12 Facts About Frank Mascara

Frank Robert Mascara was an American Democratic politician from Pennsylvania who served four terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.

Frank Mascara next served as an elected official in Washington County, near Pittsburgh, for nearly 20 years.

Frank Mascara was elected county controller in 1973 and as County Commissioner in 1979.

Frank Mascara served on the Washington County Commission for 15 years, many of them as chairman.

In 1992, Frank Mascara launched a primary challenge to US Congressman Austin Murphy, a 16-year incumbent, in the 20th Congressional District, which comprised most of the southern suburbs of Pittsburgh.

When Murphy retired two years later, Frank Mascara handily won the Democratic primary to replace him.

However, the district reverted to form afterwards, and Frank Mascara was unopposed in 1998.

Frank Mascara opted to run against Murtha in the 12th's Democratic primary, since the redrawn 12th contained more of Frank Mascara's old territory than Murtha's.

In Congress, Frank Mascara was a moderate Democrat who opposed abortion and gun control, but whose voting record was otherwise consistent with the Democratic line.

Frank Mascara was regarded as a political powerbroker among Democrats with a record of scoring federal money for local projects.

In both Washington and his home district, Frank Mascara projected a blue-collar, working class image.

Frank Mascara died of lung cancer on July 10,2011, at Mon Valley Hospital in Monongahela, Pennsylvania.