Tarah Toohil Explained

Tarah Toohil
State House2:Pennsylvania
District2:116th
Term Start2:[1]
Predecessor2:Todd Eachus
Successor2:Robert Schnee
Birth Date:1 October 1979
Birth Place:Drums, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Party:Republican
Education:Northeastern University (BA)
Pennsylvania State University (JD)
Residence:Drums, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Tarah C. Toohil (born October 1, 1979) is an American attorney and politician who served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2011 to 2021. She is currently a judge on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas.

Early life and education

Toohil was born on October 1, 1979, in Drums, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Hazleton Area High School in 1998. She majored in political science and sociology at Northeastern University, graduating in 2003. Toohil earned a Juris Doctor from Penn State Dickinson Law in 2008.[2] [3]

Career

In 2010, Toohil was elected to represent the 116th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She defeated then-House Majority Leader Todd Eachus to gain the seat. During the 2019-2020 legislative session, Toohil served as a member of the House Children and Youth (vice chair), Government Oversight, Human Services, Judiciary, Professional Licensure and Rules committees.[3]

In 2021, legislation Toohil sponsored was enacted that prohibits life and health insurance companies from discriminating against living organ donors in Pennsylvania.[4]

Toohil is a co-founder of "Brandon's Forever Home," a Pennsylvania charity that assists foster children.[5]

Toohil is against legalizing adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania, citing concerns for a potential negative impact on children.[6]

In 2021, Toohil ran for the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas. She was successful, and effectively resigned from the House of Representatives on December 31, 2022.[7] [8] She was sworn in as a judge on January 3, 2022.[9]

Personal life

In 2012, an anonymous person posted videos allegedly of Toohil at a party smoking marijuana as blackmail against her anti-marijuana legalization stance. Pennsylvania State Police launched an investigation into the matter.[10]

Toohil formerly dated Delaware County Republican representative Nicholas Miccarelli III. In 2018, Toohil stated that Miccarelli made threats against her and sexually abused her during and after their relationship. She was granted a restraining order against Miccarelli in 2018.[11] [12] Miccarelli has been accused by other women of sexual harassment leading to the revocation of his security privileges at the state capitol and his retirement from the legislature in 2018.[13]

Electoral history

|-! style="background-color: #800080; width: 2px;" || style="width: 130px" | Democratic/Republican| | Stefanie Salavantis| align="right" | 42,571| align="right" | 40.79|-

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: SESSION OF 2011 195TH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY No. 1 . Legislative Journal . Pennsylvania House of Representatives . 13 July 2022 . 3 . January 4, 2011.
  2. Web site: TARAH C. TOOHIL - PA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES . Pennsylvania General Assembly . 13 July 2022.
  3. Web site: Representative Tarah Toohil. Pennsylvania General Assembly . en. https://web.archive.org/web/20200506082914/https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/House_bio.cfm?id=1223 . May 6, 2020.
  4. Web site: Bill Information - House Bill 203; Regular Session 2021-2022. 2021-05-05. The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.. English.
  5. News: Staff Reports. Brandon's Forever Home honored. en-US. 2017-05-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20181017203107/https://www.standardspeaker.com/news/brandon-s-forever-home-honored-1.2079197. 17 October 2018.
  6. Web site: Toohil Questions Timing of Wolf's Renewed Call for Legalizing Marijuana PA State Rep. Tarah Toohil . www.reptoohil.com . 27 August 2020.
  7. Web site: Learn-Andes. Jennifer. 2022-01-07. Schnee eyes Toohil's former state seat. 2022-01-07. Times Leader. en-US.
  8. Web site: SESSION OF 2022 206TH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY No. 1 . Pennsylvania House of Representatives . Legislative Journal . 13 July 2022 . 1 . January 4, 2022.
  9. Web site: Learn-Andes. Jennifer. 2021-12-29. Salavantis and Toohil to be sworn in as Luzerne County judges Wednesday. 2022-01-07. The Sunday Dispatch. en-US.
  10. News: Videos attacking lawmaker stir probe . . March 31, 2013 . Angela . Couloumbis . June 4, 2020.
  11. News: Pa. state rep gets protection order against another state rep, report says . March 9, 2018 . lehighvalleylive.com . Kurt . Bresswein . June 4, 2020.
  12. Knudsen, Paula and Bumsted, Brad. "Safe House?" Scranton, Pennsylvania: The Sunday Times, April 1, 2018, p. A9 (subscription required).
  13. News: Pa. House leaders: Rep. Miccarelli should resign over misconduct claims . Brad . Bumsted . Paula . Knudsen . Angela . Couloumbis . . June 4, 2020 . March 1, 2018.