Randy Vulakovich
{{Short description|American politician (born 1950)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Randy Vulakovich.jpg
| name = Randy Vulakovich
| caption =
| state = Pennsylvania
| state_senate = Pennsylvania
| district = 38th
| term_start = January 6, 2015
| term_end = January 1, 2019
| predecessor = Jim Ferlo
| successor = Lindsey Williams
| state2 = Pennsylvania
| state_senate2 = Pennsylvania
| district2 = 40th
| term_start2 = August 29, 2012{{cite news|title=Senator Vulakovich Takes Over 40th District Seat|url=http://senatorvulakovich.com/news/0812/082912.htm|accessdate=September 1, 2012|newspaper=Office of Senator Randy Vulakovich|date=August 29, 2012}}
| term_end2 = January 5, 2015
| constituency =
| predecessor2 = Jane Orie
| successor2 = Mario Scavello
| state_house3 = Pennsylvania
| district3 = 30th
| term_start3 = January 2, 2007{{cite web | title = SESSION OF 2007 191ST OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY No. 1 | work = LEGISLATIVE JOURNAL | publisher = Pennsylvania House of Representatives | date = January 2, 2007 | url = http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/HJ/2007/0/20070102.PDF | accessdate =January 9, 2009}}
| term_end3 = August 29, 2012
| predecessor3 = Shawn Flaherty
| successor3 = Hal English
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1950}}
| birth_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| alma_mater = Duquesne University
| occupation =
| spouse = Bobbie
| children = 2
}}
Randy Vulakovich (born 1950){{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/pennsylvaniamanu0000unse_b0e6/page/156/mode/2up|title=The Pennsylvania Manual|volume=118|year=2007|page=3-157}} is an American politician who served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 38th district from January 6, 2015, to January 1, 2019. He previously served in the 40th legislative district. He was elected in a special election on August 7, 2012. Vulakovich was reelected to a full term in 2014 in the newly established 38th district. In May 2018, he lost re-nomination to that seat in the Republican primary to Ross commissioner Jeremy Shaffer.{{cite web | title = Shaffer knocks off incumbent Vulakovich in state Senate race | work = Tom Fontaine | publisher = Valley News Dispatch | date = January 2, 2007 | url = http://triblive.com/local/valleynewsdispatch/13653896-74/shaffer-knocks-off-incumbent-vulakovich-in-state-senate-race | accessdate =May 16, 2018}}
Education
Prior to holding elected office, Vulakovich attended the Allegheny County Police Academy and Duquesne University.{{cite web | title = Representative Randy Vulakovich (PA)| work = Project Vote Smart| year = 2008| url = http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=60138| accessdate =January 9, 2009}}
Career
He served as a police sergeant with the Shaler Township Police Department, where he was known as "Officer V."{{cite web|title=Rep. Randy Vulakovich Biography|url=http://www.repvulakovich.com/?sectionid=2§iontree=2|year=2008|publisher=Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus|accessdate=January 11, 2009}}
On April 11, 2006, Democrat Shawn Flaherty defeated Republican Mike Dolan in a special election to fill the remainder of Jeff Habay's term as state representative.{{cite web | title = 2006 Special Election for the 30th Legislative District - Representative in the General Assembly| work = Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information | publisher = Pennsylvania Department of State | year = 2004 | url = http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=22&OfficeID=13| accessdate = January 9, 2009}} On May 16, 2006, Vulakovich defeated two other Republicans (including Mike Dolan) for the right to challenge Flaherty in that November's election.{{cite web| title = 2006 General Primary - Representative in the General Assembly| work = Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information| publisher = Pennsylvania Department of State| year = 2006| url = http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=20&OfficeID=13| accessdate = January 9, 2009| url-status = dead| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081127152112/http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=20&OfficeID=13| archivedate = November 27, 2008}} Vulakovich defeated Flaherty that November by a 53–47 margin.{{cite web| title = 2006 General Election - Representative in the General Assembly| work = Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information| publisher = Pennsylvania Department of State| year = 2006| url = http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=24&OfficeID=13#21| accessdate = August 29, 2012| url-status = dead| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20081127151803/http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=24&OfficeID=13#21| archivedate = November 27, 2008}} Vulakovich resigned from the State House on August 29, 2012, just prior to taking the oath of office to begin his Senate service.
In 2012 he defeated former Congresswoman Melissa Hart in the primary, leading to Vulakovich being nominated by the Republican party to face Sharon Brown to fill the vacancy in Pennsylvania's 40th State Senate district created by the resignation of Jane Orie. He was elected to the seat in the August 7, 2012, special election{{cite news|last=McNulty|first=Timothy|title=Vulakovich defeats Brown for Orie's seat|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-north/vulakovich-defeats-brown-for-ories-seat-647988/|accessdate=August 8, 2012|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=August 7, 2012}} with over 73% of the vote to Brown's 27%.{{cite web|title=2012 Special Election for the 40th Senatorial District|url=http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=52&OfficeID=12|publisher=Pennsylvania Department of State|accessdate=August 8, 2012}} In the wake of his election, Vulakovich announced he would resign his State House seat to assume his seat in the State Senate.{{cite news|last=LaRussa|first=Tony|title=Vulakovich wins Senate seat|url=http://triblive.com/politics/2357301-74/percent-vulakovich-district-orie-seat-senate-state-vote-remaining-voters|accessdate=August 9, 2012|newspaper=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review|date=August 8, 2012}} Vulakovich was sworn in as a state senator on August 29, 2012.
For most of his tenure, Vulakovich represented Pittsburgh's 11th and 12th wards; he was the only elected Republican representing any portion of Pittsburgh above the county level.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline}}
- [http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/Senate_bio.cfm?id=1090 Pennsylvania State Senate - Randy Vulakovich] - Official PA Senate website
- [http://senatorvulakovich.com/ Pennsylvania Senator Randy Vulakovich] - Official Party website
{{CongLinks |votesmart=60138}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vulakovich, Randy}}
Category:American municipal police officers
Category:Duquesne University alumni
Category:Law enforcement officials from Pennsylvania
Category:Republican Party Pennsylvania state senators
Category:Politicians from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Category:Republican Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly