Biography
Elected in 2006, Eugene DePasquale is a proven advocate for job creation, government reform, consumer rights, and clean energy.
After taking office, Eugene became the first Pennsylvania state legislator to post his expenses online. In December of 2008, Eugene returned a total of $22,185.44 in unused office expenses to the state Treasury. Eugene also became one of the first lawmakers to announce he was giving back the annual cost of living adjustment.
On July 7, 2008, Governor Ed Rendell signed Eugene’s energy bill, the Alternative Energy Investment Act. It provides bond funding to help alternative energy companies open manufacturing facilities and also to help businesses and individuals convert to alternative energy.
Eugene is also one of the lead proponents in the Pennsylvania State House to ban text messaging while driving and to remove recalled toys from the shelves of stores.
Eugene lives in West Manchester Township with his wife Tracey and their two children, Ben and Sarah. He is a member of Christ Lutheran Church in downtown York.
Eugene grew up in Pittsburgh, graduating from Central Catholic High School, where he was member for the first Quad A State Football Championship team in 1988. Eugene played football and baseball at the College of Wooster before earning an M.P.A. from the University of Pittsburgh and a law degree from Widener University School of Law.
From 2003 to 2006, Eugene was the deputy secretary for community revitalization and local government support for the Department of Environmental Protection. In this role, he launched the Brownfield Action Team, streamlining the process for cleaning up brownfields and leading to the creation or retention of 45,000 jobs in 20 counties. Eugene also helped bring the world’s second largest wind energy company to Pennsylvania, which helped create 1,000 jobs.