Biography
Richard A. Kasunic was elected to the Pennsylvania Senate in November 1994, highlighting a public service
career that began in 1982. In January 1995, he began a four-year term representing the 32nd Senatorial
District and is now serving his fourth term.
Sen. Kasunic was born January 8, 1947, in Dunbar Township (Monarch), the son of the lateWalter A. and
Gertrude Bashinsky Kasunic. He lives in Dunbar Township (Monarch) and has a son, Richard A. Kasunic II.
A 1964 graduate of Dunbar Township High School, Sen. Kasunic earned an Associate Degree in Business
Administration from Robert Morris Junior College, Pittsburgh, in 1967, and a Bachelor of Science Degree
in Business Administration from Youngstown State University in 1970.
He served with the Pennsylvania National Guard from 1970 to 1976.
A lifelong resident of Dunbar Township (Monarch), Sen. Kasunic was elected in 1982 to represent the 52nd
Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He served in the House for six terms
before choosing to run for the Senate in 1994.
Sen. Kasunic’s top legislative priorities are economic development, job training, education, business
development, water and sewer improvements and highway construction.
Sen. Kasunic is a member of the Senate Democratic Leadership, serving as chairman of the Democratic
Policy Committee. In this position, he is responsible for shaping policy for the Senate Democratic Caucus.
Sen. Kasunic is the Democratic Chair, Senate Game and Fisheries Committee and a member of the Senate
Committees on Rules and Executive Nominations, Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, Labor
and Industry and Transportation.
He also serves on the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee,
State Transportation Advisory Committee, Pennsylvania Athletic Oversight Committee, the Pennsylvania
Hardwoods Development Council, and is a member of the Arthritis Caucus, Autism Caucus, Pennsylvania
Fair Caucus, Fire and Emergency Services Caucus, Lupus Caucus, Keystone State Games Legislative Caucus
and Community College Caucus.
Senator Kasunic serves as Honorary Chair for PA Small Business Development Centers, the Pennsylvania
State University/Fayette Campus Advisory Board, Fayette County Community Action Agency Board of
Directors, Fay-Penn Economic Development Council, Fayette County Local Emergency Planning Committee,
Continental 1 (formerly Route 219 Association), American Cancer Society Relay for Life, and the Leukemia
and Lymphoma Society Board of Trustees (Western PA and WV Chapter).
He belongs to the Saint Aloysius Church and many local organizations including the Independent Slovak
Citizens Club, Perryopolis Sons of Italy and American Legion Post 51.
He is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and a member of the Dunbar Sportsman's Club
and South Connellsville Sportsman's Club.
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