New year brings new legislators to Harrisburg
In Harrisburg, the New Year holiday coincided with a ceremony known as “First Tuesday,” when two of 42 new House members representing parts of the South Hills took their oaths of office.
Meanwhile, Guy Reschenthaler, 35, of Peters Township, resigned from his state Senate seat Dec. 31 in advance of swearing-in ceremonies Jan. 3 as the 116th Congress convened.
The vacancy will trigger a special election at a date to be announced to fill the remainder of Reschenthaler’s 37th District term. The district includes most of the South Hills.
Those taking oaths of office Jan. 2 in Harrisburg included two new Republican state representatives in the area: Natalie Mihalek of Upper St. Clair and Mike Puskaric of Elizabeth Township.
Mihalek officially began her first term as state representative of the 40th Legislative District. She was elected in November to fill the seat vacated by Rep. John Maher, who served part of Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair and Peters townships for 21 years. Maher did not seek re-election.
She said in a news release she is “mindful of the need to address the state’s opioid crisis, establish policies that encourage the creation of family-sustaining jobs and ensure that our children receive a good education in a safe environment.”
Mihalek, a native of Allegheny County and mother of three, is one of 51 women elected to the House in November – the largest percentage of female legislators to date. Women still comprise less than 25 percent of House members.
Mihalek, 39, is the first woman to represent the district since Alice Langtry did so from 1985 to 1992.
State Rep. Mike Puskaric, R-Elizabeth Township, is shown at his swearing-in Jan. 2 in Harrisburg.
Also marking the beginning of the 203rd Pennsylvania General Assembly was Puskaric in the 39th Legislative District.
“Although today’s ceremony capped many months of hard work on the part of my family and dedicated friends and supporters, it also marks the beginning of the real work ahead – that of serving as the voice of my constituents,” said Puskaric in a news release. “I will work in earnest to support legislation and policies that solve problems, not create more of them.”
Puskaric, 29, pledged to hold taxes and spending steady, and he listed job creation, infrastructure improvements and school safety as challenges that must be faced.
Puskaric described himself as a strong supporter for state’s rights, Second Amendment rights and school choice. He said he will also strive to reform Harrisburg by ending perks, restructuring the pension system and ending the influence of special interests.
The 39th Legislative District includes part of Bethel Park in addition to Elizabeth, Elizabeth Township, Forward Township, Jefferson Hills, West Elizabeth, and parts of South Park Township in Allegheny County. It also includes Finleyville, Nottingham Township, Somerset Township and Union Township in Washington County.
Other returning incumbents are:
- State Rep. Dan Miller, D-Mt. Lebanon, sworn in for his fourth term in the 42nd District, which includes Mt. Lebanon, Dormont, Castle Shannon, Baldwin Township and parts of Scott Township and Pittsburgh.
- State Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik, D-Neville Township, sworn in for her second term in the 45th District, which includes Carnegie, parts of Scott Township and several other Allegheny County municipalities.
- State Rep. Jason Ortitay, R-Cecil, sworn in for his third term in the 46th District, which includes Collier and South Fayette townships and Bridgeville, Heidelberg, McDonald and Oakdale in Allegheny County and several municipalities in Washington County.
Editor’s Note: A story in the Jan. 6 edition of The Almanac incorrectly stated state Rep. Dan Miller’s party affiliation. He is a Democrat who has served the 42nd state House District in the South Hills since 2013.