June 7, 2022

Swearing-In Ceremony

Senator Jimmy Dillon Sworn in to Serve the 5th Senatorial District

HARRISBURG, June 7, 2022 – Following his special election victory in May, Senator Jimmy Dillon was sworn into office today to represent areas of Northeast Philadelphia in the 5^th District in the Pennsylvania State Senate. The position was formerly held by Judge John Sabatina, who resigned from the Senate following his election to the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas.

Dillon attended Our Lady of Calvary and is a graduate of Holy Ghost Preparatory School and the University of Notre Dame, where he was a standout point guard for the Irish basketball team. Following his graduation from Notre Dame, he played professional basketball in Europe. While his professional basketball career took him all over the world, northeast Philadelphia has always been his home.

Senator-Elect Dillon Swearing-in Ceremony

Senator-Elect Amanda Cappelletti

17th District: Delaware and Montgomery Counties

Senator Amanda Cappelletti is a born and raised advocate for Pennsylvania. Through her upbringing and career, Amanda has put helping others first. Whether it was a service project in junior high or stepping up to protect reproductive rights in Pennsylvania, Amanda will lend a hand to those who need it most.

An attorney with a Master’s in Public Health, Amanda has worked in Harrisburg to advance progressive policy. She worked with Representative Donna Bullock and as a Fellow for the ACLU of Pennsylvania. She was a member of the first group awarded the William Penn Fellowship through the Governor’s office: first as an advocate for children at the Office of Child Development and Early Learning, and then at the Department of Human Services as a policy specialist tracking legislation to assess implementation. Most recently, Amanda served as Director of Policy for Planned Parenthood advocating for proactive reproductive legislation. In 2017, Amanda was elected to East Norriton’s Board of Supervisors, where she led the conversation in police reform and successfully decriminalized marijuana.

As a Senator, Amanda will work tirelessly to introduce and support legislation to address funding for our public schools, defend access to healthcare, and protect our environment. At home, she will be out in the community, listening to the people in our neighborhoods, ensuring their voices are heard in Harrisburg.

Amanda will advocate for progressive values while working across the aisle towards shared values. She’ll be a Senator who will restore integrity and refocus the conversation on the issues.

A life-long resident of Pennsylvania, Amanda grew up in Boyertown with her parents where she graduated from Boyertown Area Senior High. She attended Chestnut Hill College for her undergraduate degree, and received her Law Degree and Master’s in Public Health from Temple University. She currently resides in East Norriton with her husband, Gregory McQuiston, a U.S. Navy veteran.

Harrisburg, PA - The Pennsylvania Department of Health today confirmed as of 12:00 a.m., December 9, that there were 8,703 additional positive cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 445,317. There are 5,561 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. Of that number, 1,160 patients are in the intensive care unit with COVID-19. Most of the patients hospitalized are ages 65 or older, and most of the deaths have occurred in patients 65 or older. More data is available here.

Senator-Elect Carolyn Comitta

19th District: Chester County

From the classroom to the boardroom to the state legislature, Senator-Elect Carolyn T. Comitta is a leader in championing communities, defending the environment, and working to ensure a safer, cleaner, and brighter future for the next generation of Pennsylvanians and beyond. Carolyn is known for her success in building diverse coalitions, her resolve in tackling tough issues, large and small, and her ability to inspire the optimism and hope needed to prevail against seemingly overwhelming odds. Before being elected state Senator, Carolyn served two terms as State Representative for the 156th Legislative District. In the House, she served as secretary of the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee and on the Appropriation Committee and Aging and Older Adults Committee. She was also Vice Chair of the Pennsylvania Joint Legislative Conservation Committee, Vice Chair of the Climate Caucus, Vice Chair of the House Southeast Delegation, and a member of the Pennsylvania Commission on Women. Carolyn was first elected to office in West Chester Borough where she served on borough council. Later, she was elected Mayor of West Chester, where she was the first woman and first bipartisan-elected official to hold the seat. An educator by trade, Carolyn has combined her passion for teaching with the need to address the climate crisis threatening our planet. She is a longtime member and supporter of World Information Transfer, a nonprofit United Nations NGO focused on educating people and communities about the connection between our environment and public health. Through her ongoing efforts, she has touched the lives of thousands of young people, opening their eyes and minds to the impacts of the environment on everyday life. Beyond her legislative work, Carolyn is Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Thomas Comitta Associates, a Town Planning and Landscape Architecture firm committed to excellence in planning, design, environmental sustainability, education, and public health. She is also actively involved in a number of community efforts, including the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of West Chester, the League of Women Voters, and has served on various boards at West Chester University, including the Dean’s Advisory Board to its College of Arts and Humanities. Carolyn lives in West Chester, Pennsylvania with her husband, Tom. They have two grown children and two young grandchildren.

Senator-Elect Carolyn Comitta

Senator Marty Flynn

22nd District: Lackawanna, Luzerne and Monroe Counties

State Senator Marty Flynn was born and raised in Scranton, Lackawanna County. His career in Harrisburg began on January 1, 2013 when he was sworn-in as Representative for 113th District in the Pennsylvania State House. His record as State Representative is defined by his advocacy for union rights, seniors, and working families of Pennsylvania. During his tenure in the House, he served as Chairman of the Northeast Delegation and was a member of the Appropriations, Consumer Affairs, Insurance and Professional Licensure Committees. He is also a member of the bi-partisan, bi-cameral Animal Protection, Early Childhood Education, Irish-American, Italian-American, Legislative Reform, Masonic, Natural Gas, Oil & Gas, Property Tax Reform, Second Amendment Caucus, Sportsmen’s and Veterans Caucuses. Senator Flynn graduated from Marywood University with a bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies. While in school, he discovered a love of boxing and began training at a hometown gym in Scranton. He quickly discovered his talent in the ring and began traveling across the state for training and matches— eventually going professional in the early 2000s. Following ten years in the professional ring, Flynn served as an inmate education and program coordinator at Lackawanna County Prison and chairman of the Prison Misconduct Board. He was also an amateur mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter from 2008 through 2013 and continues to practice Jiu Jitsu to this day. His path to the State Senate is unique but has enforced his drive to stand up for everyday people and their rights. During his campaign in the 22nd District, Flynn made clear he would focus on local economic development, labor union rights, and housing initiatives to support communities and stop blight. He plans to join colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure proper funding is given to social services and senior citizen programs, and a fairer state school funding formula is implemented. He also plans to fight for legalization and taxation of recreational marijuana, a natural gas extraction tax, closure of the Delaware tax loophole that allows corporations to shift Pennsylvania profits to lower tax states and an increased minimum wage. Senator Flynn prides himself on being an unwavering voice for his community and a fighter in every sense of the word. He knows fighting for what’s right is not only about might, but also focus, commitment and heart. As State Senator for the 22nd District, he plans to continue to fight for workers, seniors, teachers, unions, and families with an even louder voice and commitment to doing what’s right for the commonwealth.

Senator Marty Flynn

Senator-Elect John Kane

9th District: Chester and Delaware Counties

Senator-Elect John Kane is a plumber and local labor leader who has spent his life fighting for working people and working families. He has personally battled through many of the challenges facing Pennsylvanians today, and is ready to be a voice at the table for Delaware and Chester Counties.

After graduating high school in Delaware County, Kane joined Plumbers Local 690, the union he represented as business manager for five terms. Kane led his union through the Great Recession, which put nearly 500 members out of work. As members struggled with mental health issues and substance abuse, Kane provided strong, steady leadership and worked to deliver a recovery that brought his local back stronger than ever.

Kane’s union benefits also helped him through his own personal struggles. At the age of 22, Kane sought treatment for alcohol addiction. His union benefits allowed him the treatment he needed, and he now proudly has 37 years sobriety. In 2015, Kane was diagnosed with stage three cancer. Thanks to his union healthcare, and the incredible doctors, nurses, and hospital staff, Kane has been cancer-free for five years. He knows that his experience isn’t unique, and is ready to fight for affordable healthcare for all Pennsylvanians.

