Peter J. Camiel is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, serving from 1953 to 1964.He served as Chairman of the Philadelphia Democratic Party from 1969, until 1976, when he lost a power struggle with Mayor Frank Rizzo.He and three other defendants, including Vince Fumo and Thomas Nolan, were convicted of placing "ghost workers" on state payroll. The charges were later thrown out.A rest area on the Pennsylvania Turnpike is named in his honor.