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Joe Vignola

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Joe Vignola
Member of the Philadelphia City Council from the 1st District
In office
January 6, 1992 – April 1, 1995
Preceded byJames Tayoun
Succeeded byFrank DiCicco
Philadelphia City Controller
In office
January 2, 1984 – December 15, 1987
Preceded byThomas Leonard[a]
Succeeded byJonathan Saidel[b]
Personal details
Born (1949-08-11) August 11, 1949 (age 75)
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materThe University of Pennsylvania
Temple University
Harvard University
ProfessionPolitician
Investment Advisor
a.^ John Smithyman had served as Acting Controller from the time of Leonard's resignation, until Vignola was elected to the office.[1]
a.^ John Smithyman was again appointed Acting Controller following Vignola's resignation, and served until Saidel was elected.

Joseph C. Vignola, Sr. (born August 11, 1949) is an American Democratic politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Political career

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City Controller

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In November 1982, Philadelphia City Controller Thomas Leonard resigned his post and announced his intention to run for Mayor[2] (he would ultimately lose the Democratic nomination to Wilson Goode). Vignola ran to succeed him, and was elected in November 1983.

Senate candidacy

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Vignola resigned the office of City Controller in December 1987, and subsequently announced his intention to challenge incumbent Republican Senator John Heinz in the 1988 election.[3] Heinz, who was seeking his third term in the Senate, had amassed considerable political clout, having most recently served as Chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Vignola's candidacy struggled to gain traction, and he was ultimately defeated by over 30 percentage points, or roughly 1.5 million votes, while only carrying one county across the state–Philadelphia.[4]

City Council tenure and return to private life

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In 1991, Vignola announced his intention to challenge incumbent Democratic Councilman James Tayoun for his First District on the Philadelphia City Council. Tayoun eventually announced his intention to retire rather than seek re-election amid a federal investigation into alleged tax fraud. His candidacy was supported by his cousin, Democratic power broker and former State Senator Buddy Cianfrani,[5] and Vignola eventually scored a narrow victory former Republican State Representative Connie McHugh in the fall general election.[6]

Vignola resigned his council seat in 1995, after Mayor Ed Rendell appointed him executive director of the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA).[7]

He served in a variety of appointed positions during Rendell's gubernatorial tenure, and has subsequently returned to private business.

Personal life

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References

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  1. ^ "City Finance Director Picked to Replace Goode". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 25, 1982. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  2. ^ "Leonard Takes The Plunge In A High-Stakes Race". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 10, 1982. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  3. ^ Infield, Tom (December 16, 1987). "Vignola Steps Down From Controller's Chair". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  4. ^ "PA US Senate". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  5. ^ "Party Backs Vignola Bid For Council". The Philadelphia Inquirer. April 26, 1991. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  6. ^ "Philadelphia City Council 01". Our Campaigns. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  7. ^ "Councilman To Be Chief Of PICA". The Philadelphia Inquirer. February 18, 1995. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
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Philadelphia City Council
Preceded by Member of the Philadelphia City Council for the 1st District
1992–1995
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
Thomas Leonard1
Philadelphia City Controller
1984–1987
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania
(Class 1)

1988
Succeeded by
Notes and references
1. Immediately preceded as Acting Controller by John Smithyman
2. Immediately succeeded as Acting Controller by John Smithyman