BERWICK – Outgoing State Senator John Gordner (R-27th, Berwick) begins is new role as Counsel to Interim Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward Thursday.
On his last day in elected office, Sen. Gordner talked to WKOK’s On The Mark, “Kim Ward approached me about five or six weeks ago with this position. We had been working closely over the last two years, her as majority leader and me as Whip. So its sort of a neat way of culminating my 30-year career in the state house and senate using my legislative and legal abilities.”
Gordner said the Counsel position has been vacant since Drew Crompton left in 2019 to go to Commonwealth Court. Gordner says his first order of business will be two things, “Two of the things I’ll be immediately working on is the impeachment trial (of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner), and then every session, we adopt rules on the first day of session. So dusting out the rule book, looking at recent changes the house did. So those a couple of my immediate responsibilities.”
Gordner added he plans to be in the new role through November 2024, but doesn’t know his future any further at this point.
For the time being, Gordner says the 27th state senatorial seat will be vacant. He says the Lieutenant Governor’s office has 10 days after accepting Gordner’s resignation to decide when a special election will take place.
A special election cannot occur sooner than 60 days after Gordner’s resignation, meaning the earliest it could come would be early February and as late as next May during the spring election. Then, both the state Republican and Democratic parties will also hold conventions soon to choose their next candidate.
Gordner called his 30 years as a state representative and senator ‘the job of a lifetime.’ As for why he worked well with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle:
“If you respect that every legislator was elected by their constituents for a reason and understand they’re representing their folks as much as I’m representing our folks, I think it’s easier to work together and try to get something done for all the folks of Pennsylvania.”
Gordner says about 50-60 of his bills over his 30 years were signed into law. He also thanked his staff and family for all their support during his tenure.
You can hear more of outgoing Senator Gordner’s exit interview on the WKOK.com Podcast Page, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
