{{short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Frank LaGrotta | image = Frank LaGrotta photo-edit 1.jpg | image_size = 175px | caption = | state_house = Pennsylvania | district = 10th | term_start = January 6, 1987<ref>{{cite web |title = SESSION OF 1987 - 171ST OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - No. 1|work = Legislative Journal| publisher = Pennsylvania House of Representatives |date = 1987-01-06|url = http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/HJ/1987/0/19870106.pdf}}</ref> | term_end = November 30, 2006<ref>Per Article II, Section 2 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, the legislative session ended on November 30, 2006.</ref> | predecessor = Ralph Pratt | successor = Jaret Gibbons | party = Democratic | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|11|25|mf=y}} | birth_place = Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | education = University of Notre Dame (BA, MA)<br>University of Pittsburgh | profession = Journalist | spouse = | website = }}
'''Frank LaGrotta''' (November 25, 1958) is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 10th District from 1987 to 2006.
==Personal life== LaGrotta was born in Ellwood City.<ref name=votesmart>[http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=BS028248 Biography] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060213010157/http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=BS028248 |date=February 13, 2006 }} at Project Vote Smart</ref> He is an alumnus of Riverside High School.<ref name=family>{{cite news | last = Walter | first = Kori | title = All in the Family | publisher = Beaver County Times | date = 2007-11-14 | url = http://timesonline.com/articles/2007/11/15/news/top_stories/doc473bb47eeb1b2384764719.prt }}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> He graduated from the University of Notre Dame, having received a Bachelor of Arts in 1980 and a Master of Arts in 1981.<ref name=votesmart /> He is the grandson of immigrants.<ref name=Casey> {{cite news | last = Roddy | first = Dennis | title = LaGrotta rose fast as Casey Democrat | publisher = Pittsburgh Post Gazette | date = 2007-11-15 | url = http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07319/834109-85.stm }}</ref>
After graduation, LaGrotta worked as a sports journalist with Gannett News Service from 1981 to 1983. LaGrotta returned home to work as office manager for Ralph Pratt, who was then the representative for the 10th district.<ref name=Casey /> He also served as Legislative Director of the Beaver County Legislative Delegation from 1983 to 1986.<ref name=votesmart />
==Political career== Upon Pratt's election as a judge, LaGrotta ran for his boss's seat. In 1986 he defeated Republican Jim Gerlach, who later became a U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district.<ref name=Casey /> LaGrotta was considered a Casey Democrat because of his pro-life stance and his strong ties to organized labor.<ref name=Casey />
He won re-election nine times, largely with token Republican opposition. He faced one serious challenge in the GOP landslide year of 1994 winning with only 53% of the vote. After the 1994 scare, LaGrotta ran unopposed in four of his last five races.<ref>{{cite news | title = Frank LaGrotta Candidate Detail | publisher = OurCampaigns.com | url = http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=34950 | accessdate = 2008-01-09 }}</ref>
In 1992, LaGrotta ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district against incumbent Democrat Joseph P. Kolter who was implicated in the Congressional Post Office scandal. He finished fourth in a four-way primary that also included Ron Klink, the victor, and fellow state Representative Mike Veon.<ref>{{cite news | title =1992 General Primary | work = Sourced from 1994 Almanac of American Politics | publisher = OurCampaigns.com | url = http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=210023 | accessdate = 2008-01-09 }}</ref>
During his tenure, LaGrotta established himself as a strong advocate for his district, securing funds for 11 bridges in Ellwood City, leading opposition to a hazardous waste facility in his district, and lobbying for public works projects.<ref name=Casey />
===2006 primary election=== LaGrotta ran for re-election for an eleventh term, but was defeated in the primary for the 2006 election by political newcomer Jaret Gibbons. The margin of defeat was 28 votes.<ref>{{cite news | title =2006 General Primary | publisher = Pennsylvania Department of State | date = 2006-05-16 | url = http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=15&ElectionID=20&OfficeID=13&DistrictID=81 }}</ref><ref name=Out>{{cite news | title =State House races: Pistella, LaGrotta, Stevenson out; Veon wins | publisher = Pittsburgh Post Gazette | date = 2006-05-17 | url = http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06137/690792-179.stm }}</ref>
The election focused on LaGrotta's support for the controversial 2005 legislative pay raise.<ref name=Lessons>{{cite news | title = Lessons unlearned | publisher = Bucks County Courier Times | date = 2007-11-18 | url = http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/321-11182007-1442955.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20071019053352/http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/321-11182007-1442955.html | archive-date = 2007-10-19 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
Following the election, LaGrotta was appointed to fill a vacant seat on the Lawrence County Housing Authority in December 2006. He resigned this position in October 2007.<ref name=family />
==Conflict of interest legal proceedings== {{main|2006 Pennsylvania General Assembly bonus controversy}}
