Pam Iovino
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Pam Iovino
| honorific_suffix =
| image = File:Pam Iovino.jpg
| alt =
| state_senate = Pennsylvania
| status =
| district = 37th
| term_start = {{start date|2019|04|29}}
| term_end = {{end date|2020|11|30}}
| predecessor = Guy Reschenthaler
| successor = Devlin Robinson
| prior_term =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|07|23}}
|birth_place =
|party = Democratic
|education = Gettysburg College (BA)
Naval War College (MA)
|website = {{URL|https://pamforpa.com/|Campaign website}}
|residence = Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U.S.
|allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
|branch = {{navy|United States}}
|rank = {{Dodseal|USNO6}} Captain
|serviceyears = 1980–2003
}}
Pamela Marie Iovino{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T5DfAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA110 |title=Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Reserve Officers on the Active-Duty List |page=110 |date=October 1, 1984 |publisher=Bureau of Naval Personnel |accessdate=November 16, 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/103rd-congress/1465 |title=PN1465 — Navy |date=July 15, 1994 |website=U.S. Congress |accessdate=November 16, 2020}} is an American politician from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A Democrat, she was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 37th district and served from 2019 to 2020.
Education and early career
Iovino was raised in a suburb outside Pittsburgh.{{cite web |title=Pam Iovino for State Senate |url=https://pamforpa.com/ |website=Official campaign website |accessdate=July 15, 2019}} She graduated from Gettysburg College with a bachelor's degree in political science in 1978. She joined the United States Navy as an ensign in 1980. She eventually earned the rank of captain. Iovino earned a Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in 1993. In 2004, Iovino became Assistant Secretary in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for Congressional and Legislative Affairs.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=News Releases – Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs|url=https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=921|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=April 3, 2019|website=U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs|publisher=Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs|language=en}}
Earlier political career
{{Main|2018 Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district special election#Democratic convention}}
Following Tim Murphy's resignation from the United States House of Representatives from {{ushr|PA|18}} in 2017, Iovino sought to become the Democratic Party nominee in the special election to succeed him.
On November 19, 2017, local Democrats chose former U.S. Assistant Attorney Conor Lamb during a nominating convention instead.{{cite web|last=Potter|first=Chris|date=2017-11-19|title=Democrats choose Conor Lamb, a former federal prosecutor, to replace Tim Murphy|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-local/2017/11/19/Conor-Lamb-Democrats-pick-replace-Tim-Murphy-18th-Congressional-district/stories/201711190199|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=April 3, 2019|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|language=en}} Iovino placed third on both ballots, trailing behind Westmoreland County Commissioner Gina Cerilli and Lamb, the eventual special election winner.{{cite web|url=https://www.padems.com/2017/11/conor-lamb-wins-first-ever-congressional-democratic-convention/|title=Conor Lamb Wins First-Ever Congressional Democratic Convention|date=2017-11-19|website=Pennsylvania Democratic Party|language=en|access-date=2019-04-04}}
Pennsylvania Senate
{{See also|2019 Pennsylvania elections#Special elections}}
After Guy Reschenthaler, who represented the 37th district in the Pennsylvania State Senate, was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2018, a special election was called to fill the remainder of his term in the state senate.
Democrats selected Iovino as their nominee, and she faced Republican D. Raja.{{cite web|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2019/01/27/Democrats-Pennsylvania-37th-state-senate-district-recommend-Pam-Iovino-nomination/stories/201901270186|title=In Pa's 37th senate district, Dems recommend Pam Iovino, GOP nominates D. Raja|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|language=en|access-date=April 3, 2019}} On April 2, 2019, Iovino defeated Raja, receiving 52% of the vote.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=April 2, 2019|title=Democrat Pam Iovino Declares Victory Over Republican D. Raja In Pa. Senate Special Election|url=https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2019/04/02/pam-iovino-wins-pennsylvania-senate-special-election/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=April 3, 2019|website=|language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/Special/OfficeResults?OfficeID=12&ElectionID=undefined&ElectionType=undefined&IsActive=undefined|title=Pennsylvania Elections – Office Results|website=www.electionreturns.pa.gov|access-date=April 3, 2019}} Iovino was formally sworn in on April 29, 2019.{{cite web |title=Pam Iovino Sworn into Pennsylvania Senate |url=http://www.pasenate.com/pam-iovino-sworn-into-pennsylvania-senate/ |website=Pennsylvania Senate Democrats |date=April 29, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Hardison |first1=Elizabeth |title=Democrat Pam Iovino takes the oath of office, is one of 13 women serving in the state Senate |url=https://www.penncapital-star.com/blog/democrat-pam-iovino-takes-the-oath-office-becoming-the-13th-woman-to-serve-in-the-state-senate/ |website=Pennsylvania Capital-Star |date=April 29, 2019}}
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Iovino sponsored an amendment clarifying that volunteer firefighting companies could use Volunteer Firefighting Relief Association funds to sanitize and disinfect equipment.{{cite web |title=State Senate passes legislation to provide $538 million in CARES Act funding for nursing & long-term care facilities, and fire & EMS grants |url=https://www.fox43.com/article/news/community/state-senate-passes-legislation-538-million-in-cares-act-funding/521-e660644e-5f64-4694-9f44-81cd2d79d4a8/ |website=Fox 43 |date=May 18, 2020}} In July 2020, Iovino signed a letter urging Governor Tom Wolf to ease restrictions on bars and restaurants.{{cite web |title=Pa. Legislators Send Letter To Gov. Tom Wolf, Requesting Restrictions Be Readjusted For Bars And Restaurants |url=https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2020/07/24/pa-legislators-send-letter-to-gov-tom-wolf-requesting-restrictions-be-readjusted-for-bars-and-restaurants/ |website=KDKA |date=July 24, 2020}}
In July 2020, Iovino lost her wallet, which was coincidentally found and returned by her Republican opponent Devlin Robinson.{{cite web|last=Fearnow|first=Benjamin|date=2020-07-18|title=GOP State Senate Candidate Finds and Returns Wallet to Opponent|url=https://www.newsweek.com/gop-state-senate-candidate-finds-returns-wallet-opponent-1518851|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=July 20, 2020|website=Newsweek}}
Iovino was defeated by Devlin Robinson on November 3, 2020.{{Cite web|last=Smeltz|first=Adam|date=2020-11-04|title=AP calls race for Devlin Robinson in 37th state Senate district|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2020/11/04/Devlin-Robinson-Pam-Iovino-Pennsylvania-District-37-state-Senate-race-results/stories/202011040179|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-11-09|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{URL|https://pamforpa.com/|Campaign website}}
{{CongLinks|votesmart=186161}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iovino, Pam}}
Category:People from Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Category:Gettysburg College alumni
Category:Naval War College alumni
Category:United States Navy captains
Category:United States Department of Veterans Affairs officials
Category:Military personnel from Pennsylvania
Category:Democratic Party Pennsylvania state senators
Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly