A U.S. Marine Veteran, Ron DiNicola is running for Congress to make sure that the citizens of Western Pennsylvania have a real voice and a strong advocate in Washington, DC.

Ron has a long history of public service. He has been visible leader in various statewide and local initiatives including the campaign to expand Pre-K educational opportunities for all children and spearheading a bi-partisan coalition focusing on workforce empowerment and a community college. Recently, he led the effort to launch the Erie Police Athletic League that partners police officers and sheriff deputies in activities with inner city kids to build bonds of trust.

The son of an immigrant bricklayer, Ron grew up on Erie’s west side in a house his father built. After high school graduation, he joined the Marines where he graduated first in his platoon at Parris Island, S.C. He was awarded the Leatherneck Magazine Award for Leadership. Trained in boxing as a young man by top contender Lou Bizzarro and Stan Rocky in Erie, Ron went on to win the All-Marine boxing title, two Carolina Golden Gloves titles, and represented  representing the Marines Nationally.

After serving his country, Ron obtained a degree in government from Harvard University and a law degree from Georgetown University. Over the years, Ron has drawn from his legal background for public service. He served as a law clerk to Chief U.S. District Judge Gerald Weber in Pittsburgh and Erie. He has also served as legal counsel to various high profile investigative panels including the Christopher Commission in the 1990s.

Locally, Ron served as Erie County Solicitor and drafted term limit legislation for public officials that became law and authorized the filing of a lawsuit to prevent Erie County from being designated as a rural county for state funding purposes. In private practice, he successfully represented more than 1,000 laid-off GE workers in reversing a ruling by the U.S. Department of Labor denying Trade Adjustment Assistance benefits, resulting in a landmark decision that freed up millions of dollars for local families.

Ron never lost his passion for boxing. He worked with his long-time client, Muhammad Ali, in advocating for federal legislation to reform the sport and protect boxers culminating in passage of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act sponsored by U.S. Sen. John McCain. Ron is the recipient of the 2012 NAACP Spirit of the Community Award and the 2015 “Voice for Children Vision Award” of the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children. Last year he was named “Man of the Year” by the Giuseppe Mazzini Civic Association.

Ron and his wife, Monica, are the parents of three girls.

Ron DiNicola is US Marine veteran. Use of his military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Marine Corps or the Department of Defense.