Pennsylvania swears in newly elected Democratic state executive officials
January 15, 2013
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania: In November, Pennsylvania voters elected two new Democrats, Kathleen Kane and Eugene DePasquale, to state-row.[1] Today, both were sworn into office.
Kane's oath makes her the first Democrat and first woman elected Attorney General in the state's history.[2] She succeeded Republican Linda Kelly, who was appointed to serve out the remainder of current Gov. Tom Corbett's term following his election to the top office in 2010. Kelly was the first woman to hold the position since it became an independent elected position in 1981, but her claim as an appointee left Kane with the additional designation of being the first ever woman elected attorney general, the state's chief law enforcement officer.[3]
Whether Kelly would have been able to beat Kane to the honor of this particular "first" no one will ever know, owing to the circumstances of her appointment. Kelly's 2010 Senate confirmation had been predicated on a "gentleman's agreement"-a staple of Pennsylvania state politics-whereby state executive appointees pledge to not seek a full term to the position in the subsequent election cycle.[4]
Also sworn in this afternoon was former state lawmaker and now Pennsylvania's 51st State Auditor Eugene DePasquale. DePasquale was elected in November to take over as the state's head financial watchdog. He replaces fellow Democrat Jack Wagner, who was first elected in 2004 and could not run again in 2012 due to term limits.[5]
The third state executive position up for election last fall in the Keystone state was State Treasurer. Incumbent Rob McCord (D) ran for and won re-election on November 6, 2012. He began his second term today with the following oath, taken in turn by new colleagues Kane and DePasquale:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this Commonwealth and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity." [6]
See also
- Attorney General of Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Auditor General
- Pennsylvania Treasurer
- Kathleen Kane
- Eugene DePasquale
- Rob McCord
Footnotes
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- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Election Returns," accessed January 15, 2012
- ↑ The Morning Call, "Kathleen Kane sworn in as Pennsylvania attorney general," January 15, 2013
- ↑ Philadelphia Inquirer, "Election Results 2012," accessed November 7, 2012
- ↑ Attorney General of Pennsylvania Linda Kelly, "History of the Office of Attorney General," accessed April 2, 2012
- ↑ The York Dispatch, "DePasquale sworn in as state's auditor general," January 15, 2013
- ↑ Pennsylvania Legislature, "Pennsylvania Constitution, Article VI - Public Officers Oath of Office"
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