Senate Minority Leader Bob Mellow (D-Lackawanna) said Tuesday he will not seek re-election at the end of his term this year.
“It has been my profound personal honor to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania,” he said in a statement. “It has literally been my life’s work. I am deeply grateful for the trust that my friends and neighbors from northeastern Pennsylvania have shown me by electing and re-electing me to work for them. We have accomplished many great things together.”
Elected in 1971, Sen. Mellow is the chamber’s longest-serving member.
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UPDATE: A Republican and Democratic source tell PoliticsPA state Rep. Jim Wansacz is a possible candidate to replace Mellow. Other Democrats mentioned as possible successors include state Rep. Kevin Murphy and radio host Steve Corbett.
The GOP source says Republicans are courting Lackawanna County District Attorney Andy Jarbola to run, while other names that have been mentioned include Vince Galko, who’s running congressional candidate Lou Barletta’s campaign, and Frank Castellano, an assistant district attorney in Lackawanna County.
UPDATE No. 2: A report in the Inquirer also indicated Scranton Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Doherty might be interested in the seat. Although one Democratic insider dismissed the thought Doherty would run for state Senate, a source close to the campaign said the mayor “has received a number of calls encouraging him to run for the open seat.”
“While he continues to focus on his campaign for governor, he’s willing to listen to what people have to say about the state senate,” the source said.
Democrats are in a 30-20 minority in the Senate and are considered a lackluster caucus even by many in their own party. Joining could give the mayor experience with statewide issues but could also saddle him with an undesirable voting record.
Doherty has also been rumored as a possible lieutenant governor candidate, although Philadelphia attorney Jonathan Saidel received the state party’s official endorsement last weekend and holds a significant fundraising advantage.
Tags: Chris Doherty Bob Mellow, Chris Doherty for state Senate
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This crook has been in office way too long and should have been thrown out long ago. Unfortunately the people of his district were never smart enough to throw this bum out. Finally, after years of self service the light has finally gone on in some of these peoples minds and little Bobby probably sees the handwritting on the wall that maybe he could no longer pull the wool over their eyes any longer. It’s a damn shame that this guy was never judged on what he had done, more like what he had not done for this area but consistently got put into office time and time again just because he was a Democrat from an area that doesn’t know how to split a ticket and will vote for anyone with this label after his/her name. Good riddance to bad rubbish. I hope Atty. Gen. Corbett will continue his probe into all of the unethical wrongdoings of the “illustrious” Bob Mellow! This decision truely makes me very happy!!!