The following members of the House Republican Caucus were elected to their respective Majority Caucus

leadership positions Wednesday November 10th.

On Tuesday, November 16, the House Democrats elected their new leadership for the 2011-12 legislative session. Because Speaker Keith McCall retired and this session’s Majority Leader Todd Eachus lost re-election, the Democratic leadership team is new. The House Democrats, after four years in the majority, will be in the minority for the upcoming two year session. Being elected to leadership is done in caucus through secret ballot. Nevertheless, being elected a leader is truly an honor that is very difficult to obtain. Representatives in the House must have a combination of longevity, knowledge and superior political prowess to win an internal election to leadership.

The biggest changes from this session’s leadership team is that Frank Dermody takes over as the Minority Leader, Mike Hanna as Whip, Dan Frankel as Chair and Joe Markosek as Appropriations Chair. Frank Dermody was elected Whip in the middle of the 2009-10 session and now moves to Leader of the Caucus. Mike Hanna is new to leadership and will serve as the number two ranking Democrat behind Mr. Dermody. Dan Frankel and Joe Markosek are also new to leadership. Joe Markosek served as Transportation Chairman for the past four years.

By Andy Goodman and Lydia E. Hollinger
November 3, 2010 

Following the national trend, Pennsylvania politics are now firmly controlled by Republicans.  Attorney General Tom Corbett won the Governor’s race defeating Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato by a margin of 54.5% to 45.5%. Mr. Corbett will now begin the transition from candidate to Governor-elect. Mr. Corbett will officially become Governor on the 3rd Tuesday of January (18th). Transitions of power are very interesting times. Our office intends to keep you in the “know” of the upcoming changeover.  The House and Senate will be sworn into office on the first Tuesday of January (4th).

The Senate had, as expected, minimal changes.  Seats that were vacant due to retirements were filled allowing new Democrats to take over positions that were previously filled by Democrats.  The end result is a ratio of 30 Republicans to 20 Democrats. That ratio maintains the majority position for the Republicans, where they have been for more than 20 years.

In the House, many changes occurred.  Before Election Day the ratio of Democrats to Republicans was 104 to 99.  Now, after the election the majority in the House has shifted from Democrat to Republican with an estimated ratio of 112 to 91 (some calculations are still taking place; calculations of absentee ballots and recounts).

The House Republicans have announced that they will hold leadership elections on Tuesday November 9th. Our office will communicate, through electronic means, the outcome and insiders scoop of the internal elections. The leadership elections are critical because it will shape how the House Republican caucus will operate and who is appointed to our “key” committees. Legislative Committee appointments will not occur until January.

14th Senatorial District (Luzerne County)- John Yudichak (D) replaced retired Senator Raphael Musto (D).

*Yudichak is a former member of the House of Representatives.

22nd Senatorial District (Lackawanna County)- John Blake (D) replaced retired Senator Robert Mellow (D).

46th Senatorial District (Washington County)- Timothy Solobay (D) replaced retired Senator Barry Stout (D).

*Solobay is a former member of the House of Representatives.

45th Senatorial District (Allegheny County) – James Brewster (D) replaced former Senator Sean Logan (D).

Defeated Incumbents:

13th  Legislative District (Chester)-John Lawrence (R) defeated current Representative Tom Houghton (D).

39th  Legislative District (Allegheny)-Rick Saccone (R) defeated current Representative David Levdansky (D).

54th Legislative District (Westmoreland)-Eli Evankovich (R) defeated current Representative John E. Pallone (D).

56th Legislative District (Westmoreland)-George Dunbar (R) defeated current Representative James Casorio (D).

116th Legislative District (Luzerne)-Tarah Toohil (R) defeated current Democrat Majority Leader Todd Eachus.

125th Legislative District (Schuylkill)-Mike Tobash (R) defeated current Representative Tim Seip (D).

130th Legislative District (Berks)-David Maloney (R) defeated current Representative David Kessler (D).

151st Legislative District (Montgomery)-Todd Stephens (R) defeated current Representative Rick Taylor (D).

156th Legislative District (Chester)-Dan Truitt (R) defeated current Representative Barbara McIlvaine Smith (D).

157th Legislative District (Chester)-Warren Kampf (R) defeated current Representative Paul Drucker (D).

172nd Legislative District (Philadelphia)-Kevin Boyle (D) defeated current Representative John Perzel (R).

189th Legislative District (Monroe)-Rosemary Brown (R) defeated current Representative John Siptroth (D).

Retirements and open seats

41st Legislative District (Lancaster)-Ryan Aument (R) will replace retired Representative Katie True (R).

48th Legislative District (Washington)-Brandon Neuman (D) replaces, newly elected Sen. Timothy Solobay (D).

85th Legislative District (Union)-Fred Keller (R) will replace retired Representative Russell Fairchild (R).

107th Legislative District (Northumberland)-Kurt Masser (R) will replace retired Representative Robert Belfanti (D).

108th Legislative District (Northumberland)-Lynda Schlegel-Culver (R) replaces retired Representative Merle Phillips (R).

114th Legislative District (Lackawanna)-Sid Michaels Kavulich (D) replaces current Representative James Wansacz (D).

119th Legislative District (Luzerne)-Gerald J. Mullery (D) will replace current Representative John Yudichak (D).

122nd Legislative District (Carbon)-Doyle Heffley (R) will replace retiring Speaker of the House, Keith McCall (D).

128th Legislative District (Berks)-Mark Gillen (R) will replace current Representative Sam Rohrer (R).

131st Legislative District (Northampton)-Justin Simmons (R) will replace current Representative Karen Beyer (R). 

137th Legislative District (Northampton)-Joe Emrick (R) will replace retired Representative Richard Grucela (D).

141st Legislative District (Bucks)-Tina Davis (D) will replace retired Representative Anthony Melio (D).

161st Legislative District (Delaware)-Joe Hackett (R) will replace current Representative Bryan R. Lentz.

164th Legislative District (Delaware)-Margo Davidson (D) will fill seat once held by Reresentative Mario Civera (R).

194th Legislative District (Philadelphia)-Pamela Delissio (D) will replace retired Representative Kathy Manderino (D).

195th Legislative District (Philadelphia)-Michelle Brownlee (D) will replace retired Representative Frank Oliver (D).

199th Legislative District (Cumberland)-Stephen Bloom (R) will replace retired Representative Will Gabig (R).

As always, please do not hesitate to contact our office by phone or email with any questions. We are looking forward to this very exciting time and a productive 2011-12 Legislative Session.