In addition to local Italian-American organizations , Varallo became involved in local Democratic Party politics in Philadelphia in the 1940s . She became the Democratic leader of the 36th ward in 1942 and was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1944 , representing the multi-member 5th district along with Frank Lopez and former representative Anna M. Brancato . She sponsored a Woman 's Equal Rights Bill that became law in 1945 . The following election , in 1946 , saw Republicans take back the three seats , but Varallo returned to the legislature in 1949 along with fellow Democrats Thomas Peta and Louis Amarando . Varallo won re-election for the next five terms . She served as chair of the House Welfare committee and , in 1959 , became Minority Whip , the first woman to hold the position . Later that year , the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee endorsed Varallo for an open at-large seat on the Philadelphia City Council and she won nomination easily in the May primary . In the general election that November , Varallo placed fourth among the five Democrats elected to the at-large seats . In an editorial , the '' Philadelphia Inquirer '' praised Varallo 's election , calling her " capable , " and noting that " unlike most of her fellow Philadelphia Democrats in the House , she is a worker . " Council President James H.J. Tate assigned her to lead the Public Health Committee . Later that year , she was a delegate to the 1960 Democratic National Convention and was a presidential elector for John F. Kennedy . In 1963 , Varallo was reelected , as were all of the other at-large members of City Council
1960 Democratic National Convention
1960 Democratic National Convention
Mary Varallo