James R. Brewster is an American politician who has served as a member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 45th District since 2010.
Jim Brewster | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 45th district | |
| Assumed office November 17, 2010[1] | |
| Preceded by | Sean Logan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1947 or 1948 (age 75–76) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | McKeesport, Pennsylvania |
Education
editBrewster earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from the California University of Pennsylvania.[2]
Career
editBrewster is a former vice president for fraud management with Mellon Bank and mayor of McKeesport, Pennsylvania.
On November 2, 2010, Brewster won a special election to fill the remaining term of Senator Sean F. Logan, who had resigned his seat on August 24, 2010, to take a position at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Brewster was sworn into the Pennsylvania Senate on November 17, 2010.
In July 2020, Brewster organized a meeting with bar and restaurant owners and signed a letter to Governor Tom Wolf urging him to lessen the restrictions on them imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]
2020 election
editIn January 2021, although Brewster narrowly defeated his opponent, Republican Nicole Ziccarelli, by 69 votes, the Republican-led State Senate refused to swear in Brewster for his fourth term, despite the fact that his win had already been certified by state officials.[4][5] Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman attempted to swear Brewster in. In a bizarre move, Republican leaders voted to remove Fetterman from his presiding role and halt Brewster's seating. Senator Jake Corman, when reading out names of the new and re-elected senators, intentionally omitted Brewster's, with Republicans once again voting to confirm the disruptive action.[6]
After a federal court ruling re-affirmed his win over Ziccarelli, Brewster was sworn in on January 13, 2021.[7]
References
edit- ^ SenatorBrewster.com
- ^ STATE SENATOR JIM BREWSTER
- ^ "Pa. Legislators Send Letter To Gov. Tom Wolf, Requesting Restrictions Be Readjusted For Bars And Restaurants". KDKA. July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- ^ Routh, Julian (January 5, 2021). "Pa. Senate Republicans refuse to seat Democrat Brewster in contentious swearing-in ceremony". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
- ^ Meyer, Katie (January 5, 2021). "In Explosive Debate, Pa. GOP Refuses To Swear In Reelected Democratic Senator". NPR.org. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
- ^ In chaotic session, GOP seizes control from Fetterman, refuses to seat Democratic member who won election, WHYY-FM, Katie Meyer, January 5, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
- ^ Hughes, Sarah Anne (January 12, 2021). "Federal judge rules in favor of Democratic Pa. Senate candidate GOP refused to seat". Spotlight PA. Retrieved January 12, 2021.