Rep. R. Ted Harhai (D-58, Fayette and Westmoreland) was born January 23, 1955 in Monessen. He graduated from Monessen High School in 1973 and earned a degree from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1977.

The youngest son of Dolores and the late John B. Harhai, he has three brothers and one sister. Harhai is single and resides in Monessen.

By profession, Harhai is an investment banker and previously worked in New York City (Wall Street) and Chicago. Prior to becoming state representative, he held public offices in the City of Monessen as Councilman in 1996 and 1997 and as Mayor from 1998 until 2002.

Representative Harhai is a past president of the Monessen Public Library and District Center; past president of the Monessen Lions Club; Greater Monessen Chamber of Commerce, past president; board member of Private Industry Council of Westmoreland Fayette, Inc. He is also a board member with the Consortium for Public Education and Westmoreland Human Opportunities, Inc. (WHO).

He serves on the Public Employee Retirement Commission as well as several Caucuses in Harrisburg including: Steel Caucus (Democratic Chairman), Southwest Caucus, Coal Caucus, Firefighters and Emergency Services Caucus, Autism Caucus, Alzheimer's Caucus, Italian Caucus, and the Pennsylvania Historical Preservation Caucus.

Representative Harhai is a member of numerous social, fraternal and sportsmen's organizations.