Patricia Ann Carone Krebs (; born March 21, 1943) is an American high school teacher who became a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives during the 1990s."Lancaster video," in "Names & Faces." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, June 28, 1989, p. 50 (subscription required).
Formative years and family Born in Greenville, Pennsylvania on March 21, 1943, Patricia Ann Carone graduated from Greenville High School in 1961. She then attended Thiel College, earned her Bachelor of Science degree from George Washington University in 1967 and her Master of Arts in history from Georgetown University in 1974."Carone Krebs, Patricia Ann" (biography), in "Archives." Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania House of Representatives, retrieved online May 22, 2023.
She married fellow Pennsylvania House member Edward H. Krebs on November 1, 1996.Bumsted, Brad. "Cupid strikes in state Legislature." Chambersburg, Pennsylvania: Public Opinion, December 12, 1996, p. 6 (subscription required)."Krebs marries fellow legislator." Lebanon, Pennsylvania: The Daily News, December 20, 1996, p. 3 (subscription required).
Public service career Carone served as an aide in the United States Congress, and was then employed as a high school-level educator who taught government studies for twenty-one years."Carone Krebs, Patricia Ann" (biography), "Pennsylvania House of Representatives. As an educator with the Seneca Valley School District in 1989, Carone researched and produced a video documentary about the community histories of Lancaster and Middle Lancaster for oral history instruction in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was one of four projects recognized that year with an Innovative Teaching Award by the Pennsylvania State Education Association."Lancaster video," in "Names & Faces," The Pittsburgh Press, June 28, 1989.
Elected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1988, she was employed as chair of the social studies department at Seneca Valley High School in February 1990 when she announced her intention to secure her party's nomination to represent the 12th legislative district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives."Area News: Shenango ordinance is ruled invalid." Ellwood City, Pennsylvania: Ellwood City Ledger, February 10, 1990, p. 9 (subscription required). She was elected to the Pennsylvania House in 1990 as a Democrat, and was then reelected as a Democrat in 1992.
In 1991, she proposed two bills that would have restricted the ability of power companies to place new, high-voltage power lines near homes and business due to the potential health impacts from electromagnetic field emissions.Auge, Karen. "Legislators are jolted into action." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 8, 1991, p. 347 (subscription required).
Following her reelection in November 1992, Carone joined forces with her future husband, Rep. Edward H. Krebs, a fellow Democrat and freshman member of the Pennsylvania House, in publicly criticizing the intense campaigning by incumbent Speaker of the House Bob O'Donnell and House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese to be appointed as the next leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Calling it "very disillusioning to return from a tough campaign to face a new kind of campaigning," Carone added:McGraw, Anne. "Fight for the House's top spot." Lebanon, Pennsylvania: The Daily News, November 24, 1992, p. 8 (subscription required). "I've been sitting on the House floor watching so much energy expended trying to win votes for either side that I feel badly that the legislative issues that need to be addressed are not getting full attention.... This has been wrong for the commonwealth. It should never have happened."
Krebs observed that bills weren't "getting the attention and pressure needed to get a resolution," and said, "If we don't get a resolution, it would be a serious mistake."McGraw, "Fight for the House's top spot," The Daily News, November 24, 1992.
Both Carone and Krebs then switched political parties in December 1992,Reeves, Frank. "Power erodes again for House Democrats." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 8, 1993, p. 25 (subscription required).Hoover, Mike. "Party switching may enhance '94 elections." Hanover, Pennsylvania: The Evening Sun, December 27, 1993, p. 1 (subscription required)."Here's why we Democrats became Republicans" (letter to the editor by Carone and Krebs). Chambersburg, Pennsylvania: Public Opinion, December 31, 1993, p. 11 (subscription required). citing their dissatisfaction with Democratic Party leaders. In response, DeWeese "said the only date more appropriate than Pearl Harbor Day for her defection would have been Benedict Arnold's birthday," while Carone "ripped the Democratic Party for being anti-business and pro-spending," according to Allentown's Morning Call newspaper.Connolly, Sean. "Renegade Pa. Demo joins GOP" (article with photo). Allentown, Pennsylvania: The Morning Call, December 8, 1993, p. 4 (subscription required).
Carone was reelected to the Pennsylvania House as a Republican in 1994 and 1996.Jackson, Kent. "Others who jumped glad they did so." Hazleton, Pennsylvania: Standard-Speaker, November 16, 1994, p. 1 (subscription required).
Carone and Krebs were married on November 1, 1996, during a ceremony that area newspapers referred to as "the first time in the history of the Commonwealth that two legislators married each other."Krebs marries fellow legislator," The Daily News, December 20, 1996.Bumsted, "Cupid strikes in state Legislature," Public Opinion, December 12, 1996. Throughout the remainder of her legislative career, Carone continued to use the surname under which she was first elected.Shaheen, Thomas J. "Guest Commentary: Pa. legislators turn their backs on parental rights." Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania: The Times Leader, January 3, 1998, p. 8 (subscription required).Durantine, Peter. "Governor accused of taking short cuts to get bills passed." Lebanon, Pennsylvania: The Daily News, January 12, 1998, p. 3 (subscription required)."Panel: Colleges need more funds." Lebanon, Pennsylvania: The Daily News, February 10, 1998, pp. 1, 4 (subscription required).
She was not a candidate for reelection to the House in 1998.Swift, Robert P. "Women gaining Pa. seats." Sunbury, Pennsylvania: The Daily Item, February 22, 1998, pp. 1, 3 (subscription required)."Clarification: Representative's retirement." Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania: Press Enterprise, October 2, 2001, p. 9 (subscription required).
Following her departure from the Pennsylvania House, she began using the professional name, Patricia Carone Krebs.Routh, Julian and Rich Lord. "State lawmaker in uneasy 'detente' with Cranberry officials." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 5, 2018, pp. A1, A6 (subscription required). In February 1999, she was actively involved as a volunteer with Pennsylvania's chapter of the citizen activist group, Common Cause.Dilanian, Ken. "House to study openness secretly." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 25, 1999, p. 27 (subscription required).
She was subsequently hired as the executive director of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges.
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