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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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Southeast
Delegation |
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Southeast Delegation elects new leadership team
HARRISBURG, Jan. 8 – The Southeast Delegation of the state House Democratic Caucus elected its new leadership team on Tuesday during a reorganizational meeting that coincided with the swearing-in of House members.
Rep. Mike Gerber, D-Montgomery, will remain the elected delegation chairman. Reps. Bryan Lentz, D-Delaware, and Rick Taylor, D-Montgomery, were elected vice chairmen. Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, was elected treasurer and Rep. John Galloway, D-Bucks, was elected secretary.
The delegation now has 26 members, 13 of which are in their first or second terms, making it both the fastest growing and largest delegation within the Democratic Caucus, the majority caucus in the House.
Gerber said such rapid growth provides the delegation a greater say on budget issues and helps foster an environment of change.
"It is an honor to once again be elected chairman of the Southeast Delegation. I am excited about the opportunity to serve with our newly elected team to advance issues of regional importance," Gerber said.
Lentz and Taylor echoed Gerber’s sentiment that the delegation's size will provide the region greater clout.
"As the largest delegation within the majority party of the state House, we have an opportunity to fight for the issues our constituents care about most, such as health-care reform and economic development," Lentz said.
"Our delegation has a significant and growing voice," Taylor added. "As a newly elected leader of the delegation, I look forward to using that voice to deliver on issues important to our region, such as transportation projects, economic stimulus and ensuring our part of the state gets its fair share of state funding."
Galloway and DePasquale said they hope to use the delegation to deliver meaningful change.
"Because of our demographics, four out of the five members of the Southeast Delegation leadership team are in just their second terms," DePasquale said. "This provides reform minded members with a platform they otherwise would not have had."
"Our delegation is unique because we have so many new members who offer a fresh prospective on the issues facing Pennsylvania," Galloway added. "Now that we are the largest delegation in the House Democratic Caucus, we can have a much greater influence on the agenda."
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