Jeffrey Coy

Jeffrey W. Coy (October 6, 1951 – June 4, 2018) was an American politician who was a member of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

A 1969 graduate of Shippensburg Area Senior High School,^[3] Coy earned a degree from Shippensburg University in 1973,^[3] and served as a director for the Shippensburg-based Orrstown Bank.^[4]

Coy was first elected to represent the 89th legislative district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1982.^[5] He served as Democratic (Majority) Caucus Chairman from 1993 through 1994 as the majority party.^[6] In 1995, he was elected to serve as Democratic (Minority) Caucus Secretary.^[6] He was re-elected 11 times in a heavily Republican district.^[7]

Coy announced his intention not to seek re-election in early 2004.^[8] In August, Coy was nominated by the House Democratic leader Bill DeWeese^[9] to become a member of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, a controversial nomination because of a provision of the Pennsylvania Constitution prohibiting legislators from serving on such boards "during the time for which he was elected".^[8] Senate Republicans interpreted the phrase to mean the entire two-year legislative term, which would expire on November 30, 2004, and suggested that the Democrats appoint a placeholder until the end of the legislative term. Coy's resignation from his seat would satisfy the constitution.^[8] Coy resigned his legislative seat effective September 2, 2004 and was appointed to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board effective the next day.^[2][10]

Coy died on June 4, 2018, aged 66.^[11]