On November 14, 2007, LaGrotta was arraigned in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on two corruption-related felony charges, following the Attorney General's investigation into the 2006 bonus controversy. According to State Attorney General Tom Corbett, LaGrotta allegedly used his position to have his sister and niece paid over $26,000 from state funds.<ref>Barnes, Tom. [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07320/834386-85.stm LaGrotta knew nothing about hefty bonuses, lawyer says], ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'', 2007-11-16. Accessed 2007-11-27.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-11142007-1441033.html |title=Ex-lawmaker faces charges as corruption probes roil Pa. House (phillyBurbs.com) |work=Pennsylvania News |accessdate=2008-01-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080203225217/http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/103-11142007-1441033.html |archive-date=2008-02-03 }}</ref> On December 20, he pleaded not guilty to the charges.<ref>{{cite news | title=Bonus storm distracts state Democrats| date=2007-12-23 | publisher=pennlive.com | url =http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2007/12/bonus_storm_consumes_state_dem.html | accessdate = 2008-01-10 }}</ref> On February 3, 2008, LaGrotta pleaded guilty to two felony<ref>[http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/02/05/uss_cole_families_want_suit_reopened/ Ex-official pleads guilty in job scam], Associated Press via the ''Boston Globe'', 2008-02-05. Accessed 2008-02-20.</ref> counts of conflict of interest for having ghost workers on his payroll. He was sentenced to six months of house arrest, along with probation and fines.<ref>[http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2008/02/former_state_lawmaker_pleads_g.html Ex-legislator sentenced for no-show workers - Midstate PA Local News, Weather, Sports & Entertainment - PennLive.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20080204_A_former_state_rep__pleads_guilty_over_no_show_jobs_.html A former state rep. pleads guilty over no show jobs. | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/04/2008<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08035/854668-100.stm | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | title=Ex-Rep. LaGrotta pleads guilty in ghost employee case | first=Tracie | last=Mauriello | date=2008-02-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/breaking/s_550733.html |title=LaGrotta pleads guilty |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review }}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He will continue to receive his full pension of $48,000 per year, since conflict of interest convictions do not fall under the Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System's list of 23 crimes that require pension forfeiture.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08058/860900-100.stm | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | title=Despite guilty plea, ex-Rep. LaGrotta to get full pension | first=Tracie | last=Mauriello | date=2008-02-27}}</ref> After his guilty plea, he stopped repaying the unvouchered expenses from the 2005 legislative payraise and was refunded the amount that he had previously returned.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08060/861390-85.stm | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | title=After returning raise, LaGrotta took it back | first1=Tracie | last1=Mauriello | first2=Dennis B. | last2=Roddy | date=2008-02-29}}</ref>
== Prescription altering guilty plea== On April 7, 2011, LaGrotta pleaded guilty to altering prescriptions he had submitted to three different pharmacies, in two Pennsylvania counties, to obtain more of the anti-anxiety medication Xanax.<ref name=Convicted>[http://www.postgazette.com/pg/11098/1137928-100.stm ''Former Rep. LaGrotta admits altering prescriptions''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411064129/http://postgazette.com/pg/11098/1137928-100.stm |date=2011-04-11 }}, AP report published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 8 April 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2011.</ref> His plea included admissions of guilt in fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and forgery (for changing the date of prescriptions from March to May 2010, changing daily dosing instructions from two to three per day, and changing the number of pills prescribed from 120 to 180.)<ref name=Convicted /> His sentencing (which could include incarceration) was docketed for June 7, 2011.<ref name=Convicted />
==Post-legislative career== In spite of his legal troubles, LaGrotta received $30,000 per year in his legislative pension.<ref name=micek>{{cite news | last = Micek| first = John| author-link = John L. Micek| title = A Chat With Frank LaGrotta.| newspaper = The Morning Call| date =August 3, 2009| url = http://blogs.mcall.com/capitol_ideas/2009/08/a-chat-with-frank-lagrotta.html}}</ref> He is writing a book about his experiences and has launched a blog ''Politics As (Not) Usual,'' where he gives his unique perspective on political issues.<ref name=micek /> The book, which cannot be published until his probation ends, is tentatively titled ''Be Careful, I'm Wired.''<ref>{{cite news| last = Mel| first = MaryAlice| title = Sharing Thoughts: Frank LaGrotta joins bloggers with focus on politics| newspaper = New Castle News| publisher = Community Newspaper Holdings| date = July 31, 2009| url = http://www.ncnewsonline.com/today/local_story_212095442.html| archive-date = September 4, 2012| access-date = October 18, 2009| archive-url = https://archive.today/20120904025959/http://www.ncnewsonline.com/today/local_story_212095442.html| url-status = dead}}</ref> He is also teaching a class on politics and government at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio.<ref name=micek /> In an interview with journalist John Micek of ''The Morning Call,'' LaGrotta said that following his house arrest, he was returning to Catholicism and contemplating his legislative career.<ref name=micek />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://lagrottablog.blogspot.com LaGrotta's blog] *{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929005311/http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?districtnumber=10 |date=September 29, 2006 |title=Pennsylvania House of Representatives - Frank LaGrotta }} Official PA House website
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-pa-hs}} {{succession box|title= Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 10th District|before=Ralph D. Pratt|after=Jaret Gibbons|years=1987 – 2006}} {{s-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lagrotta, Frank}} Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:People from Ellwood City, Pennsylvania Category:American people of Italian descent Category:American male journalists Category:Democratic Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Category:University of Notre Dame alumni Category:American bloggers Category:Pennsylvania politicians convicted of crimes Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers Category:Catholics from Pennsylvania Category:American male bloggers Category:20th-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly