Because the legislature has been unwilling to consider single-change election legislation in the past, Shapiro would likely have to agree to a more comprehensive bill that contains his priorities as well as compromises hes willing to accept in exchange for GOP support. Selber, 52, is currently Shapiro's executive deputy attorney general in charge of the office's criminal division and has been by Shapiro's side in announcing the office's biggest cases. Danielle Okai is currently deputy director of public engagement at the U.S Department of Commerce and previously worked in the White House, on President Joe Bidens campaign, and in the Wolf administration. Whats next:Shapiro said that this would be done by changing thePennsylvania Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act to require that companies selling energy to the commonwealthsPublic Utilities Commission include a higher percentage of energy from alternative resources. And outside Philly, turnout was also relatively weak in smaller cities where lots of Black and Latino people live, such as Allentown, Hazleton, and Reading. Shapiros lofty political ambitions have been well-known and discussed throughout his nearly two decades in Pennsylvania politics. California residents do not sell my data request. Ive looked at Luzerne County as an illustration of that. The press conference in Center City was organized by Democratic nominee Josh Shapiro's campaign and included state representatives and Philadelphia city council members. Promise:Shapiro said he wouldinclude a line itemin his first budget that funds legal representation for indigent Pennsylvanians. Because we share our stories, he said. Snyder, who will retire from the state House at the end of this years legislative session, has for nearly a decade represented a seat in the far southwestern corner of Pennsylvania. Its always difficult to take specific lessons from broad turnout trends, but Putnam pointed out one more data point that she thinks sheds light on Shapiros relatively weak showing in poor urban areas: comparison with Lt. Gov. Shapiros plan would cut that timeline in half and reduce the CNIT even further. Josh Shapiro fills executive staff, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Route 33 closed after major crash involving multiple vehicles, Pa. Gov. Austin Davis, speaking at the Pennsylvania Press Club on Monday, hinted that a school-funding response will be a major feature of Shapiros budget plan, saying Shapiro will have a lot to say about equitable school funding. Have a tip for the WESA newsroom? Here are Shapiros appointments: Joseph Lee, Deputy Chief of Staff for Administration and Opportunity Joseph Lee. Hell also have to take some firm positions on topics he has previously avoided, like whether hell continue his predecessors commitment to keeping Pennsylvania inan organizationthat would cap carbon emissions from fossil fuel power plants. Sign up for our free newsletters. The courts ruling did not determine a figure for how much the state should distribute or how, leaving it to the Legislature, the governor and school districts that sued to determine a plan to address the violations. . Putnam noted that the only areas where Shapiro consistently did not see extremely impressive turnout numbers relative to previous elections were the most economically marginal, heavily minority neighborhoods in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, as well as in smaller cities like Allentown, Hazleton, and Reading. Please enable JavaScript to properly view our site. This was especially the case in poorer, heavily Black and Hispanic precincts. Whats next:Both of these policy proposals would need to come from the legislature, as the governor does not have the ability to introduce legislation. WHYY provides trustworthy, fact-based, local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community. Josh Shapiro is stocking his executive staff of advisors, mediators, and policy experts with political in order to determine what adequacy looks like, she said. Do you receive unwanted calls? But repeatedly in poor, heavily Black and Latino urban neighborhoods, Fettermans results were much closer to Shapiros i.e., he did comparatively better in those areas. Philly mayoral candidates are discussing gun violence tonight. Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro has been hovering on the edge of the states political radar for quite awhile now. Last year, he was named a Rising Star by NBCs Chuck Todd and won one of our reader polls. 