Senator Mike Waugh (R-York) resigned officially today, confirming reports late last week that he would not wait until the end of his term to resign.
Last Thursday, PoliticsPA reported that Waugh would resign, triggering a special election to fill his vacant seat in Senatorial District 28.
He had previously stated that he would retire at the end of his term, citing his poor health as the reason. Today, he announced today that he has resigned his position in the Senate to accept a position at the Department of Agriculture.
“The position which I’ve been offered, and which I’m accepting, is one that I’ve considered for the better part of a year. I look forward to the challenges it will bring, and I’m excited to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania in this new capacity.”
His new position will likely fuel the fire of conservative rumors that Waugh’s resignation was a political move to keep Scott Wagner out of office. Wagner is a York County conservative who has financed many primary challengers to establishment Republican candidates. This year, he was running himself to fill the seat vacated by Waugh’s retirement.
Now that Waugh has resigned, a special election will be convened before the May primary and the Republican Party of York County will get to pick their candidate. Wagner’s anti-establishment history will likely preclude him from consideration. He will be able to run in the Republican primary, but he will face an incumbent, instead of a vacancy.
Most expect state Rep. Ron Miller (R-York) to be the establishment Republican candidate.
Wagner launched his bid late last year and had begun advertising. His campaign reported having raised $268,000 already for the race. He advertises on PoliticsPA.
“This is another backroom deal. The kind of thing that has been going on far too long in Harrisburg,” Wagner said last week. He attributed Waugh’s decision in part to a maneuver by Pileggi.
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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Corbett administration says a state senator can resign to run the Farm Show because the job isn’t a “civil office” under Pennsylvania law.
Corbett spokesman Jay Pagni said the state constitutional provision that prohibits senators and representatives from taking state appointments to public jobs doesn’t apply to the Farm Show job.
A similar scenario arose in 2004, when the state attorney general’s office successfully sued to prevent a state lawmaker from joining the Gaming Control Board before his term had ended.
See Sean, even the Governor’s Office supports my opinion:
Waugh quit the Senate on Sunday, clearing the way for a special election to fill his York County-based seat.
A section of the state constitution prohibits a lawmaker, “during the time for which he was elected, to be appointed to any civil officer under this commonwealth.”
So now Lt. Gov. Cawley, no doubt on behalf of Corbett, has pulled a Christie – wasting money by calling a special election to replace Waugh just two months ahead of the May primary.
The position of Executive director of the farm show is not a CIVIL OFFICE, Sean. Actually, I’m not opposed to Ron Miller. Just stating the facts.
In real life, Bono, Article II Section 6 says exactly that, no matter how disdainful you may be of both candidates.
There is no such prohibition, Sean. There was a deal made between Corbett, Waugh and Senate Republican leadership to reduce the opportunities for tea-bagger Wagner to serve in the Senate. No doubt Long Nyquist will run Miller’s campaign.
Pretty sure the state constitution prohibits legislators from taking a job from the governor even if they resign, so this might be going nowhere.