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State Sen. Robbins to Retire

Sen. Robbins
Sen. Robbins

Bob Robbins (R-Mercer) announced Monday that he will not seek a 7th term in the state Senate.

“It has truly been an honor and pleasure to represent the great people of our area as a member of the House and Senate,” said Robbins, 69. “While the decision to retire has been a difficult one, I now look forward to spending more time with my family and friends as I move into the next phase of my life.”

He is the fourth Republican state Senator to decide not to seek re-election in 2014, following Sens. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster), Ted Erickson (R-Delaware) and Mike Waugh (R-York). Democratic Sen. Jim Ferlo (D-Allegheny), whose district was moved across the state during redistricting, also will take a pass.

“But most importantly, I have been blessed to have the unwavering support of my wife, Cindy,” Robbins concluded. “I’m forever grateful for the many friends I have made and for the opportunities I’ve been given to serve.”

Robbins graduated from West Point and served two tours of duty in Vietnam. His work as Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee led to his induction in both the Army National Guard Hall of Fame and the Air National Guard Hall of Fame.

The Senator was Majority Policy Chairman from 1997 to 2000 and has been the Majority Caucus Secretary since 2001. Prior to the Senate, he served 8 years as in the state House.

Numerous Republican sources named state Rep. Michele Brooks (R-Mercer) as the favorite to be the GOP’s nominee, with an announcement planned for Thursday. Brooks, 49, also served as Mercer County Commissioner.

PoliticsPA is seeking comment from Brooks.

Meanwhile Michael Muha, a lawyer from Hermitage, has already announced his intention to run as a Democrat.

Muha praised Robbins’ service.

“I would like to thank Senator Robbins for his commitment to public service. Senator Robbins, a proud son of Greenville, is an American hero, who bravely served our country in the Vietnam War,” Muha said in a statement.

“As your next State Senator I will fight to create an environment for family-sustaining jobs, for quality public education in Pennsylvania, and to promote innovative solutions to repair the economic and communal stagnation that affects many communities from Sharon and Meadville to Titusville and Grove City.”SD50 2014

The 50th district comprises all of Crawford and Mercer counties as well as southern Erie and western Warren counties. The GOP holds a slim edge in voter registration, 45% to 44%. But the district typically votes Republican; for instance 2012 Attorney General hopeful Dave Freed beat Kathleen Kane there. SD-50 voters have not elected a Democratic Senator since the district was created in 1947.

 

5 Responses

  1. Bob Robbins is a wonderful public servant and I am sad to see him go. I wish him the best of luck!

  2. One more thing… while it may be easy to rely on Wikipedia, please don’t.

    Re: “SD-50 voters have not elected a Democratic Senator since the district was created in 1947.”

    No new maps were drawn between 1937 and 1964, so it would be quite impossible for *any* Senate district to have been created in 1947. (Using your Wikipedia logic, SD1 was created in 1967, since that’s the first year currently listed on that district’s Wikipedia page.)

    The Senate went to 50 seats in 1874 (making that the year that “the district was created”). In that map, SD50 was all of Crawford County: http://goo.gl/JUjpt0

    In 1906, SD50 was changed to include all of Crawford and Mercer counties: http://goo.gl/Vfyi6J

    The maps of 1921 and 1937 kept the Crawford/Mercer alignment.

    1921: http://goo.gl/6lO2s9

    1937: http://goo.gl/TTPSmA

    Wikipedia is a useful tool. But, please, dig just a little bit deeper.

  3. I know it’s not the point of the story, but regarding this sentence: “Democratic Sen. Jim Ferlo (D-Allegheny), whose district was moved across the state during redistricting, also will take a pass.”

    Ferlo represents SD38. And while SD38 underwent some very dramatic changes, it’s actually SD40 (currently represented by Vulakovich) that was “moved across the state.”

    A minor point, perhaps, but facts are important.

  4. Bob Robbins has been a joke since day 1. As well as miss puppet Michelle Brooks. The dems have a good chance of picking up this seat if they spend the money. And go negative early against Brooks. This women is a complete failure. When she ran for her current seat the first time against Frank Weaver she said special education kids were a drag on public education after a debate in greenville high school. She is very beatable. She is not well liked in the republican party either.

  5. What cha gonna do republicans when Mike Muha runs wild on you!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cue the Hulk Hogan t-shirt rip.

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