Marla A. Gallo Brown[1] (born 1970) is an American politician who currently represents the 9th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2023. She is a member of the Republican Party.
Early life and education
Brown was born in 1970, the eldest of six siblings,[2] in Edinburg, Pennsylvania.[3] She is of Italian ancestry.[2] Brown graduated from Mohawk High School in 1988.[2][4] She earned Bachelor of Arts degree from Gannon University in 1992 and a Master of Science from Geneva College in 2000.[4]
Career
Brown worked for UPS for 15 years,[3] including working in London as the company's director of sales and marketing for the United Kingdom and Ireland.[3][5] She later ran a medical spa in Georgia for nine years.[3]
In 2022, Brown won a three-way Republican primary election to challenge incumbent Democratic Pennsylvania State Representative from the 9th District Chris Sainato.[6] She defeated Sainato in the general election.[7]
Political positions
Abortion
Brown opposes the right to an abortion. From 2015 to 2018, she was CEO of Pregnancy Aid Clinic,[6] an Atlanta-based Catholic anti-abortion organization.[6][8]
Criminal justice
Following a spate of local false school shooting reports in 2023,[9] Brown introduced a bill to elevate making a false emergency call to illicit a police response, otherwise known as swatting, from a misdemeanor offense to a felony.[10][11]
Brown supports decreasing the state parole board vote for clemency from unanimous approval to a simple majority.[12]
Election reform
In April 2023, Brown introduced a bill that would create open primary elections in Pennsylvania.[13][14] She has argued against closed primary elections, saying that they are unfair to independent votes who cannot participate in elections funded by their tax dollars. In an op-ed with State Representative Jared Solomon, Brown also argued primary election should be open because of the large number of veterans, young people, and minorities who are registered as independents.[15]
Brown has called monetary campaign fundraising a "necessary evil of the [election] process," which is nonetheless beneficial because it demonstrates whether a candidate is capable of successfully spreading their message.[16]
Legislative perks
During her 2022 campaign, Brown signed a pledge to refuse state per diems, state pension, or taxpayer-funded car. Brown also pledge to only serve eight years in the state legislature.[17]
Minimum wage
Brown voted against a bill to incrementally raise Pennsylvania's minimum to fifteen dollars an hour by 2026.[18]
Personal life
Brown lives in New Castle, Pennsylvania with her husband Greg Brown. She has three children.[4][19]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Marla Gallo Brown | 3,192 | 42.62 | |
| Republican | Nick Kerin | 2,896 | 38.66 | |
| Republican | Darryl Audia | 1,352 | 18.05 | |
| Write-in | Chris Sainato | 40 | 0.53 | |
| Write-in | Scattered | 10 | 0.13 | |
| Total votes | 7,490 | 100.00 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Marla Gallo Brown | 13,721 | 52.81 | |
| Democratic | Chris Sainato (incumbent) | 12,219 | 47.03 | |
| Write-in | 44 | 0.17 | ||
| Total votes | 25,984 | 100.00 | ||
References
- ^ "2022 General Election Tuesday, November 8, 2022 Official Returns LAWRENCE". electionreturns.pa.gov. Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
- ^ a b c "About Marla Brown". Marla Brown for PA. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d Vercilla, Nicholas (October 31, 2022). "Sainato, Brown set the record straight on mailer accusations". New Castle News. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ a b c "Representative Marla Brown". Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ^ "Local woman to seek state representative seat". New Castle News. February 19, 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ a b c Previti, Emily (October 3, 2022). "Pennsylvania State House 9th District: A guide to the 2022 general election and candidates". 90.5 WESA. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ^ Murphy, Jan (November 9, 2022). "Pa. Democrats claim they took control of the state House; GOP says not so fast". PennLIVE Patriot-News. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ^ "About Us". Pregnancy Aid Clinic. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ Coller, Patty (August 22, 2023). "New Castle High School threat prompts felony bill". WKBN-TV. Nexstar Media Inc. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ "Pennsylvania lawmaker wants tougher penalties for swatting calls targeting schools". WGAL-TV. Hearst Television Inc. August 23, 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ Valente, Mike (August 23, 2023). "With students heading back to classroom, Pennsylvania lawmaker talks anti-swatting b". WTAE-TV. Hearst Television Inc. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ Brown, Marla (August 25, 2023). "Column by Rep. Marla Brown: Legislator's responsibilities are to understand its constituents. That must include our prison population". New Castle News. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "HOUSE BILL No.976 Session of 2023". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ Stockburger, George (March 6, 2023). "Pennsylvania lawmaker introduces open primaries bill". abc27 WHTM. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ^ Solomon, Jared; Brown, Marla (July 11, 2023). "Opinion: A million reasons to open up primaries in Pennsylvania". City & State Pennsylvania. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ Huangpu, Kate (January 1, 2023). "The Pennsylvania legislature is getting a major infusion of new blood this January". 90.5 WESA. Spotlight PA. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ Vercilla, Nicholas (October 15, 2022). "District 9 preview: Brown wants to be an advocate for District 9". New Castle News. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ Scicchitano, Eric (June 27, 2023). "Eye on the Capitol: How Bernstine, Brown, Brooks, Vogel voted last week". New Castle News. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
- ^ "About Marla". PA State Rep. Marla Brown. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ^ "Summary Results Report 2022 PRIMARY May 17, 2022 OFFICIAL RESULTS Lawrence" (PDF). Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. June 7, 2022. p. 36. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ^ "Summary Results Report 2022 General November 8,2022 OFFICIAL RESULTS Lawrence" (PDF). Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. December 1, 2022. p. 4. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
