LeAnna M. Washington | |
|---|---|
| Member of thePennsylvania Senate from the4th district | |
| In office June 14, 2005[1] – January 6, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Allyson Schwartz |
| Succeeded by | Arthur L. Haywood III |
| Constituency | Part ofMontgomery andPhiladelphia Counties |
| Member of thePennsylvania House of Representatives from the200th district | |
| In office November 22, 1993[2] – June 14, 2005[3] | |
| Preceded by | Gordon Linton |
| Succeeded by | Cherelle Parker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1945-07-28)July 28, 1945 (age 80) Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Divorced |
| Children | 3 children |
| Residence(s) | Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Lincoln University |
LeAnna M. Washington (born July 28, 1945) is an American politician fromPennsylvania who served as aDemocratic member of thePennsylvania State Senate for the4th district from 2005 to 2014. She served as a member of thePennsylvania House of Representatives, District 200 from 1993 to 2005. She resigned in 2014 after being charged with a felony for using campaign staff and state resources to plan her birthday party fundraiser.
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Washington was born inPhiladelphia. She graduated fromWest Philadelphia High School and received aMaster of Health Science degree fromLincoln University in 1989.[4][5]
Washington was ahigh school dropout,teen parent, and victim ofdomestic violence early in her marriage.[6][7]
She worked as District Office Manager for former Pennsylvania State SenatorJoseph Rocks and as manager of thePhiladelphia Parking Authority Employee Assistance Program.[7][5]
She was elected to thePennsylvania House of Representatives, District 200 in a special election on November 2, 1993, following the resignation ofGordon J. Linton.[8][9]
She was elected to represent the4th senatorial district in thePennsylvania Senate in aspecial election held on May 17, 2005.[10]
On March 12, 2014, the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office announced felony charges of diversion of services and conflict of interest against Washington.[11] The charges included usage of staff members and state equipment to plan her birthday party fundraiser.[6]
In October 2014, Washington agreed to leave office early (she had already lost the primary) in exchange for being permitted to retain her retirement benefits. These benefits include lifetime health insurance and a state pension. She agreed to serve three months house arrest, five years of probation, and restitution of $200,000 to the Senate.[12][13]
She was a high school dropout, teen parent, and victim of domestic violence early in her marriage. Her tenacity, perseverance and faith in God allowed her to transform victimhood to victory.