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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Frank Dermody |
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Dermody elected majority whip
HARRISBURG, Dec. 17 – State Rep. Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, today was elected majority whip by his colleagues in the House Democratic Caucus.
Whip is the third-highest ranking position within the Democratic Caucus, below only the House speaker and majority leader. Dermody replaces Rep. H. William DeWeese, who resigned as majority whip Tuesday.
"Today's vote clearly shows that it is time to make a clean break from the past," Dermody said. "Members are frustrated and want the caucus to head in a new direction, so this vote was a victory to that end.
"My colleagues have entrusted me, a former prosecutor, to take hold of the inertia that guides this building, and get refocused on core Democratic issues like job creation and economic growth."
Dermody is a 1973 graduate of Columbia University and obtained his law degree from Indiana University School of Law -- Bloomington. He has represented the 33rd District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 1991. As a young legislator, Dermody spearheaded the impeachment of Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Rolf Larsen in 1994.
Dermody was chairman of the Allegheny County Democratic Delegation before serving as Democratic Caucus secretary in the 2007-08 legislative session. He became chairman of the House Urban Affairs Committee in January.
The Allegheny County legislator currently also is chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing.
"I am profoundly grateful for being given this responsibility and I look forward to the hard work that lies ahead," he said.
"In the coming weeks, I will assess the needs of our members and work hard with those who have rejected the status quo and want the caucus to move forward in a new direction.
The 33rd Legislative District includes the boroughs of Brackenridge, Cheswick, Oakmont, Springdale, Tarentum and part of Plum, and East Deer, Fawn, Frazer, Harmar, Harrison, Indiana, Springdale and West Deer townships.
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