Mark Rozzi
{{Short description|Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (2023)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Mark Rozzi
| image = Mark Rozzi.jpg
| office = 142nd Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
| term_start = {{start date|2023|1|3}}
| term_end = {{end date|2023|2|28}}
| predecessor = Bryan Cutler
| successor = Joanna McClinton
| state_house2 = Pennsylvania
| district2 = 126th
| term_start2 = January 1, 2013
| term_end2 = November 30, 2024
| predecessor2 = Dante Santoni
| successor2 = Jacklyn Rusnock
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|4|30}}
| birth_place = Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| otherparty = Independent Democrat (2023){{efn|name=a|During his tenure as speaker, Rozzi remained a registered Democrat but did not caucus with the party.}}
| spouse = Jacklyn Rusnock (divorced)
| children = 1
| education = Kutztown University (BA)
| website = {{URL|voterozzi.com|Campaign website}}
}}
Mark Lucio Rozzi{{cite web |title=Mark Rozzi |url=https://archives.house.state.pa.us/people/member-biography?ID=2456 |website=Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives |access-date=21 January 2023}} (born April 30, 1971) is an American politician who served as the 140th Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from January to February 2023. A member of the Democratic Party he represented the 126th district from 2013 to 2024.{{cite web |title=SESSION OF 2013 - 197TH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - No. 1 |work=Legislative Journal |publisher=Pennsylvania House of Representatives |date=January 1, 2013 |url=http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/HJ/2013/0/20130101.pdf}}
Background
Rozzi was born on April 30, 1971, in Reading, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Muhlenberg High School in 1989 and earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Kutztown University. Rozzi owned and operated his family’s construction business before selling it in 2018. Rozzi is divorced and has one daughter.{{cite news |last1=Couloumbis |first1=Angela |last2=Caruso |first2=Stephen |title=What Mark Rozzi's record can tell us about what kind of Pa. House speaker he'll be |url=https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/01/pa-legislature-house-speaker-mark-rozzi-clergy-abuse-profile/ |access-date=15 January 2023 |work=Spotlight PA |date=January 6, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Scolforo |first1=Mark |title=Unexpected Pennsylvania House speaker hopes to retain job |url=https://apnews.com/article/politics-us-republican-party-philadelphia-pennsylvania-reading-4eac839ebae67353e93929305ebbb7c9 |access-date=3 February 2023 |work=AP News |date=January 31, 2023}}
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Rozzi was first elected to represent the 126th district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2012. He was subsequently elected to five more terms.
During his first term, Rozzi introduced a bill that would have legalized medically assisted death. The bill stemmed from Rozzi watching his father die of a terminal brain tumor, but it was never voted on.
In 2022, Rozzi was one of just four House Democrats who voted in favor of a ban on transgender athletes participating in youth sports.
On October 21, 2023, Rozzi announced that he would not seek re-election to his state house seat, opting instead to run for Pennsylvania Auditor General.{{cite web | url=https://www.readingeagle.com/2023/10/21/rozzi-enters-2024-race-for-pennsylvania-auditor-general/ | title=Pa. Rep. Mark Rozzi enters 2024 race for state auditor general | date=October 21, 2023 }} He later dropped out of the race in January 2024, citing mental health issues stemming from sexual abuse as a child.{{cite news |last1=Ulrich |first1=Steve |title=Rozzi Leaves Auditor General Race, Politics, To Focus On Mental Health |url=https://www.politicspa.com/rozzi-leaves-auditor-general-race-politics-to-focus-on-mental-health/131272/ |access-date=31 January 2024 |work=PoliticsPA |date=January 31, 2024}}
=Relief for survivors of sex abuse=
Rozzi was sexually abused and raped by a priest in the Roman Catholic Church as a child. Making it easier for victims to bring charges and file lawsuits against the accused has been one of his political objectives,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/20/insider/sex-abuse-and-the-catholic-church-why-is-it-still-a-story.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=timesinsider®ion=c-column-bottom-span-region&_r=1|title=Sex Abuse and the Catholic Church: Why Is It Still a Story? - The New York Times|newspaper=The New York Times|date=2018-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818194330/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/20/insider/sex-abuse-and-the-catholic-church-why-is-it-still-a-story.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=timesinsider®ion=c-column-bottom-span-region&_r=1|access-date=2018-08-18|archive-date=2018-08-18|last1=Goodstein|first1=Laurie}} as well as the reason why he ran for state representative after a friend abused by the same priest committed suicide.{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Jan |title=Rep. Mark Rozzi announces bid for auditor general: 'It's a really good fit for me' |url=https://www.pennlive.com/elections/2023/10/rep-mark-rozzi-announces-bid-for-auditor-general-its-a-really-good-fit-for-me.html |access-date=24 October 2023 |work=PennLive Patriot-News |publisher=Advance Local Media LLC |date=October 23, 2023}} Following a grand jury report detailing of cover-up of church sex abuse, Rozzi led an effort to give relief to survivors via new legislation. In 2019, Governor Tom Wolf signed into a law package of legislation that removed temporal constraints on filing charges against perpetrators of sexual abuse. Amidst the package of reforms was an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution which would retroactively repeal the statute of limitations on sexual abuse. The amendment had to be approved by two successive legislative sessions before being put forward in a referendum.{{cite news |last1=Miller |first1=Cassie |title=In Reading, Wolf signs child sex abuse statute reforms into law |url=https://penncapital-star.com/government-politics/in-reading-wolf-signs-child-sex-abuse-statute-reforms-into-law/ |access-date=14 June 2024 |work=Pennsylvania Capital-Star |date=November 26, 2019}} However, a 2021 clerical error by Wolf's administration caused the final passage of the amendment to be pushed back even further.{{cite news |last1=Caruso |first1=Stephen |title=Hopes of bipartisan cooperation give way to complete deadlock in the Pa. House |url=https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/01/pennsylvania-house-rozzi-deadlock-amendment/ |access-date=26 January 2023 |work=Spotlight PA |date=January 25, 2023}}
=Speaker of the House=
On January 3, 2023, Rozzi was elected as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, following speculation and disputes over which party controlled the legislature; in the 2022 election, Democrats won a majority of seats, but three vacancies technically gave Republican a 101-99 majority. Rozzi was nominated by Republican Representative Jim Gregory as a compromise candidate, earning bipartisan support. Following his election, Rozzi said he would govern as an independent and not caucus with either party. However, according to private conversations with fellow Democrats, Rozzi would not change his party registration.{{cite web |last1=Caruso |first1=Stephen |last2=Huangpu |first2=Kate |last3=Meyer |first3=Kate |title=Democrats and a handful of Republicans picked the Pennsylvania House's new speaker |url=https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/01/pa-midterm-election-2022-house-majority-democrats-speaker-election/ |website=Spotlight PA|date=January 3, 2023 }}{{cite web |last1=Seidman |first1=Andrew |last2=McGoldrick |first2=Gillian |title=Mark Rozzi, a Democrat-turned-independent, is now speaker of the Pa. House after a surprise vote |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mark-rozzi-a-democrat-turned-independent-is-now-speaker-of-the-pa-house-after-a-surprise-vote/ar-AA15Wn91 |access-date=4 January 2023 |website=MSN |publisher=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}{{cite news |last1=Lehman |first1=Tom |title=Pennsylvania lawmaker calls for House speaker to resign |url=https://www.wgal.com/article/pennsylvania-lawmaker-calls-for-house-speaker-mark-rozzi-to-resign/42437059 |access-date=13 January 2023 |work=WGAL News 8 Local |publisher=Hearst Television Inc. |date=January 9, 2023}} His private comments saying he would remain in the Democratic Party caused controversy with the Republicans who voted him for speaker, including Gregory, who said Rozzi should resign. According to Gregory and others, Rozzi repeatedly told them he would leave the Democratic Party and officially register as an independent should he be elected speaker.{{cite news |url-access=subscription |last1=McGoldrick |first1=Gillian |title=Pennsylvania still hasn't heard from House Speaker Mark Rozzi after his surprise election, and it's been over a week |url=https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/mark-rozzi-pa-house-speak-spoken-publicly-20230112.html |access-date=17 January 2023 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=January 12, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Siwy |first1=Bruce |title=The new Pennsylvania speaker of the House is already on thin ice. What may come next. |url=https://www.poconorecord.com/story/news/politics/elections/2023/01/17/will-mark-rozzi-be-pa-house-speaker-long-term/69790161007/ |access-date=17 January 2023 |work=Pocono Record |date=January 16, 2023}}
As Speaker, Rozzi said his first priority would be to finally pass the amendment to Pennsylvania's constitution to allow victims of sexual abuse a two year gap in the statute of limitations for them to sue their abusers. Governor Wolf called a special session of the legislature so such the amendment could be passed the required second time. However, Republicans in the State Senate combined the amendment on sexual abuse survivors with two others to require voter ID and regulatory reform.{{cite news |last1=Smeltz |first1=Adam |title=Pa. House Speaker Mark Rozzi kicks off 'listening tour' in Pittsburgh as Harrisburg remains gridlocked |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2023/01/25/mark-rozzi-pa-house-speaker-listening-tour-pittsburgh-cmu/stories/202301250101 |access-date=26 January 2023 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |publisher=PG Publishing Co. |date=January 26, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Valente |first1=Mike |title='I will keep the doors of the House locked': Speaker Rozzi not wavering from decision to adjourn |url=https://www.wtae.com/article/rozzi-house-speaker-workgroup-adjourn-pittsburgh/42665728 |access-date=26 January 2023 |work=Pittsburgh Action News 4 |publisher=Hearst Television Inc. |date=January 25, 2023}} Rozzi opposed the addition of the two other amendments and pushed for legislation making the sex abuse survivors amendment separate from the other two.{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Jan |author1-link=Jan Murphy |title=Rozzi wants justice for child sex abuse survivors more than Pa. House speakership |url=https://www.pennlive.com/politics/2023/02/rozzi-wants-justice-for-child-sex-abuse-survivors-more-than-pa-house-speakership.html |access-date=9 February 2023 |work=PennLive Patriot-News |publisher=Advance Local Media LLC |date=February 8, 2023}} He was successful on February 24, with an amendment solely concerning victim relief passing 161-40. However, State Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman declined to bring the singular amendment to a vote.{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Jan |author1-link=Jan Murphy |title=Pa. House votes to allow childhood sexual abuse survivors to sue |url=https://www.pennlive.com/politics/2023/02/pa-house-votes-to-grant-civil-legal-recourse-for-childhood-sexual-abuse-survivors.html |access-date=24 February 2023 |work=PennLIVE Patriot-News |publisher=Advance Local Media LLC |date=February 24, 2023}}
On February 28, Rozzi resigned as Speaker of the House and returned to the Democratic Caucus.{{Cite web |last=Caruso |first=Stephen |date=2023-02-28 |title=PA House Speaker Mark Rozzi steps down |url=https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/02/pa-house-speaker-mark-rozzi-resigns/ |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Spotlight PA |language=en-us}}
=2024 Auditor General campaign=
{{emptysection|date=June 2025}}
Electoral history
{{Election box begin no change|title=2012 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Democratic primary election, District 126{{cite web |title=APRIL 24, 2012 GENERAL PRIMARY CERTIFIED RESULTS GRAND TOTALS |url=https://www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/Elections/Documents/DATA/Past-Results/2012/OFFICIALGRANDTOTALS.pdf |website=Berks County, Pennsylvania |access-date=28 February 2023 |page=5 }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (US)
|candidate=Mark Rozzi
|votes=2,820
|percentage=58.82
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (US)
|candidate=Frank B. Denbowski
|votes=1,592
|percentage=33.21
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (US)
|candidate=John A. Delcollo
|votes=381
|percentage=7.95
}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|party=Write-in
|votes=1
|percentage=0.02
}}{{Election box total no change|votes=4,794|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=2012 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 126{{cite web |title=November 6, 2012 General Election Certified Precinct Results |url=https://www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/Elections/Documents/DATA/Past-Results/2012/certified%20grandtotals.pdf |website=Berks County, Pennsylvania |access-date=28 February 2023 |page=4 }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (US)
|candidate=Mark Rozzi
|votes=16,811
|percentage=70.21
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party=Republican Party (US)
|candidate=James R. Billman
|votes=7,119
|percentage=29.73
}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|party=Write-in
|votes=13
|percentage=0.05
}}{{Election box total no change|votes=23,943|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=2014 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 126{{cite web |title=NOVEMBER 4, 2014 GENERAL ELECTION CERTIFIED GRAND TOTAL RESULTS |url=https://www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/Elections/Documents/DATA/Past-Results/2014/General/CERTGRANDTOTALS.pdf |website=Berks County, Pennsylvania |access-date=28 February 2023 |page=2 }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (US)
|candidate=Mark Rozzi
|votes=10,687
|percentage=99.46
}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|party=Write-in
|votes=58
|percentage=0.54
}}{{Election box total no change|votes=10,745|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=2016 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 126{{cite web |title=NOVEMBER 8, 2016 GENERAL ELECTION CERTIFIED GRAND TOTAL RESULTS |url=https://www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/Elections/Documents/DATA/Past-Results/2016/General/GRANDTOTALS.pdf |website=Berks County, Pennsylvania |access-date=28 February 2023 |page=4 }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (US)
|candidate=Mark Rozzi
|votes=20,479
|percentage=99.79
}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|party=Write-in
|votes=43
|percentage=0.21
}}{{Election box total no change|votes=20,522|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=2018 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 126{{cite web |title=NOVEMBER 6, 2018 GENERAL ELECTION CERTIFIED GRAND TOTALS |url=https://www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/Elections/Documents/DATA/Past-Results/2018/General/CERTGRANDTOTALS.pdf |website=Berks County, Pennsylvania |access-date=28 February 2023 |page=2 }}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (US)
|candidate=Mark Rozzi
|votes=15,291
|percentage=99.6
}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|party=Write-in
|votes=62
|percentage=0.4
}}{{Election box total no change|votes=15,353|percentage=100.0}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=2020 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 126{{cite web |title=Summary Results Report 2020 General November 3, 2020 OFFICIAL RESULTS BERKS COUNTY |url=https://www.co.berks.pa.us/Dept/Elections/Documents/DATA/Past-Results/2020/General/Grand%20Totals%20-%20Summary.pdf |website=Berks County, Pennsylvania |access-date=2 March 2023 |page=5 |date=November 25, 2020}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (US)
|candidate= Mark Rozzi
|votes=18,508
|percentage=67.30
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party=Republican Party (US)
|candidate=James D. Oswald
|votes=8,961
|percentage=32.59
}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change
|party=Write-in
|votes=30
|percentage=0.11
}}{{Election box total no change
|votes=27,499|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change|title=2022 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 126{{cite web |title=2022 General Election Tuesday, November 8, 2022 Official Returns BERKS |url=https://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/General/CountyResults?countyName=BERKS&ElectionID=94&ElectionType=G&IsActive=0 |website=electionreturns.pa.gov |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of State |access-date=2 March 2023}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
|party=Democratic Party (US)
|candidate=Mark Rozzi
|votes=11,613
|percentage=63.98
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|party=Republican Party (US)
|candidate=James Daniel Oswald
|votes=6,539
|percentage=36.02
}}{{Election box total no change|votes=18,152|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box end}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/House_bio.cfm?id=1647 Official page] at the Pennsylvania General Assembly
- [http://voterozzi.com/ Campaign site]
- {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=136444 | fec= | congress= }}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-pa-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Dante Santoni}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 126th district|years=2013–2024}}
{{s-aft|after=Jacklyn Rusnock}}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Bryan Cutler}}
{{s-ttl|title=Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives|years=2023}}
{{s-aft|after=Joanna McClinton}}
{{s-end}}
{{Pennsylvania House of Representatives}}
{{PASpeakers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rozzi, Mark}}
Category:Businesspeople from Pennsylvania
Category:Democratic Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Category:Kutztown University of Pennsylvania alumni
Category:Politicians from Berks County, Pennsylvania
Category:Pennsylvania independents
Category:Speakers of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly