Maria Collett
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = File:Maria Collett.jpg
| birthname =
| state = Pennsylvania
| state_senate = Pennsylvania
| district = 12th
| term_start = {{start date|2019|1|1}}
| term_end =
| predecessor = Stewart Greenleaf
| successor =
| constituency = Parts of Montgomery and Bucks Counties
| party = Democratic
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|7|21}}
| birth_place = Athens, Greece
| alma_mater = University of Maryland (B.A.)
Rutgers Law School (J.D.)
Drexel University (BSN)
| profession = Nurse, Attorney
| residence =Lower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania
| spouse = Len Collett
| religion =
| website = [http://www.senatorcollett.com/]
}}
Maria Collett (born July 21, 1974) is a Greek-born American politician serving as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate who represents the 12th District. Her district includes portions of eastern Montgomery County and southern Bucks County. Collett is the first Greek American woman to serve in the Pennsylvania State Senate.
Political career
=Elections=
==2018==
In 2018, Collett ran unopposed in the Democratic primary for the election to succeed retiring state senator Stewart Greenleaf, who had represented the 12th District since 1979.{{cite web|url=http://www.montgomerynews.com/northpennlife/news/no-primary-challenges-in-local-pennsylvania-senate-races/article_a887319a-7d2c-51f5-bf43-8f8fb52cf3b6.html|title=No primary challenges in local Pennsylvania Senate races|first=Dan|last=Sokil|work=North Penn Life|publisher=MontgomeryNews.com|date=May 7, 2018|access-date=January 3, 2019}} Collett defeated Stewart Greenleaf Jr., Greenleaf's son and a former controller for Montgomery County, in the November 6 general election.{{cite web|url=http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/news/20181106/collett-defeats-greenleaf-jr-flips-12th-district-senate-seat-to-dems|title=Collett defeats Greenleaf Jr., flips 12th District Senate seat to Dems|work=Bucks County Courier Times|date=November 6, 2018|access-date=January 3, 2019}} Her victory was part of the "blue wave" that increased Democratic and female representation in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Congressional delegation.
=Committee assignments=
For the 2021-2022 Session Collett sits on the following committees in the Senate:{{cite web |url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/Senate_bio.cfm?id=1799 |publisher=Senate of Pennsylvania|title=Senator Maria Collett}}
- Aging and Youth - Minority Chair
- Community, Economic, and Recreational Development
- Judiciary
- Local Government
- Rules & Executive Nominations
=Caucuses=
Collett is a member of the following caucuses:
- Senate Arts & Culture
- Autism & Intellectual Disabilities
- Senate Brain Injury
- Climate
- Film Industry
- LGBT Equality
- PA Safe
- Rare Disease
- Senate Women's Health Caucuses.
=Councils and task forces=
Collett serves on the following councils, committees, and task forces:
- Asian American Coalition for Healthcare Services Advisory Board
- Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee {{cite web |title=Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee |url=http://jcc.legis.state.pa.us/committee.cfm |access-date=17 December 2019}}
- Legislative Audit Advisory Commission
- Montgomery County Aging and Adult Services Council{{cite web |title=Advisory Council |url=https://montcopa.org/2106/Advisory-Council-Board |website=Montgomery County Pennsylvania Website |publisher=Montgomery County of Pennsylvania |access-date=3 June 2019}}
- Pennsylvania Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts{{cite web |title=Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts |url=http://www.pacourts.us/courts/supreme-court/committees/independent-court-related-panels/advisory-council-on-elder-justice-in-the-courts |website=The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania |access-date=3 June 2019}}
- Pennsylvania Children's Health Advisory Council{{cite web |title=Advisory Council |url=https://www.chipcoverspakids.com/chip-resources/Pages/AdvisoryCouncil.aspx |website=PA.GOV |publisher=Commonwealth of Pennsylvania}}
- Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Council{{cite web |title=Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Council |url=https://www.aging.pa.gov/organization/PennsylvaniaLongTermCareCouncil/Pages/default.aspx |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of Aging |access-date=3 June 2019}}
- Special Education Funding Commission{{cite web |title=SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING COMMISSION RECONSTITUTED |url=https://www.pasenategop.com/blog/special-education-funding-commission-reconstituted/ |website=Pennsylvania Senate Republicans }}
- Suicide Prevention Task Force{{Citation needed|date=November 2021}}
=Legislative priorities=
As a state senator, Collett has focused on the issues of PFAS contamination throughout her district,{{cite news |last1=Hurdle |first1=Jon |title=Pa. might set maximum limits on a toxic chemical in drinking water. Some ask: What's there to decide? |url=https://whyy.org/articles/pa-might-set-maximum-limits-on-a-toxic-chemical-in-drinking-water-some-ask-whats-there-to-decide/ |access-date=30 May 2019 |publisher=WHYY |date=24 January 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Hardison |first1=Elizabeth |title=What are PFAS chemicals and what is Pennsylvania doing about them? |url=https://www.penncapital-star.com/energy-environment/what-are-pfas-chemicals-and-what-is-pennsylvania-doing-about-them/ |access-date=30 May 2019 |publisher=Penn Capital-Star |date=17 April 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Heinze |first1=Justin |title=How Much PFAS Is Safe? PA Bill Would Lower Drinking Water Limit |url=https://patch.com/pennsylvania/uppermoreland/how-much-pfas-safe-pa-bill-would-lower-drinking-water-limit |access-date=30 May 2019 |publisher=Patch |date=23 April 2019}} nurse staffing ratios,{{cite news |last1=Hamburg |first1=Daniel |title=Pennsylvania nurses rally for law to set safe patient limits |url=https://www.abc27.com/news/local/pennsylvania-nurses-rally-for-law-to-set-safe-patient-limits/1864182949 |access-date=30 May 2019 |publisher=ABC News |date=20 March 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Caruso |first1=Stephen |title=Rules limiting nursing workload brought back to Harrisburg |url=https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/rules-limiting-nursing-workload-brought-back-to-harrisburg/ |access-date=30 May 2019 |publisher=Penn Capital-Star |date=22 March 2019}} the statute of limitations for sexual crimes,{{cite news |last1=Heinze |first1=Justin |title=PA Seeks To Eliminate Statute Of Limitations For Sexual Crimes |url=https://patch.com/pennsylvania/norristown/pa-seeks-eliminate-statute-limitations-sexual-crimes |publisher=Patch |date=9 April 2019}} gender equity,{{cite news |last1=Hardison |first1=Elizabeth |title=It's Equal Pay Day. Here's how Pa. lawmakers want to close the gender wage gap |url=https://www.penncapital-star.com/working-the-economy/its-equal-pay-day-heres-how-pa-lawmakers-want-to-close-the-gender-wage-gap/ |access-date=30 May 2019 |publisher=Penn Capital-Star |date=2 April 2019}} and firearm regulation.{{cite news |last1=Heinze |first1=Justin |title=The bill would allow local governments to enact ordinances to restrict firearms at facilities they own. |url=https://patch.com/pennsylvania/lansdale/collett-introduces-gun-control-bill-local-govs-pa-senate |access-date=30 May 2019 |publisher=Patch |date=11 March 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Hardison |first1=Elizabeth |title=Local officials would be able to ban guns on public grounds under state Senate proposal |url=https://www.penncapital-star.com/blog/local-officials-could-ban-guns-on-public-grounds-under-state-senate-proposal/ |access-date=30 May 2019 |publisher=Penn Capital-Star |date=14 March 2019}}
Career
Collett began her career as an attorney representing the interests of children victimized by abuse and neglect as a deputy attorney general in Camden County, New Jersey. She then transitioned to a career in nursing, where she worked at the bedside as a Level I trauma nurse, in pediatric home health and in long-term care working with aging adults. Most recently, she worked as a nurse educator, helping other nurses understand how to administer Medicaid programs.
During the 2021-2022 Legislative Session, Collett was elected by her colleagues in the Senate Democratic Caucus to the position of caucus secretary.{{cite news |last1=Hardison |first1=Elizabeth |title=Senate Dems reshuffle leadership ranks, promoting two progressive women from the Philly 'burbs|url=https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/senate-dems-reshuffle-leadership-ranks-promoting-two-progressive-women-from-the-philly-burbs/ |access-date=26 January 2021 |publisher=Pennsylvania Capital-Star |date=19 November 2020}}
Education
Collett attended the University of Maryland, College Park where she earned a BA in English Literature, going on to earn a JD at Rutgers Law School and then a BSN at Drexel University.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/Senate_bio.cfm?id=1799 Pennsylvania State Senate website]
- [https://ballotpedia.org/Maria_Collett Collett on Ballotpedia]
{{Current Pennsylvania State Senators}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Collett, Maria}}
Category:People from Lower Gwynedd Township, Pennsylvania
Category:University of Maryland, College Park alumni
Category:Drexel University alumni
Category:Rutgers University–Camden alumni
Category:Democratic Party Pennsylvania state senators
Category:Women state legislators in Pennsylvania
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:American people of Greek descent
Category:Politicians from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly