The Biography Miniseries: Frank J. O'Hannon
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  The Biography Miniseries: Frank J. O'Hannon
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Author Topic: The Biography Miniseries: Frank J. O'Hannon  (Read 1614 times)
Progressive
jro660
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« on: August 01, 2010, 02:01:28 PM »

I have decided to do a "miniseries biography" and create biographies on each of the  people I created. Suspend your disbelief as these people will take up the positions of real people. I.e. The 43rd President of the United States was actually George W. Bush and not Joshua Klaber. The first politician to be written about will be Pennsylvania Governor Frank J. O'Hannon (D). This biography will be completed after a series of several posts.

The Beginning

Franklin James O'Hannon was born on May 3, 1959 to Melinda Corrigan and Raymond O'Hannon. The O'Hannon family home was located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Melinda was a day-manager at the Top-Hat Diner just outside of Amish country, and Raymond was an auto-mechanic at a local repair shop, after serving for twelve years in the United States Armed Forces.

Frank attended local public schools until college. His teachers often described him as class-clownesque, a young man who was more interested in scoring girls than scoring good grades in school. When Frank was 17, his father died of a massive coronary attack, leaving the O'Hannon household with just one source of modest income. Frank graduated high school, and instead of going to college, he took a job at the mailroom of the Lancaster City Hall to support his three other siblings and his mother.

After his work ended in the afternoons, Frank attended classes at the local Franklin and Marshall College, where he chose to study public policy, politics, and government, after being inspired by his work at the City Hall. He managed to earn a BA in Political Science in three years, and was eventually promoted in the Lancaster City Hall to the Director of Community Outreach where he served well for some years.

One day, in 1988, the head of the state Democratic Party asked him a question....

"Mr. O'Hannon, as you know, Congressman William Fritz is the incumbent Republican, and we think he's doing an awful job. As you know there's a presidential election coming up, and it looks like Democrats are gonna' take over 'cause everyones sick and tired of President Hurley. What do you say, you wanna' give it a shot to run"

That question changed O'Hannon's life forever...
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Vazdul (Formerly Chairman of the Communist Party of Ontario)
Vazdul
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« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2010, 10:10:47 AM »

A Democrat representing Lancaster, Pennsylvania? Now I really have to suspend my disbelief!
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Progressive
jro660
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« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2010, 10:30:54 AM »

Congressional Race of 1988

O'Hannon fought hard against incumbent William Fritz, a Republican. The duo debated on three occasions, and local newspapers credited O'Hannon for good speaking skills and policy ideas. Nevertheless, Fritz continued to outraise O'Hannon and outnumber the challenger in terms of supporters.

The Democratic challenger received endorsements from local Democratic clubs and elected officials, as well as a small Lancaster-based newspaper, The Lancaster Daily Post. Eventually, O'Hannon raised enough money to conduct a poll of the district. 59% were committed to voting for Fritz, while 35% promised to vote for O'Hannon. Despite this disappointing poll, O'Hannon was defiant and carried on his campaign with full vigor.

Election Results:
William Fritz* (R)        57%
Frank J O'Hannon (D)  43%

Down, but not out, O'Hannon moved to Philadelphia where he took a job as chief of staff to the City Council President.


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Progressive
jro660
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« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2010, 04:53:43 PM »
« Edited: August 02, 2010, 05:01:20 PM by Progressive »

After four good years at the City Council of Philadelphia, Frank J. O'Hannon decided to throw his hat in the race for Congress in Pennsylvania's 1st District. Despite being a Philly newcomer, O'Hannon wins the Democratic nod, going against preacher and African American activist Janice Newcomb (Green) and firefighter Paul Liotti (Republican).

Despite a strong endorsement by the Democratic Party and most major newspapers, O'Hannon struggled to united the Democrats behind his campaign. One voter, a resident of a Philadelphia housing project, called O'Hannon a "country-style carpetbagger at best" and a "complete Philly outsider at worst." Liberals also questioned O'Hannon's staunch fiscal conservatism, though O'Hannon was quite progressive on social issues as well as foreign policy.

