Lou Barletta
| Lou Barletta | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 11th district |
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Assumed office January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Paul Kanjorski |
| Mayor of Hazleton | |
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In office January 3, 1999 – December 14, 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Mike Marsicano |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Yannuzzi |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Louis James Barletta January 28, 1956 Hazleton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Grace Malloy |
| Children | 4 daughters |
| Alma mater |
Luzerne County Community College Bloomsburg University |
Louis James Barletta (born January 28, 1956) is an American politician who has been the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania's 11th congressional district since 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. He served as Mayor of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, from 1998 to 2010, and as Mayor he was known for his vocal opposition to illegal immigration and his efforts to keep illegal immigrants out of the city.
Barletta was born January 28, 1956 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, the son of Angeline (née Agosti) and Rocco Barletta, of Italian ancestry. After graduating from high school, he attended Luzerne County Community College and Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. After an unsuccessful tryout for the Cincinnati Reds baseball team, Barletta went to work for his family's construction and heating oil business.
In 1984, Barletta founded a pavement marking company, Interstate Road Marking Corporation, which he sold in 2000. At the time of the sale, his firm had grown to become the largest of its kind in Pennsylvania.
He was defeated for a seat on the Hazleton City Council in 1996, but won two years later. In 1999, he defeated Jack Mundie for mayor, taking 66% of the vote and overcoming a Democratic registration edge in the city. He took office on January 3, 1999.
Barletta was reelected as mayor in 2003 and 2007. In 2007, Barletta was nominated in both the Republican and Democratic primary elections. Barletta defeated the Democratic candidate, former Mayor Michael Marsicano, on the Democratic ballot as a write-in.
In 2006, Barletta made headlines for his efforts opposing illegal immigration in Hazleton vowing to make the city “one of the toughest places in the United States” for illegal immigrants. Barletta introduced and the city council approved the Illegal Immigration Relief Act. The ordinance allowed the city to deny a business permit to employers who hired illegal immigrants and gave the city authority to fine landlords up to $1,000 for leasing to illegal immigrants. The act also made English the official language of Hazleton, prohibiting city employees from translating documents into any language without official authorization. In response, the ACLU and Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund sued in Federal District Court to block the ordinance. In July 2007, District Court Judge James M. Munley ruled that the act was unconstitutional for interfering with Federal immigration laws and violating the due process of individuals, employers and landlords. The ruling was upheld on appeal to the United States Court of Appeals on September 9, 2010. In a public statement shortly after the decision, Barletta vowed to appeal.
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