Kane lives in Birmingham with his wife, Lori. He sits on the board of the Livengrin Foundation, which provides addition treatment across Southeastern PA.

Senator-Elect John Kane

Senator Nikil Saval

1st District: Philadelphia County

Senator-elect Nikil Saval is a father, writer, and organizer. He’s proud to be raising his son, Ishaan, in South Philadelphia with his wife, Shannon Garrison, a historic preservationist. Saval’s organizing is deeply rooted in the labor movement. From 2009 to 2013, he was a volunteer labor organizer with UNITE HERE, organizing boycotts against luxury hotel developers to fight for the rights of housekeepers and helping to win back the jobs of noontime aides laid off because of Governor Tom Corbett’s budget cuts. Saval also has extensive experience in community and electoral organizing. In 2016, he was a leader in U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign. From this experience, Saval went on to co-found Reclaim Philadelphia, a progressive organization working for racial, gender, and economic justice throughout the Philadelphia area. In 2018, he organized campaigns to fight for change in the Democratic Party and was elected as Leader of Philadelphia’s Democratic Second Ward. Saval was the first Asian American to hold the position of Ward Leader in Philadelphia. In his career as a writer, Saval has been a frequent contributor to The New York Times and a contributing writer for The New Yorker, covering architecture, design, and housing. Saval previously served as co-editor of the literary journal n+1 and still serves on its board of directors. In 2014, Saval published his book Cubed: A Secret History of the Workplace. In Cubed, he examined the long-term evolution of the office from its roots in 19th century counting houses all the way to the cubicle, ultimately presenting a world in which workplaces, and the lives of the workers within them, could be improved in the future. Saval’s parents immigrated to the United States from Bangalore, India. In 1982, the year Saval was born, his parents opened a pizza restaurant, where Saval spent much of his childhood and adolescence. The employees of the restaurant were immigrants of all statuses, and Saval’s parents helped many of them secure documentation. His family’s experiences, as immigrants and as small business owners, were formative for Saval, giving shape to his perspective on workers’ rights. Much of Saval’s spring 2020 campaign for Pennsylvania State Senate took place against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and unprecedented global hardship. In response, his campaign transformed rapidly to a mutual aid hub. Saval enters Harrisburg as the first Asian American in the Pennsylvania Senate and the first South Asian in the Pennsylvania Legislature. Saval is deeply committed to solidarity and justice for working people. He is fighting for a Philadelphia and Pennsylvania that works for the many and not the few.

Senator Jim Brewster

45th District: Allegheny & Westmoreland Counties

Jim Brewster was elected to the State Senate in 2010 to represent the 45th Senatorial District in parts of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.

Senator Brewster serves as chairman of the Senate Law & Justice Committee and the Game and Fisheries Committee. He is Vice Chair of the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee. He also serves as a member on the Senate Banking and Insurance, Education, and the Transportation Committees.

He is a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania with a degree in education.

Prior to his election to the Senate, Jim was Vice President of Operations with Mellon Bank.

Jim became a McKeesport City Councilman in 1995, and served as council president for seven years prior to being elected mayor in 2004. During his years as McKeesport mayor, Jim was credited for bringing $27 million in state, county and federal dollars to the city. He also helped develop the Palisades, McKee’s Point Marina and Greater Allegheny Passage Trail at the Waterfront.

Jim has served as a director or board member for: the Allegheny League of Municipalities; Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities; McKeesport Optimist Club; Municipal Risk Management; Allegheny County Air Quality Control; McKeesport Development Corporation; McKeesport Recreation Board; Penn State Greater Allegheny. He served on the Board of Directors at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum Trust, Inc., and continues as Secretary of the Board of Port Authority of Allegheny County, Vice President of the Board of Monroeville Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Chairman of the McKeesport Housing Authority.