A debate took place at a local community center. O'Hannon was nervous, and at one point resulted to screaming at the Republican candidate, calling him "ignorant" and a "foolish candidate."

Despite the shouting match, insiders suggested that O'Hannon was the overall favorite for this district race, especially as he began to curry favor with minorities and liberals throughout Philly.

Shockingly, a few weeks before the race, O'Hannon was caught with a dimebag of marijuana in his car on his way back home. This made news even on CNN and other cities' news outlets. Republican candidate Paul Liotti sent mailers stating, "There are too many things to get hooked on in Washington DC...Fame, Power, Money...and for Democrat Frank J. O'Hannon, a different kind of green..."

1992 Congressional Election: PA-1
Frank J. O'Hannon (D) 54%
Paul Liotti (R)              36%
Janice Newcomb (G)    10%

Despite negative press, O'Hannon wins the seat handily, by 18 points. With a rocky past as his motivation, O'Hannon pledges to have a stellar term in Congress.
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Kalwejt
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« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2010, 05:08:10 PM »
« Edited: August 02, 2010, 07:33:44 PM by Kalwejt »

Very good, Progressive. Don't be discouraged with an initial lack of interest. I'm also writing smilliar thread and nobody cares, but that's still a lot of fun Smiley

I expect from you to continue this, or I'll kill you Smiley

(please, don't give me infraction point for this death thread, Bacon King)
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Yelnoc
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« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2010, 09:11:03 PM »

Nice start, I'll be reading this.
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sentinel
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« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2010, 09:19:57 PM »

Very good, Progressive. Don't be discouraged with an initial lack of interest. I'm also writing smilliar thread and nobody cares, but that's still a lot of fun Smiley

I expect from you to continue this, or I'll kill you Smiley

(please, don't give me infraction point for this death thread, Bacon King)

I'm reading it, just haven't replied til now Smiley
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Progressive
jro660
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« Reply #7 on: August 02, 2010, 10:42:20 PM »

Early Years in Congress

Frank J. O'Hannon, United State Congressman, established himself as an advocate of the people. He often plead before Congress to extend the middle-class tax-cuts put into place by current Democratic President Richard Allen. In 1994, O'Hannon, who served as Chairmen of the subcommittee of Health, Labor, and Education in the House called for universal health care coverage, and in 1996, the American Health Care Accessibility and Quality Enhancement Act was passed.

Despite his many accomplishments, O'Hannon had his shortcomings. He tried desperately but failed at passing the American Small Town Preservation and Revival Act which aimed at preserving and reviving small towns, similar to the one he grew up in. This failure was said to have taken a personal toll on O'Hannon. An aide to the Congressman said that O'Hannon took the bill's failure as a personal attack on his upbringing and family values.

In 1997, just a year before his wedding, O'Hannon's mother passed away from breast cancer. In 1998, O'Hannon married the love of his life, Debra Pinto, a Puerto Rican native who taught at a charter school in DC.

O'Hannon's marriage to Pinto gave him new found spirit and hope as well as the courage to run for an open US Senate seat in the year 2000...
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Progressive
jro660
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« Reply #8 on: August 03, 2010, 11:41:22 AM »
« Edited: August 03, 2010, 11:43:34 AM by Progressive »

The 2000 Senate Race

Congressman Frank J. O'Hannon declared his candidacy in early 1999. For months he worked hard and eventually cleared the hurdle of the Democratic nod, defeating a western PA congressman, and two state senators. Democratic party leaders were wary of O'Hannon's victory, as the Philly Congressman comes with baggage and some personal issues as well.

Over the course of the campaign, O'Hannon's Republican opponent, Attorney General Dara Foster, is popular statewide and was a one-term mayor of Pittsburgh. Foster is known for her vigorous campaign styles and her ability to "tear apart" her opponent's record and personal life- something that could be dangerous to a candidate like O'Hannon.

The debates were well-watched by PA voters, and Foster tore apart the marijuana incident, O'Hannon's demeanor on the floor, and other instances of "bad judgment." O'Hannon responded with, "unlike the Attorney General, I have some class, and I refuse to delve into her personal life. Besides, compared to mine, hers' is likely quite boring." The crowd erupted with laughter and applause, Foster seemed embarrassed. A poll taken after the debate showed Foster barely edging O'Hannon 47%-46%.

Some of the main issues discussed in the 2000 were immigration, the economy, national security, and energy policy. Although O'Hannon is the only candidate who dealt with these issues on a national level, Foster seemed to better mold these issues into talking points that helped her campaign. She claimed that O'Hannon was a big-spender, and often voted on legislation that he knew the nation couldn't afford. This hurt O'Hannon near his hometown in central PA, where fiscal conservatism is a key tenet of political ideology. O'Hannon hit backby calling Foster a "far-right zealot." It was no use, however. The year was 2000, and President Richard Allen (D-OR) was term-limited. The Democratic choices are Gov. Anne Quinn (MA)/Sen. Tom Reid (IA) and the Republican choices are Gov. Kevin Brand (NC)/Gov. Nancy Williams (MT). So far, in each and every poll conducted, the Republicans have edged the Democratic candidates. This was not a good year to be the Democratic underdog.

2000 US Senate Election-PA
Dara Foster (R)                        51%
Frank J. O'Hannon (D)             48%

O'Hannon was defeated in the race of a lifetime. Now he will return to the House, but some more problems will await him in the near future...




Senator-elect Dara Foster (R-PA)

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Kalwejt
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« Reply #9 on: August 03, 2010, 11:42:57 AM »

One question: How can O'Hannon "return to the House" if House seats are up for reelection each 2 years? Thus, in order to run, he had to retire from House.
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Progressive
jro660
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« Reply #10 on: August 03, 2010, 11:44:14 AM »

One question: How can O'Hannon "return to the House" if House seats are up for reelection each 2 years? Thus, in order to run, he had to retire from House.

An aide of his ran in 2000 and O'Hannon ran and comfortably won again in '02 sorry for the confusion
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Kalwejt
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« Reply #11 on: August 03, 2010, 11:48:45 AM »

One question: How can O'Hannon "return to the House" if House seats are up for reelection each 2 years? Thus, in order to run, he had to retire from House.

An aide of his ran in 2000 and O'Hannon ran and comfortably won again in '02 sorry for the confusion

Ah, LeMieux move Smiley
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Progressive
jro660
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« Reply #12 on: August 04, 2010, 03:41:21 PM »

Latter Years in the House

After O'Hannon's re-election to the House in '02, he and his wife began having marital issues. His wife began to consume alcohol in heavy amounts, and O'Hannon was rarely home and was unable to help Debra cope with this issue. Eventually, Debra met a new man from the DC suburbs in VA, and moved in with him. This sudden separation put O'Hannon in a whirlwind. He was in the middle of a back-breaking legislative session, and now his wife was leaving. Six months later, Pinto's body was found in the Potomac River, and at first O'Hannon was considered a suspect and was even taken in for questioning. Eventually, DC police released and issued a public apology to O'Hannon. Despite this clearing, O'Hannon was forever associated with this new turn of events.

In 2004, O'Hannon and a group of other House members were credited for groundbreaking campaign finance legislation. O'Hannon was pleased, and his reputation was restored. A University of Pennsylvania poll showed that O'Hannon was voted Pennsylvania's "best policymaker," with 59% supporting his policies. Only 54% supported the policies of Senator Dara Foster (R-PA) who narrowly defeated O'Hannon in the 2000 senate election.

In 2005, O'Hannon announced that he would challenge the embattled incumbent governor of Pennsylvania, Don Lisko, a Republican. Polls showed O'Hannon with wide leads, and he received very little in terms of challenges from other Democrats. Could Harrisburg be O'Hannon's  new calling?...
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