Michael E. Cassidy, a Representative of the 80th Legislative District, Blair County, served as a Democrat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1977 to 1978. Born in Altoona, Blair County, PA on September 15, 1955, Cassidy graduated from Octorara High School in 1973. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1989 and a Master of Arts in American Studies in 2005, completing both degrees at the Pennsylvania State University. Cassidy’s involvement in government began early in his life. He was elected to the council of Newberry Borough, PA from 1975 to 1976, and was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 1977-1978 Session. After an unsuccessful campaign for reelection to the House in 1978, Cassidy became the director of the Bureau of Standard Weights and Measures for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture from 1978 to 1979. From 1979 to 2012, Cassidy was a part of the legislative staff for the Democratic Caucus of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and fulfilled many roles during this time. He worked as a research analyst for the Democratic Research Office from 1979 to 1983 and served as the Executive Director of the Labor Relations Committee from 1983 to 1990. For twenty years Cassidy was the Executive Director of the Office of the Democratic Chairman, Mark B. Cohen, serving in the position from 1990 to 2010. From 2011 to 2012 he was the Executive Director of the Human Services Committee. Cassidy also had a teaching career, working as a professor at the Pennsylvania State University from 1988 to 2012. Since his retirement from the House of Representatives in 2012, he has served as an adjunct professor at Temple University’s Institute for Public Affairs.