February 19, 2015
Vince Rongione/Via Campaign Website
Vince Rongione accepted a plea deal Wednesday on a pair of election law infractions.
A former Pennsylvania state House candidate has entered the Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition Program for two misdemeanor violations of the Pennsylvania Election Code.
Vince Rongione, a Democrat who lost an open seat race to Republican Jamie Santora in the 163rd Legislative District last November, accepted a plea deal Wednesday on charges of unlawful voting and making false statements and signatures on nominating petitions.
Rongione, 37, of Upper Darby, will serve six months of probation, complete 16 hours of community service and pay a $40 monthly fee for the program, according to the Delaware County Daily Times. Art Donato, Rongione's attorney, advised his client to accept the ARD motion because it removed the risk of a trial and guaranteed a dismissal of the charges.
Questions regarding Rongione's residency swirled throughout his race against Santora, who won the hotly contested contest by eight percentage points.
The Delaware County Republican Party filed complaints with the Delaware County Board of Elections and the Delaware County Voter Registration Commission last October, claiming Rongione violated state election laws by falsely claiming to live at an unoccupied house to establish residency within the 163rd District.
Andrew Reilly, chairman of the Delaware County Republican Party, released a statement Thursday calling Rongione's plea deal a "vindication."
"This is vindication of our complaints that Rongione knowingly and deliberately violated the Pennsylvania Constitution and election law by attempting to establish a bogus residency," Reilly said. "Despite this clear violation of the law, Rongione received the fervent and ardent support of the Delaware County Democratic Party in this deception of Delaware County voters. Rongione committed a clear violation of public trust."
Rongione listed a property on the 1200 block of Wilson Drive as his residence on his voter registration and driver's license forms on Oct. 4, 2013, according to the Daily Times. He allegedly told a Delaware County detective that he could not recall ever sleeping at the house, but would eat take-out food there and take the trash out with him.
Rongione purchased his current home on Blanchard Avenue in December 2013, switching his mailing address on Dec. 2, 2013. State law requires candidates to live within the district at least one year prior to the election.
