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Our new members of the Legislature will have their
hands full this year. Among them, we find some seasoned political
veterans, newcomers, and everything in between. PoliticsPA looks at some
of the most promising stars of the class...
 Senator Jim
Ferlo (D): It's tough to consider Ferlo, a
14-year Pittsburgh City Councilman and two-term Council President, a Freshman.
Ferlo comes to the Senate with more experience than many veterans. Expect
Ferlo to push hard to bring home the bacon, and for him (not Mayor Murphy) to be
the point man for Pittsburgh.
 Representative
Dave Hickernell (R):
The Elizabethtown
College graduate is the insider of insiders. He's worked for the House
Republican Caucus
as a legislative assistant,
Director of the House Policy Committee,
Executive Director for the Majority Whip’s Office and, Executive Assistant to
the Majority Appropriations Chairman. Hickernell
was elected as Lancaster County’s Clerk of
Courts in 1999, and prior to that served on the Republican County Committee and
Chaired the
Elizabethtown Republican Committee.
First-term legislators will be looking to Hickernell to explain the intricacies
of the legislative process.
 Representative Daylin
Leach (D): The Temple University and University of Houston law
graduate has all the ingredients of a rising star. He knows how to
navigate the political world. The former President of the Pennsylvania
Young Democrats understands the game. And most importantly, he makes the job look fun.
 Senator Dominic
Pileggi (R): Although technically not a member of the Freshman class
since he was elected in a October 2002 special election, Pileggi's stature is
likely to grow considerably in his first full term. The
St. Joseph's University and Villanova School of Law
graduate has the inside game mastered. He is the former Mayor of Chester,
longtime member of the Republican Party of Chester and currently Chairman of
the Executive Committee. Pileggi has a solid power base from which to
develop, and may someday outgrow his state Senate seat.
 Representative Dave
Reed (R): The recent Honors graduate from the
Indiana University
of Pennsylvania does not yet have the long and distinguished record of service
that other Freshman have, but at 24, is now the youngest state legislator in
Pennsylvania. What he lacks in practical experience, Reed more than makes up for
with hard work.
 Representative Melissa
Weber (R): Weber is
a graduate of Denison University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics; received
a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law; and a Legal Masters
Degree in Trial Advocacy form Temple University. This former Montgomery
County Assistant District Attorney has all the qualities of a rising star, and
her political potential could one day carry her all the way to Washington.
Representative Jake Wheatley (D):
Wheatley earned his bachelor's degree from North Carolina Agricultural and
Technical State University and master's degree from the University of
Pittsburgh. Wheatley defeated incumbent State Representative Bill Robinson
in the primary, which we called Robinson's campaign one of the
worst of the season. Sure,
Wheatley was convicted in 1992 for larceny and assault, but he has successfully
put that footnote behind him. That said, he has a solid
array of Pittsburgh contacts, has impressed the Harrisburg Democratic
leadership, and has demonstrated he knows how to hustle.
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