Jim was elected to both the McKeesport Area School District Hall of Fame and McKeesport Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. He was also honored as “Mayor of the Year” in 2010 by the Pennsylvania Mayor’s Association, and “Friend of Youth” by the McKeesport Optimist Club for founding the “Toys for Tots” program and starting a youth basketball program at the McKeesport Salvation Army.

He is married to the former Linda Leah. They have three daughters and seven grandchildren.

Senator Jay Costa

43rd District: Allegheny County

State Senator Jay Costa represents portions of the City of Pittsburgh, East Hills communities, areas of the Mon Valley and South Hills (43rd District).

As a lifelong resident of Allegheny County, Sen. Costa was born and raised in Pittsburgh and now lives with his wife Roxanne in Forest Hills. He has three children – two sons and one daughter. He is the son of the late Allegheny County Treasurer Jay Costa Sr. A graduate of Taylor Allderdice High School, Community College of Allegheny County, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and holds a Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University.

Before his election to the Senate, Sen. Costa was a deputy sheriff in Allegheny County and Allegheny County Register of Wills. He is currently a Principal in the downtown Pittsburgh law firm Dickie McCamey & Chilcote P.C.

Sen. Costa was elected Senate Democratic leader in 2010. Previously, he served as Democratic chair of the Senate Appropriations and Judiciary Committees and was Caucus chair. He co-chairs the General Assembly’s Arts and Culture Caucus.

Sen. Costa’s legislative record of accomplishment is long and features signature laws in the areas of education, family law, judicial reform, public safety, job creation and health care. Early in his career, Sen. Costa prime sponsored the plan (FAIRx) to leverage rebates to lower drug costs for seniors – a concept later signed into law by Gov. Ed Rendell. He was a strong supporter of expanding the nationally-recognized CHIP program and Medicaid. He also authored legislation to direct cooperative agreements between insurers and providers as a means to resolve the Highmark/UPMC coverage dispute.

Over the course of his legislative career, Sen. Costa has been a strong, effective promoter of education. From seeking additional funding for K-12 education, higher education and pre-school he is recognized as one of the General Assembly’s leaders for education. In addition to accessing more funding for schools, he sought new state-of-the-art technologies for the classroom, in addition to sponsoring far-reaching property tax relief proposals.

Beyond his legislative work, Sen. Costa serves on board of trustees of the University of Pittsburgh and is treasurer of the Community College of Allegheny County board. He also is on the boards of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Sen. John Heinz History Center, 3 Rivers Wet Weather, Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative, CLO, Forest Hills Community Development Corporation and a lifetime trustee of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

Senator Vincent Hughes

7th District: Montgomery & Philadelphia Counties

Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent J. Hughes is a leading progressive voice on local, state, and national issues. His colleagues elected him to be the Democratic Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee in 2010 and he continues to bring proactive leadership to that role.

Sen. Hughes has served the commonwealth as a member of the Pennsylvania Senate for more than 20 years. He was first elected to represent the 7th Senatorial District in 1994, previously serving as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1987 to 1994. During that time, he was the chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus from 1991 to 1994.

As a key member of the Senate’s Democratic leadership team, Sen. Hughes is a champion for major policy issues such as expanding healthcare for low-income workers, raising the minimum wage, defending the right to vote, fighting for increased funding for public education, and rebuilding the state’s distressed communities. As Democratic Chairman of Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Hughes holds a major role in developing Pennsylvania’s annual budget of nearly $34 billion, carefully guiding the state’s spending priorities.

In the fight for the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act in Pennsylvania, Sen. Hughes took a leadership role to help the Pennsylvanians who may not have had health care otherwise. The centerpiece and final part of this struggle was the successful implementation of Medicaid expansion, which currently provides health insurance to more than 1.1 million low-income working people who previously could not afford coverage.

Ensuring access to our democracy is another of Sen. Hughes’ top priorities on a state and national level. He has introduced legislation pushing for automatic voter registration, which received statewide attention. Sen. Hughes is a co-chairman of the National Commission for Voter Justice, an organization that has traveled across the country taking testimony and revealing the numerous voter suppression tactics being utilized in communities throughout the nation.

