Michael Zabel
Zabel in 2022
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 163rd district
In office
January 1, 2019 (2019-01-01) – March 16, 2023 (2023-03-16)
Preceded byJamie Santora
Succeeded byHeather Boyd
Personal details
Born (1978-01-16) January 16, 1978 (age 46)
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materCollege of the Holy Cross (BA)
Temple University (MA, JD)

Michael Zabel (born January 16, 1978) is an American politician. He served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 163rd district from 2019 to 2023.

Early career

After graduating from St. Joseph's Preparatory School in 1996, Zabel went on to earn a bachelor's degree from the College of the Holy Cross in 2000. He earned a master's degree from Temple University in 2003, and his JD from Temple Law School in 2010.[1] Zabel taught Latin and Greek at the middle and high school levels. He served as assistant district attorney in Philadelphia, and is on the board of the charity SJP Man for Others.[2]

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Zabel defeated Jamie Santora in the 163rd district in 2018, receiving 15,000 votes.[3]

In 2023, a union lobbyist accused Zabel of sexual harassment, filing a complaint with the House Ethics Committee.[4] After the first accusation, two more allegations emerged against Zabel in the following days. Previously in 2018, Zabel's campaign manager accused him of inappropriately touching her. At the time, she reported it to Democratic party leaders, but did not go public until the allegations from the lobbyist were made. The same day the campaign manager's allegations were made public, an article on a conservative news site relayed a story from an anonymous female lawmaker who said she was followed to her car by Zabel after rejecting his advances.[5][6] The lawmaker later identified herself as State Representative Abby Major.[7] Zabel resisted calls to resign because of the allegations, and said he would seek treatment for his "illness."[8] He later reversed his earlier statement and announced he would resign from office effective March 16, 2023.[9]

Personal life

He is married to Lauren Zabel and has two children. They live in the Drexel Hill neighborhood of Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Representative Mike Zabel". Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Meet Mike". Mike Zabel for Delaware County.
  3. ^ Tustin, Kevin (November 7, 2018). "Dem Zabel knocks off GOP incumbent Rep. Santora in 163rd". Delaware County Daily Times. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  4. ^ Caruso, Stephen (March 1, 2023). "Lobbyist says she was sexually harassed by Pa. lawmaker Mike Zabel, calls on him to resign". Spotlight PA. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  5. ^ McGoldrick, Gillian (March 3, 2023). "A Delco House Democrat was accused of sexual misconduct. Here's what you should know". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  6. ^ Caruso, Stephen (March 1, 2023). "Lobbyist says she was sexually harassed by Pa. lawmaker Mike Zabel, calls on him to resign". Spotlight PA.
  7. ^ McGoldrick, Gillian (March 8, 2023). "Pa. GOP lawmaker accuses Rep. Mike Zabel of sexually harassing her". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  8. ^ Spotlight PA Staff (March 3, 2023). "Pa. lawmaker accused of sexual harassment says he won't resign, will seek treatment for 'illness'". Spotlight PA. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  9. ^ Caruso, Stephen (March 8, 2023). "PA lawmaker accused of sexual harassment will resign". Spotlight PA. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
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