1915-1981: Modern Attorneys General Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Promise:Shapiro said he will sign legislation toallow counties to begin tabulating mail ballots before Election Day, a process known as pre-canvassing that is common in states with widespread mail voting. But in order to tackle most of the bigger issues on the long agenda Shapiro laid out while running for governor, he will have to work with a divided legislature on notoriously fraught issues like regulating Pennsylvanias energy industry and updating the states election laws. When news emerged this summer that Mastrianos campaign had shelled out $5,000 to Gab for consulting services, Shapiro didnt hesitate. Their strategy included offering job training and connections at the door, noted Rosslyn Wuchinich, who is a president of Unite Here Local 274 and served as campaign director for the effort. Some of Shapiros ventures into less friendly territories were fraught. Shapiro has been leaning into that image in the early stages of his campaign, saying that he has a unique ability to work across the aisle to get things done. Pennsylvanias legal representation will be overseen by Jennifer Selber, who already worked closely with Shapiro as executive deputy attorney general in charge of the offices criminal division. ANDY BLACKBURN | Staff But one of the main strategies he used didnt have much to do with the candidates at all it had to do with him, the messenger. A former police officer who also worked in corporate security, Vereb is a Republican who held a Montgomery County state House seat from 2006 to 2016. Promise:Against a backdrop of rising food and gas prices in 2021, Shapiro said he would provide a$250 gas tax refundfor every personal passenger car registered in the state (up to four per household) andeliminate the states 11% salestax on cell phone service. Basically Shapiro hung onto all the Biden voters and had unusually large numbers of them actually voting in the midterm elections and then additionally, he persuaded some Trump voters, she said. Former labor union political director Tori Shriver will work on labor issues for Shapiro as deputy chief of staff for education and workforce development. The executive staffers will help the governor strategize, offer policy expertise and serve as his representatives in talks with the legislature, departments and interest groups as he tries to deliver on key campaign promises. Henominated his cabinetand issued four executive orders: one thatupdated administration ethics rules, and others focused primarily on economic development. we can do A, B, or C. Youre the governor, you get to decide.. AP. 1776-1838: Early Constitutional Era You need to look at: what do your students need? John Morris was the first Attorney General appointed under the Constitution. All of them have extensive experience in state politics. Josh Shapiro unveils his first budget next week, the poor districts that won a landmark school-funding lawsuit will want to see him propose a significant down payment and a plan to overhaul how the state pays for K-12 education in what could be a term-defining moment for the Democrat. The new constitutional office continued to grow in importance until 1840 when it suffered a period of regression. Uri Monson, currently the Philadelphia School Districts chief financial officer, will serve as budget secretary. Shapiro told The Inquirer that he hasnt spoken with Fetterman since he entered Walter Reed, but that hes exchanged texts with the senators wife, Gisele. She noted that Republicans no longer have the firm hold on the state House that they did during Wolfs tenure. Josh Shapiro and executive branch employees We need your help to keep Pennsylvania in Democratic hands. The Public Protection Division safeguards the personal rights of the citizens of Pennsylvania and protects the public interest. He alsowas one of the first Pennsylvania politiciansto endorse Trumps 2016 presidential bid. Likewise, he said he supports investments in and tax incentives for zero carbon technology. None of these plans have included specific details or timelines. The executive staffers will help the governor strategize, offer policy expertise, and serve as his representatives in talks with the legislature, departments, and interest groups as he tries to deliver on key campaign promises. But she thinks theres a broad perception that Democrats want to stop the use of fossil fuels. Here are some key policies likely to come up, Abbott Elementary will give Mural Arts Philadelphia a moment in the spotlight, Philadelphia news consumers want to see more crime, infrastructure, and education in local reporting, study finds. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro made a gubernatorial campaign stop at a home in Forest Hills, Allegheny County on March 18, 2022. Freeman talked frequently about Shapiros pledges to fund public education. What we dont want is a fight over this budget cycle and then to, in July, ask what happens next, he said. Vereb did not seek reelection in 2016, instead becoming theonly person not involved in Democratic politics or Shapiros campaignto be appointed to the new attorney generals staff, where he has since served as director of government affairs. Governor-elect Josh Shapiro looks on during his inauguration ceremony, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, at the State Capitol in Harrisburg. Similarly, there have been bills introduced to allow for geriatric parole, but they have never gained traction in thestate legislature. Michelle A. Henry, a life-long public servant and 26-year veteran prosecutor, is Pennsylvanias Acting Attorney General. Chief among those honors was Henrys admittance to the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America; and the receipt of Widener University Commonwealth Law Schools 2017 Excellence in Public Service Alumni Award for her extraordinary contributions to public service. Pennsylvania Gov. Mann has said that reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 is possible, but will require Shapiro to take advantage of the bully pulpit and convince voters that legislative Republicans block efforts to create a livable future., Violent crime and public safety were popular talking points in the 2022 election cycle, and Shapirobrought the topics up often during his campaign. Newly minted Pennsylvania Gov. (Hamilton later defended printer John Peter Zenger in a case that became the foundation for the concept of freedom of press.). Currently, he is deputy superintendent for operations at the $4.4 billion Philadelphia school district, the state's largest, after six-plus years as the district's chief financial officer. Josh Shapiro made a lot of promises on the campaign trail. Your instincts are as important as your intellect. Among people who work on and with Democratic campaigns, Hillary Clintons 2016 campaign, with its firm focus on Pennsylvanias cities and big suburbs, has become a model of how not to run a race in the state. WebEndorsements - Shapiro For Governor Endorsements Im humbled to have the endorsements from unions, advocacy groups, and so many more from across the Commonwealth. She was an avid figure skater who skated competitively into high school before studying political science at Temple. Believe me, I had this on my bingo card 25 years ago.. Whats next:Many of these proposals would require the approval of the legislature. This law enforcement effort includes a criminal investigation unit and a drug law enforcement program as well as direction of statewide and multi-county investigating grand juries and a Medicaid Fraud Control Section, To collect, by suit or otherwise, all debts, taxes and accounts due the Commonwealth which shall be referred to and placed with the Attorney General, To represent the Commonwealth and all Commonwealth agencies and upon request the Auditor General, State Treasurer and Public Utility Commission in any action brought by or against the Commonwealth or its Agencies, To administer the provision relating to consumer protection laws. HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) Gov.-elect Josh Shapiro is tapping longtime aides to take top positions in his office weeks before he is sworn in as Pennsylvania's 48th governor, as he prepares to leave the attorney general's office for a sprawling administration that runs the nation's fifth-most populous state. Shapiro served in the lower chamber from 2005 to 2011. When Pennsylvania Gov. So he benefited from both swinging the votes of some number of independents, and he benefited from maintaining strong turnout among sometimes-voters, most strongly in upscale suburbs and exurbs.. They blame a lack of a clear message and little institutional guidance from the state Republican Party for their generally disastrous results, which include losing the state House for the first time since 2010. Beginning in 1923, the Administrative Code made the Attorney General the administrator for the Pennsylvania Department of Justice. Shapiro, a Democrat, has served as Pennsylvanias attorney general since 2017 after his time as a state representative for the 153rd District and on the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. be light: Considering the night sky as a resource [Lancaster Watchdog], Some probation officers excluded from misconduct law, Pennsylvanians deserve better from the state House of Representatives [editorial], Pa. health department sues Spotlight PA to keep medical pot program data secret, Pa. voting access is unequal; study finds Lancaster County more restrictive than Chester County, McClinton elected first female speaker of the Pa. House as Rozzi steps down [update]. Shapiro served in the lower chamber from 2005 to 2011. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro heads to Pittsburgh Wednesday to formally announce hes seeking the Democratic nomination for Pennsylvania governor. People there, she said, seemed starved for elected officials to take a personal interest in their problems. Tom Wolf. Email news@wesa.fm. Shapiro said in a statement Tuesday that Uri Monson will be his top fiscal officer as budget secretary and Jennifer Selber will be his top lawyer as general counsel. Error! The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General enforces the law and defends the interests of the Commonwealth and its diverse citizens by: As provided by the Commonwealth Attorneys Act, the fundamental duties of the Attorney General are: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Strawberry Square Various Attorneys General and the Governors who appointed them defined the duties of the Office in different and contradictory ways. Together we can reach 100% of WHYYs fiscal year goal. Josh Shapiro is stocking his executive staff of advisors, mediators, and policy experts with political veterans and loyal allies. At one point, Shapiro and Boozel tangled with a business owner who opposed COVID-19-induced shutdowns. Analysts, activists, campaign operatives, supporters, and detractors all tend to agree that a few key things sealed the deal for Shapiro: a politically extreme, cash-poor opponent in Mastriano, strong outreach to rural areas Democrats sometimes neglect, and a pragmatic and at times, flexible policy message that appealed to voters in populous urban and suburban areas, as well as those in rural communities. She next managed his 2020 reelection campaign, then his 2022 campaign for governor. This is a people-powered campaign, and Im honored to work with these groups and all Pennsylvanians to tackle the big fights this election. We just assumed Bidens unpopular, gas prices are high, said state Rep. Jesse Topper (R., Bedford). During his campaign, Shapiro had the support of two factions that are often at odds: environmental protection advocates and the energy industry. Youre putting out fires all the time, said Mary Isenhour, who served as both legislative director and chief of staff for Shapiros predecessor, Democratic Gov. WebThe Shapiro Squad is an interactive community of online supporters working together to elect Josh Shapiro and Austin Davis on November 8, 2022. Promise:Shapiro wants to implement new programs regarding commutation and recidivism. Kiley Koscinski / WESA. It was a very frank and honest conversation, and there were certain moments where there was outright disagreement, Joyal said. This allowed Shapiros campaign to run ad after TV ad across the state portraying Mastriano as a dangerous radical and Shapiro as a reasonable consensus-builder. Republicans in Harrisburg have generally been unwilling to tighten gun laws despite being open to some of Democrats criminal justice priorities in the past. In the current fiscal year, the state is sending about $9.6 billion to school districts for school operations, instruction and special education. To represent the Commonwealth and its citizens in any action brought about for violation of the antitrust laws of the United States. Governor-elect Josh Shapiro opens transition, to stay AG until January. In between, she worked as a top deputy for communications under Shapiro in the attorney general's office. He has saidhe plans to close a ghost gun loophole that allows sales of gun parts that can be assembled into untraceable firearms, enact universal background checks as a condition of gun purchases, and pass a red flag law that would temporarily withhold guns from people experiencing a mental health crisis. Dana Fritz, who managed Attorney General Josh Shapiros winning gubernatorial campaign, will be his chief of staff in Harrisburg. Please give today. Former Pennsylvania Planned Parenthood political operations leader Lindsey Mauldin, who previously held roles in the Wolf administrations departments of Human Services and Health, will now be the deputy chief of staff working with both of those agencies. She thinks that Shapiro, whom she has known for 25 years, is well-positioned to negotiate. Dana Fritz, who led Shapiro's successful bid for governor, will be his chief of staff. Read more Courtesy Dana Fritz Dana Fritz, who managed Attorney General Josh Shapiros winning gubernatorial campaign, will be his chief of staff in Harrisburg. The Constitution further provided the Attorney General shall be the chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as may be imposed by law. Tim Freeman, a Philly-based hotel worker who serves as a steward and worked as a 2022 organizer, said people he spoke to at the door often didnt know it was an election year, or didnt realize Fetterman and Shapiro were both Democrats. After Shapiros 2016 election as Attorney General, Fritz served for three years as a deputy chief of staff and communications director there, leading public-facing efforts around the Catholic Church investigation, UPMC/Highmark dispute, lawsuits against the Trump Administration, and more. Hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians could lose their health insurance and nearly two million could face more food insecurity in the coming months. Former Pennsylvania Planned Parenthood political operations leader Lindsey Mauldin, who previously held