SENATOR MELLOW ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
FROM SENATE
Harrisburg, February 9, 2010 -- Senator Robert J.
Mellow, the Pennsylvania State Senate’s longest-serving
member and its highest-ranking Democrat, announced today
that he will not seek re-election.
With a lengthy record of public service, Senator
Mellow’s distinguished career includes two terms as
Senate President Pro Tempore, the third-highest
constitutional office in the Commonwealth.
“It has been my profound personal honor to serve the
citizens of Pennsylvania. It has literally been my
life’s work. I am deeply grateful for the trust that my
friends and neighbors from northeastern Pennsylvania
have shown me by electing and re-electing me to work for
them. We have accomplished many great things together,”
Mellow said.
“I have fought hard for the good people of Pennsylvania,
and I have loved every minute of being in the arena. My
constituents have shown me that if we stand together
with honor and integrity, there is nothing that we
cannot accomplish as citizens of this great state. I
always knew there would come a time to make this
difficult decision. I am confident I have accomplished
all I set out to do for the people of Pennsylvania. I
leave public life knowing that I have always strived to
meet a high standard of excellence. I know in my heart
that we have climbed that mountain. Now while at the
top, it is time to move on to different priorities.”
“The long hours in Harrisburg over the years have cost
me precious time with my daughters and now my
grandchildren. My choice to put them first is the right
thing to do and, as jarring as this decision has been to
make, I am confident that now is the right time to do
it. All of those days devoted to my constituents have
resulted in many good things for the 22nd District –
some I never imagined possible. With those successes in
mind, I am shifting my focus. My daughters and
grandchildren mean the world to me, and in this next
chapter of my life, I need to devote more of my time and
energy to them.”
Senator Mellow has diligently worked to assure that the
voice of northeastern Pennsylvania has been heard in
decisions made across the state, from economic
development, to tax reform, to health care, to education
and to issues affecting women, children, seniors and
veterans. Mellow is widely viewed as one of
Pennsylvania’s most respected and accomplished
legislators.
Among his most celebrated accomplishments are the
passage of the landmark Children’s Health Insurance Bill
(CHIP), now a model utilized throughout the United
States; the historic workers’ compensation reform law;
the well-known “Mellow Window” that helped to restore
the state’s fiscal stability following the 1991-92
national recession; and the 2006 property tax relief act
that uses gaming proceeds to slash local homeowner
property taxes by about $1 billion annually.
Senator Mellow spearheaded the efforts to establish the
Commonwealth Medical College which accepted its first
class of students in the fall of 2009. The regional
medical school in Scranton is the first of its kind in
the United States in over 50 years. He obtained $35
million in state grant funds to found the school.
Senator Mellow successfully advocated for the state law
that requires insurance companies to cover annual
mammograms. The law makes it possible for the women of
Pennsylvania to access quality preventive care.
Senator Mellow was the driving force behind building the
veterans' home in Scranton and naming the building after
Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Gino Merli. The
senator serves on the Advisory Board for the
state-of-the-art facility.
Among his many honors and awards are the Distinguished
Public Service Award by the Greater Scranton Chamber of
Commerce, the "Guardian of Small Business Award" from
the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the
“Adler Friend of Education Award” by the Pennsylvania
State Education Association, "Man of the Year" by the
Northeast Alliance of Pennsylvania Retirees, AFL-CIO,
and the “Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers’ President’s Award.”
Senator Mellow received the prestigious “Legion of Honor
Bronze Medallion” from the Chapel of Four Chaplains,
signifying his contributions toward national or
international peace and interfaith and interethnic
understanding.
He holds honorary doctoral degrees from The Commonwealth
Medical College, Keystone College, Lackawanna College,
the Widener University School of Law, the Pennsylvania
College of Podiatric Medicine and Marywood University.
Senator Mellow has been paid lasting tribute by many
regional institutions that have named facilities in his
honor. They include: Lackawanna College, Marywood
University, Friendship House, Keystone College, the Boy
Scouts of America and his birthplace of Peckville, PA
named their community recreation facility, “Mellow
Park.”
Senator Mellow received the “Wings of Pegasus Award” for
child advocacy and is the recipient of the Broadway
Theatre League of NEPA’s “Sam and Jane Cali Star” award
for distinguished service to the arts.
Senator Mellow was a proud member of the Army National
Guard. Senator Mellow has two daughters, Mrs. Tressa
Mellow Bargella and Ms. Melissa Mellow and two
grandchildren, Hali and Brody.
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