_43/http%3B/pubcontent.state.pa.us/publishedcontent/publish/cop_general_government_operations/dgs/community_content/publications_and_media_services/subcommunities/publications/portlets/pa_manual___home/vol_119___entire_manual.pdf}} She served as an assistant to Joan L. Krajewski, a member of the Philadelphia City Council, from 1986 to 1989.{{cite news|work=Project Vote Smart|title=Senator Christine 'Tina' M. Tartaglione|url=http://www.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/5244|archive-date=October 23, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023011209/http://www.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/5244 }} She then worked as a senior executive assistant to State Treasurer Catherine Baker Knoll from 1989 until 1992, when she became a business representative for the United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 1776.
Political career
In 1992, Tartaglione unsuccessfully ran against Republican incumbent John Perzel for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 172nd District.{{cite news|date=April 30, 1992|work=Philadelphia Daily News|title=Political Warefare Looms|last=Burton|first=Cynthia}} During the campaign, Perzel characterized her as a puppet for her mother while Tartaglione accused him of being out of touch with his constituents. Despite a Democratic registration advantage of about 2,000, she was defeated by more than 3,000 votes.{{cite news|date=November 4, 1992|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|title=In Phila. Districts, State Lawmakers Beat Anti-Incumbent Fever|last=Rubin|first=Daniel}}
On March 1, 1994, Tartaglione announced her candidacy for the Pennsylvania State Senate in the 2nd District.{{cite news|date=March 2, 1994|work=Philadelphia Daily News|title=Marks Itching For A Racket|last=Baer|first=John M.}} During the campaign, she ran on a platform of increased gun control, better day care, racial and ethnic harmony, more jobs, and affordable housing. She defeated Harvey Rice, a lawyer supported by Mayor Ed Rendell and party chairman Bob Brady, in the Democratic primary.{{cite news|date=April 1, 1994|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|title=A New Feud is Brewing in the Second District |last=Williams|first=Vanessa |id={{ProQuest|1840681104}} }} In the general election, she narrowly defeated Republican incumbent Bruce Marks by 393 votes.{{cite news|date=November 10, 1994|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|title=Tartaglione's Lead Grows |last=Fazlollah |first=Mark |id={{ProQuest|1840765047}} }} With her victory, she became the fifth woman elected to the State Senate in Pennsylvania.
Tartaglione has subsequently been re-elected to six more terms, never receiving less than 76% of the vote. She has served as Democratic chair of the Aging and Youth Committee, and is currently chair of the Senate's Philadelphia and Southeastern Pennsylvania delegations, as well as Democratic chair of the Labor and Industry Committee. She sponsored successful legislation that raised Pennsylvania's minimum wage, and was a leading advocate for the creation of the Office for People with Disabilities in the governor's office. She served as a delegate to the 2000 Democratic National Convention.
=Boating accident and recovery=
During the Labor Day weekend of 2003, Tartaglione was severely injured when she fell on the deck of a small powerboat while off the Jersey Shore. A larger boat had whipped up a large wake which caused her boat to rock and resulted in her injuring her spinal cord and needing to use a wheelchair. After a number of surgeries and intense physical therapy, Tartaglione was able to walk for the first time in seven years to her seat in the Senate chambers at an October 2010 ceremony before her colleagues and well-wishers.{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20101013_Targtaglione_leaves_wheelchair_to_walk_on_Senate_floor.html|title=Tartaglione leaves wheelchair to walk on Senate floor|accessdate=October 13, 2010|last1=Moran|first1=Robert|last2=Worden|first2=Amy|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=October 13, 2010 |archive-date=October 24, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024214636/http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20101013_Targtaglione_leaves_wheelchair_to_walk_on_Senate_floor.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.abc27.com/Global/story.asp?S=13315505|title=Lawmaker leaves wheelchair for walk on Senate floor|accessdate=October 13, 2010|publisher=WHTM ABC 27 News|archive-date=May 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519110552/https://www.abc27.com/Global/story.asp?S=13315505|url-status=live}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/senate_bio.cfm?id=277 Pennsylvania State Senate – Christine M. Tartaglione] official PA Senate website
- [http://www.senatortartaglione.com/ Senator Tartaglione] official caucus website
{{CongLinks |votesmart=5244}}
- Follow the Money – Christine M. Tartaglione
- [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=88598 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=74502 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=6707 2002] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=49295 2000] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=1911 1998] campaign contributions
{{Current Pennsylvania State Senators}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tartaglione, Christine}}
Category:Peirce College people
Category:Pennsylvania Democratic Party chairs
Category:Democratic Party Pennsylvania state senators
Category:American politicians with disabilities
Category:Women state legislators in Pennsylvania
Category:2000 United States presidential electors
Category:American people of Italian descent
Category:Politicians from Philadelphia
Category:20th-century American women politicians
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly