Mario J. Civera Jr.,

Mario J. Civera Jr., a public servant with 41 years experience in various levels of government, was elected to Delaware County Council in 2009 and began his four-year term on County Council in January 2010. Councilman Civera was born and raised in Delaware County. He attended school in his hometown at Upper Darby High School, graduating in 1965. Mario served with distinction in the U.S. Air Force. From 1971 to present Mario has been a self-employed businessman. This experience proved invaluable in his legislative career in dealing with the challenges facing the business community. His dedication to public service began in 1974 when he was appointed to the Upper Darby Board of Commissioners. Then, in a special election held in April 1980, Mario was elected to the state House of Representatives in the 164th Legislative District. In February 1992, Mario relinquished his position with the Upper Darby Township Council to concentrate his attention on the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. As an example of Mario’s ability to take real life experiences and apply them to good public policy; while serving on Upper Darby Township Council, he served as chairman of the Public Safety Committee. Public safety has always been a top priority for Mario. He wrote legislation, enacted in 1998, which dramatically improved emergency telephone service for all Pennsylvanians. Act 17 gives the state greater oversight of county 911 plans and requires dispatchers and operators to receive adequate training. In addition, Mario was one of the forces behind organizing the General Assembly’s Pennsylvania Firefighters' and Emergency Services Legislative Caucus in 1991; where he served as President until 1998 and then became President Emeritus. In June 2001, Mario was appointed by the Speaker of the House to serve as Chairman of the House Select Committee on Public Education Funding. The 15-member bipartisan committee held hearings throughout the state with the goal of developing policy initiatives leading to reducing the public school system’s reliance on real property taxes as the primary source of local education funding. Mario has received much acclaim in his district, including the Upper Darby YMCA Spirit, Mind and Body Award; Man of the Year Award, and the Man of the Year Award from the local Benvenuto Sons of Italy Chapter. He was nominated and received the national Sons of Italy Purple Aster Ball Award in 2003. In addition, Mario is recognized in the Capitol as a prominent member of the Italian-American Caucus. As a result of his leadership and dedication to the people whom he serves, Mario was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Public Service from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in 2007. In November 2006, Mario was elected by the House Republican Caucus to serve as the Republican Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, a position he held until January 2010. In this leadership role, he was responsible for helping craft Pennsylvania’s annual $27 Billion state budget. This seat is considered among the most influential in all of state government. Mario was first elected to a leadership position in 2003 as the Caucus Secretary. Prior to his elevation to a position with the House Republican Leadership Team, Mario served as the Majority Chairman of the House Professional Licensure Committee for nine years. Mario resides in Drexel Hill with his wife, Donna. He has one son, Mario J. Civera III, who is married and resides in Delaware County.