Valley lawmaker to retire
State Rep. Ted Harhai has joined as many as a dozen moderate lawmakers in announcing he will not seek re-election this year, citing “the rise of bruising partisanship in Harrisburg” as a factor in his decision to retire.
The nine-term Democrat from Monessen said he is proud of his accomplishments, which include helping to obtain millions of dollars for highways and other projects in the Mon Valley.
“In the last several years, there’s been little compromise, cooperation and collaboration. It’s become extremely frustrating,” Harhai stated in a news release. “It’s just become harder to reach any consensus, as proven by the current, protracted budget debate.”
A former Monessen councilman and mayor, Harhai graduated from Monessen High School in 1973 before earning a degree from Carnegie Mellon University in 1977. Before holding elected office, he worked as an investment banker in New York City and Chicago.
Harhai said he will continue to advocate for three pieces of his current legislation – which call for campaign finance reform, redistricting reform and lobbyist reform – to eventually become law, to curb the influence of outside money and political self-interest.
“This must be done; the sooner, the better,” he said.
Harhai joins longtime state Rep. Peter J. Daley, D-California, in announcing their retirements.