Sen. Hughes’ continues to push for a legislative and pragmatic response to reforming Pennsylvania’s criminal justice system. In a successful, bipartisan effort, he led the establishment of the First Chance Fund, which drives budgetary support for the children of incarcerated prisoners. Children who have incarcerated parents are 70 percent more likely to end up incarcerated, unless reached by intervention programs at an early age. Sen. Hughes is committed to break that cycle.

Once again working in bipartisan fashion, Sen. Hughes recently helped to create the $60 million School and Community Anti-Violence Fund, which provides support for schools and local communities aiming to reduce violence, especially among our youth.

Sen. Hughes is one of Pennsylvania’s leading legislative advocates in the fight for education equity. He works locally and nationally in the effort to rebuild crumbling school infrastructures across the state and around the nation.

Sen. Hughes is the legislative leader for the Pennsylvania Promise initiative, a statewide effort to provide free college for state residents. As a part of his mission to provide families with increased support to make higher education more affordable, he also recently partnered with the state treasurer, co-authoring legislation that established the Keystone Scholars Program. This initiative creates a college savings fund for every newborn child in Pennsylvania. Sen. Hughes is heavily involved in the rebirth of Cheyney University. He serves as a member of the Council of Trustees at Cheyney University and is working with academic, business and philanthropic leaders to propel the institution forward. He and his family have established the James Hughes Memorial Scholarship Fund, in honor of his late father. To date, the fund has awarded more than $1 million in college scholarships to students from challenged circumstances who are talented and want to “make a difference.”

The senator has been recognized both locally and nationally for his work on HIV/AIDS, as well as his efforts to raise awareness on the challenges of mental and behavioral health in the African American community.

Though his work has taken him all over Pennsylvania, the U.S., and around the world, Sen. Hughes remains extremely dedicated to the progress of his 7th Senatorial District, which is comprised of parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery County. He is a member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, and is supported by his loving wife, actress, entertainer, and activist Sheryl Lee Ralph, and their blended family of four children.

Senator Vincent Hughes

Senator John Sabatina

5th District: Philadelphia County

State Senator John Sabatina is a lifelong resident of Northeast Philadelphia. After excelling at Father Judge High School, he graduated Cum Laude from West Chester University in 1992, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing. He received a law degree from Widener University School of Law in 1997.

Senator Sabatina serves as the Democratic Chairman of the Transportation Committee. He also serves as a member of the Senate Aging & Youth, Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Community Economic & Recreational Development, and Judiciary committees. Sabatina is also a proud member of the Bi-Partisan Legislative Arts & Culture; Aviation; Early Childhood Education; Community College; and Women’s Health Caucuses.

Sabatina previously served as an Assistant District Attorney under Lynne Abraham. During that time, he represented citizens by prosecuting some of the city’s most dangerous criminals in major jury trials for crimes such as robbery, burglary, aggravated assault, drugs and attempted murder. Prior to his election to the state Senate, he served in the state House for nine years representing the 174th Legislative District.

He is a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Assistant District Attorney’s Association, the Sons of Italy Greater Roxborough Lodge No. 2217, Father Judge Alumni Association and St. Christopher’s Parish. His legislative priorities include: victims’ rights, crime prevention, issues impacting older adults, combating blight in our communities and promoting urban renewal through economic, cultural and neighborhood development.

Senator Sabatina lives in Northeast Philadelphia with his wife Eileen and their daughters Caroline and Catherine.

Senator John Sabatina, Jr.

Senator Judy Schwank

11th District: Berks County

Judy Schwank recognizes that the needs and concerns of residents of the 11th Senatorial District are not limited by its boundaries. Her achievements in government and nonprofit realms reflect Judy’s interest in and advocacy for sustainable growth and prosperity, both locally and statewide. Judy has dedicated most of her adult life to public service. A former Berks County Commissioner, Judy has been committed to serving the people of Berks County. Her passion for promoting sustainable growth, prosperity, and preserving agricultural integrity has been exemplified through her many accomplishments in public service. Following college, Judy worked as a Berks County horticultural agent for Penn State Cooperative Extension and established the Master Gardener Program. She became director of the Berks County Cooperative Extension Program in 1991 and was elected as the first female Berks County Commissioner in 2000. Judy’s interest in creating a sustainable Pennsylvania has drawn her to public service roles in the government and nonprofit realms. During her two terms as Berks County Commissioner, Judy was instrumental in initiating the Berks Municipal Land Preservation program working with county and municipal leaders to save our natural resources. She also played a leading role in achieving major upgrades and renovations at the Berks Heim nursing home, a needed resource for the county’s most vulnerable senior citizens. Judy recently received the Pennsylvania League of Cities Outstanding Public Service Citation for her work in support of local government and communities throughout the commonwealth. As President of 10,000 Friends, Judy provided support to organizations and individuals committed to improving the quality of life for all Pennsylvania residents. Under her leadership the non-profit agency developed policies and actions to revitalize and sustain Pennsylvania’s social and economic climate in order to encourage responsible land use, sustainable development, and promote agricultural heritage. Most recently Judy served as the Dean of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at Delaware Valley College. Additionally, Judy also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of Southeast Pennsylvania. Judy received her B.S. and M.Ed. in agricultural education from Penn State University and completed the Executive Leadership Program through the Institute for Conservation Leadership and the Institute for the Management of Life-Long Education at Harvard University. She attributes her success to her parents who taught her that public service, a strong work ethic and personal integrity were the keys to a rewarding life. She serves as the Democratic chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. During the current (2019-20) legislative session, she also will serve as Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. She also serves on the Aging & Youth, Local Government, Game and Fisheries, and Health and Human Services Committees.

Senator Judy Schwank

Senator Sharif Street

3rd District: Philadelphia County

Senator Sharif Street, elected to the Pennsylvania Senate in 2016, represents the Third Senatorial District of Philadelphia, which encompasses a population of over 240,000 people in North Philadelphia, Nicetown, Roxborough, Lower Germantown, Logan, Olney, Fern Rock, Crescentville, East Oak Lane, East Wyoming, East Hunting Park and Melrose Park Garden.

As senator, Sharif is committed to improving access to healthcare, reforming our criminal justice system, creating quality jobs, funding our public schools, investing in science and technology and fighting for the rights of all Pennsylvanians.

An attorney by profession, Sharif began his public career as a community activist organizing a Town Watch group while in law school. He graduated cum laude from Morehouse College with a B.A. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance- and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he served as president of the Penn Law Democrats. He is currently a member of the American, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia and National Bar Associations, as well as a member of the Philadelphia Barristers Association, for which he served as a board member in 2002.

Before being elected Senator, Sharif worked as a staffer for the Pennsylvania Senate, serving as the Chief Legislative Advisor to the Democratic Chair of the Housing and Urban Development Committee and had the primary responsibility for overseeing legislative, housing, environmental and economic development initiatives. During this time, he facilitated the creation of Philadelphia Green Communities, the first environmental educational program of its kind implemented in a major U.S. city. Sharif helped to found and served on the Board of Directors of Urban Solutions, a non-profit corporation created to address the health needs of traditionally under-served communities.

A known advocate of affordable housing and community development, Sharif has a depth of knowledge and experience in dealing with eminent domain acquisition, low-income housing, women and minority issues, and disadvantaged business certifications. He has served on the Council for HOPE VI, has been a featured presenter at the National Public Housing Resident Empowerment Conference, and has served as managing director of the Housing Association of Delaware Valley.

Additionally, Sharif has served on the board of the North Central Philadelphia Empowerment Zone’s Housing Trust Fund and was a member of the North-Central Empowerment Zone’s Community Advisory Committees for Housing, Crime and Public Safety, and Economic Development. He has served as a board member of the Columbia North YMCA and is a current member of the Philadelphia’s African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs Commission.

Sharif is a father of five children and lives in North Philadelphia with his wife, April.