Thomas C. Petrone was born and raised in Pittsburgh and is a resident of Crafton Heights. After he graduated from Crafton High School in 1955, Petrone attended Carnegie Tech and Pittsburgh Playhouse from 1955 to 1956. He subsequently served in the United States Navy from 1956 to 1958.

Petrone was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1980 and has served for 27 years as a representative from Pittsburgh. His district covers most of the West End in the City of Pittsburgh, Neville Township, part of Stowe Township, the boroughs of Avalon, Ben Avon, Crafton, Dormont, Emsworth, Glenfield, Ingram and McKees Rocks.

During his years with the House of Representatives, Petrone has served on a number of committees, including Appropriations, Game and Fish and Finance.

While at the House, Petrone has been instrumental in the introduction and passage of many laws vital to the Pittsburgh area and the state as a whole. Petrone drafted the first version of PACE, which was later passed into law. He was involved in the establishment of the Allegheny Regional Asset District, Pennsylvania’s Keystone Opportunity Zone program, Main Street program and Elm Street program. He was involved in “Strategy 21,” which included improvements for the Pittsburgh region such as the new Pittsburgh International Airport Terminal, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and the Carnegie Science Center. Petrone worked to ensure the funding of PNC Park, Heinz Field and the rehabilitation of the Fort Pitt Bridge and Tunnels.

For his past seven terms, Petrone has served at the chairman of the Urban Affairs Committee. During this time, the committee handled a variety of laws, including a bill to allow local government to transfer blighted properties to the hands of responsible owners. He also wrote a bill that became law requiring certification of real estate assessors in Allegheny County and a bill requiring the removal of abandoned vehicles within the City of Pittsburgh.

Petrone also serves on the General Assembly’s Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee. The committee helped implement the Rails-to-Trails Program in Pennsylvania. This was done as the result of the passage of a bill Petrone wrote that gives municipalities’ the first right-of-refusal on the purchase of land that was an abandoned right-of-way.

Petrone is a member of the American Legion, Kiwanis, Italian Heritage Society of America, Sierra Club, Pennsylvania Wildlife Federation, National Arbor Day Foundation, West End Business Association, Pulaski Club, Allegheny County Democratic Committee and Knights of Columbus.