John Perzel

John Michael Perzel (born January 7, 1950) is an American politician and member of the Republican Party.

Perzel was noticed by Philadelphia Republican boss Billy Meehan, who selected him to be a GOP committeeman in 1972.

He earned a bachelor's degree in 1975 from Troy State University in Alabama.

After graduating from university, he returned to Philadelphia and became a waiter.

Immediately before his political career, he was maitre d' at Pavio's Restaurant in Somerton, a section of Northeast Philadelphia.

In 1976, after graduating from Troy State University, he unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the House.

Perzel represented 172nd Legislative District (Northeast Philadelphia) in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1978 until 2010.

In 1978, he made a successful campaign for the House, focusing on the poor attendance record of the Democratic incumbent, Francis Gleeson.

Over the years, he rose in seniority in the House, holding the offices of Republican Whip, Policy Committee Chairman and Chairman of the House Republican Campaign Committee.

He was elected Majority Leader in 1994.

Perzel hit some bumps on his route to the leadership.

In November 2000, Perzel nearly suffered defeat when a wave of support for then-Vice President Al Gore brought out Democratic voters in Philadelphia in larger than expected numbers.

Perzel survived by less than 100 votes.

In 2001, he was named "Politician of the Year" by PoliticsPA.

2002 brought redistricting and a more favorable district for Perzel.

In a 2002 PoliticsPA Feature story designating politicians with yearbook superlatives, he was named the "Hardest Working."

From April 2003 to January 2007, he served as House Speaker.

Perzel was appointed as a commissioner to the Delaware River Port Authority by Democratic Governor Ed Rendell in 2003.

On March 29, 2003, Speaker of the House, Matt Ryan, died after battling cancer.

On April 15, 2003, the House elected Perzel as Speaker.

He became one of the most powerful legislative leaders in the Pennsylvania General Assembly since James Manderino.

Perzel was instrumental in the state takeover of the poorly performing School District of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Parking Authority, and the Philadelphia Convention Center.

Perzel supported the 2003 tax increase proposed by Rendell as well as Act 71, the law that legalized slot machine gambling in Pennsylvania.

He was also a key figure in the 2005 pay raise debacle.

During the furor, Perzel became the butt of jokes due to an unfortunate photograph.

While reading to students in Pittsburgh, he was photographed in front of a class display full of pink pigs.

The pay raise opposition had used a 25-foot pink pig in its demonstrations, and the photograph was widely circulated in order to embarrass the Speaker.

In defending the pay raise, Perzel has made a number of controversial statements, including assertions that some cow-milkers and tattoo artists earned more than his members.

In addition, Perzel has commented that some of the members were unable to obtain credit cards.

Perzel has been criticized by conservatives for compromising with fellow Philadelphian, Governor Ed Rendell.

Republicans lost the majority in the 2006 elections by one seat.

Perzel sought to convince a Democrat to change parties or abstain from the election for speaker so that he could remain in office.

After Democrat Tom Caltagirone of Reading announced that he would support Perzel rather than Democrat Bill DeWeese for Speaker, it appeared likely that Perzel would be elected Speaker presiding over a Democratic majority.

At the last minute, however, DeWeese nominated another Northeast Philadelphia Republican, Dennis O'Brien.

He lost his bid for re-election to Democrat Kevin Boyle in 2010.

On November 2, 2010, Perzel lost his seat to Democrat Kevin Boyle, brother of Rep. Brendan Boyle.

Perzel captured 46% of the vote to Boyle's 54%.

Perzel was the only Republican incumbent in Pennsylvania to lose in the 2010 elections.

Perzel was convicted in August 2011 of a variety of corruption related charges and, in March 2012, was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Perzel is a graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School.