roles in the Wolf administrations departments of Human Services and Health, will now be the deputy chief of staff working with both of those agencies. If Shapiro were to pull out of RGGI, it would signal a lack of seriousness, according to University of Pennsylvania climate scientist Michael Mann. But hell need support from the legislature to implement nearly every one of the major policies he has proposed to that end. Shapiros transition team Josh Shapiro unveils his first budget next week, the poor districts that won a landmark school-funding lawsuit will want to see him propose a significant down payment and a plan to overhaul how the state pays for K-12 education in what could be a term-defining moment for the Democrat. When Pennsylvania Gov. HARRISBURG Newly minted Pennsylvania Gov. I joked to him, I think you just need to, like, buy a house here already, youre here once a month, Bozinski said of Shapiros visits to Luzerne. But Joyal said the conversations were worthwhile: I really believe that a bunch of those folks, even if they didnt vote for the governor-elect, felt respected, felt heard.. On the campaign trail, Shapiro talked about transitioning to renewable energy sources but he also stressed that he thinks fossil fuels are currently indispensable. Dana Fritz, who managed Attorney General Josh Shapiros winning gubernatorial campaign, will be his chief of staff in Harrisburg. As a state representative, Vereb drew his partys ire for being willing to consider tax increases. Before that, she was chief of the homicide unit in the district attorney's office in Philadelphia, the nation's sixth-most populous city. Freeman was shot in the leg in 2019 a case of wrong place at the wrong time, he said. Fritz, a Lehigh Valley native, was deputy campaign manager in Shapiros 2016 bid for attorney general and stayed with him after he took office, working over several years in communications and as deputy chief of staff. WHILE YOURE HERE If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. And he didnt just get a lot of votes. Pennsylvania House Speaker Mark Rozzi (D., Berks) says he will introduce chamber rules this week that would give Republicans more power to set the legislative agenda. Newly minted Pennsylvania Gov. Lawmakers have not often approved enough funds to be entirely compliant with a courts ruling, or the cases can return to court time and time again in attempts to push lawmakers to act. Snyders collaborations with Shapiro arent ending with the campaign. In some cases, theres no guarantee it comes to fruition. The announcement, released by Shapiros transition team, included statements from chiefs of staff to the last four governors. Spotlight PA Staff He was elected speaker in a 115-85 vote with the support of all Democratic lawmakers and 16 Republicans, including the partys entire leadership team. In the coming months, Spotlight PA will track Shapiros progress on some of the key commitments he made on the campaign trail, highlighting specific promises for the following reasons: Shapiro emphasized them during his run for governor; Passing them would require collaboration with the legislature; Or they could bring different factions of his supporters into conflict. The arrival of William Penn in 1681 as the proprietor of Pennsylvania began a continuing succession of notable Attorneys General including David Lloyd (1686-1710), who designed Pennsylvanias first judicial system, and Andrew Hamilton (1717-1726), who defined the early role of the Office by making significant changes from the European systems of justice. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Shapiros transition team announced Thursday that Fritz, 32, would take on the role overseeing the Office of the Governor and serving as Shapiros top adviser. She will serve as Shapiros deputy chief of staff for economic development. His picks include Al Schmidt, Val Arkoosh, and Pat Browne. You'll also have a direct line to the campaign's digital staff, to brainstorm ideas to get Josh's message out in your community. At a recent news conference on the gubernatorial transition, Shapiro told reporters hell assemble a working group to assess it. The Office of General Counsel houses dozens of lawyers in about 30 state agencies and often goes to court on the state's behalf, particularly when the attorney general's office declines the task or delegates it. But that decline was much sharper in urban core areas, including in urban core areas where 2018 had seen strong turnout, Putnam added. On the ground, canvassers said they repeatedly encountered this kind of attitude in relatively poor, urban neighborhoods. Request a presentation and access resources from the office online. Fritz, 32, goes back a decade with Shapiro, helping him campaign for Montgomery County commissioner in 2012 before she held senior positions in his three successful campaigns for state attorney general and governor.