Would quit state Senate if elected to Court of Common Pleas
State Sen. Dominic Pileggi
Sen. Dominic Pileggi, the former Senate Majority Leader, who represents the 9th Senate District which includes much of southern Chester County Chester Counties, announced Friday he plans to run for a vacancy on the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas.
Pileggi, the former mayor of Chester, has served in the Pennsylvania Senate for 12 years, including 8 years as Majority Leader.
“I’m proud of my accomplishments representing the residents of the 9th District, but as an attorney I’ve always had a strong interest in how our legal system is administered and a great respect for the Delaware County bench,” said Pileggi in a statement. “As a Senator, I take a very deliberative approach on public policy matters and would do the same as a judge, considering all sides of an issue to reach a fair result. My experience in the Senate will allow me to bring a new, fresh perspective to the bench and the citizens of Delaware County. I look forward to the opportunity to continue my public service as a member of the Court of Common Pleas.”
Pileggi said in his statement that if he wins in November, he would need to resign his position as State Senator prior to his swearing-in. That would touch off a special election in the 9th District — and a potential scramble for a seat that straddles Chester and Delaware counties.
During his tenure in the Senate, Pileggi championed efforts to improve openness and accountability in government by authoring an overhaul of the Open Records Law, strengthening the Sunshine Law, and creating an online database of state spending. Following judicial corruption scandals in Pennsylvania, Pileggi led the effort to abolish the Philadelphia Traffic Court and pass juvenile justice reforms following the “Kids for Cash” scandal in Luzerne County. He has also led the effort to modernize Pennsylvania’s DNA laws to enable investigators to better use the information to fight crime and exonerate innocent individuals.
As a Senator, Pileggi also fought to pass dozens of laws related to public safety. He spearheaded efforts to pass legislation to help combat gang violence, straw gun purchases, arson, and dangerous synthetic drugs; strengthen child protection laws; and make our roads safer by prohibiting texting while driving. He also sponsored a law to provide Good Samaritan immunity to individuals who seek help when a friend or companion overdoses on drugs and worked to pass a comprehensive bill to fight human trafficking in Pennsylvania.
Prior to his service in the State Senate, Pileggi served as Mayor of the City of Chester.
Pileggi earned his B.A. in Economics from Saint Joseph’s University. He went on to earn a J.D. from the Villanova School of Law in 1982 and has been an attorney for more than 32 years. A member of the Pennsylvania and Delaware County Bar Associations, he has been admitted to practice law before the Supreme Courts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. He is a partner at the law firm of Pileggi & Pileggi with an emphasis on real estate, estates, and business transactions.
Pileggi is a member of the George B. Lindsay Foundation and E. Wallace Chadwick Memorial Fund Committee. Pileggi previously served as an Assistant County Solicitor and as an appointee of the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas to the Board of View.
