{{short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = | name = Emilio Vazquez | state_house = Pennsylvania | district = 197th | term_start = April 5, 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/Vazquez-sworn-in-for-197th-seat-as-investigation-lawsuit-loom.html|title=Vazquez sworn in for 197th District seat as investigation, lawsuit loom|first=Chris|last=Brennan|website=philly.com}}</ref> | term_end = January 2, 2019 | predecessor = Leslie Acosta | successor = Danilo Burgos | birth_date = | birth_place = Brooklyn, New York | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | alma_mater = | occupation = | spouse = | children = | website = }}
'''Emilio Vazquez''' (active 2017–present) is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives who represented the 197th House district in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
==Political career== Vazquez was elected as a write-in candidate in a March 2017 special election to replace Leslie Acosta in Pennsylvania's 197th district. Acosta had resigned in January 2017 following her guilty plea to a fraud charge (the second recent state representative of the 197th district to do so), while the original Democratic candidate to succeed her was kicked off the ballot for not actually residing in the 197th district.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://spiritnews.org/articles/as-the-197th-turns-decision-day-draws-near-for-special-election-chock-full-of-residency-hearings-felonies-write-in-candidates-threats-vandalism-and-pa-supreme-court-rulings/ |title=As the 197th Turns: Decision Day Draws Near For Special Election Chock Full of Residency Hearings, Felonies, Write-In Candidates, Threats, Vandalism and PA Supreme Court Rulings – |publisher=Spirit News |date=2017-03-15 |accessdate=2019-04-09}}</ref> While Vazquez was sworn into office, this election is currently under investigation by the Philadelphia Attorney General's Office and Pennsylvania Attorney General.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phillymag.com/news/2017/03/30/197th-district-special-election-investigation/ |title=Welcome | Philadelphia Magazine |publisher=Phillymag.com |date=2017-03-30 |accessdate=2019-04-09}}</ref> Vazquez is also currently a defendant in a federal lawsuit regarding instances of widespread voter intimidation and election fraud for the election of which he was declared the winner. There is a possibility that the federal court could declare the election null and void and order an entirely new election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phillyvoice.com/honkala-will-seek-void-197th-election-alleging-massive-fraud-and-misconduct/ |title=Honkala will sue to void 197th election, alleging 'massive fraud and misconduct' |publisher=PhillyVoice |date=2017-03-23 |accessdate=2019-04-09}}</ref> Vazquez is a Democratic ward leader and Philadelphia Parking Authority employee.<ref>{{cite web|author=Brian Hickey |url=http://www.phillyvoice.com/honkala-197th-election-drama-its-all-inside-job/ |title=Honkala on 197th election drama: 'It's all an inside job' |publisher=PhillyVoice |date= 24 March 2017|accessdate=2017-03-25}}</ref>
In the 2018 Democratic primary for his seat, Vazquez placed third, losing to former City Council aide Danilo Burgos. Burgos is the current Representative for Pennsylvania's 197th district.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?id=1863|title = Representative Danilo Burgos}}</ref>
==Election results== {{Election box begin no change|title=Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 197 special election, 2017}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Emilio Vazquez (write-in)|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=1,972|percentage=73.20}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Cheri Honkala (write-in)|party=Green Party (United States)|votes=286|percentage=10.62}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Lucinda Little|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=201|percentage=7.46}} {{Election box write-in with party link no change|party=|candidate=''scattered write-ins''|votes=235|percentage=8.72}} {{Election box total no change|votes={{sum|1972|286|235|201}}|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box hold with party link no change|winner=Democratic Party (United States)}} {{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title=Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 197, Democratic Primary Election, 2018 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Danilo Burgos | votes = 1,296 | percentage = 37.17 | change = ''n/a'' }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Frederick Ramirez | votes = 1,199 | percentage = 34.38 | change = ''n/a'' }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | party = Democratic Party (United States) | candidate = Emilio Vazquez | votes = 992 | percentage = 28.45 | change = ''n/a'' }} {{Election box total no change |votes={{sum|1296|1199|992}} |percentage=100.00 }} {{Election box end}}
== References == {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://ballotpedia.org/Emilio_Vazquez Ballotpedia]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vazquez, Emilio}} Category:Hispanic and Latino American people in Pennsylvania politics Category:Hispanic and Latino American state legislators in Pennsylvania Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Democratic Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly