By the MVI
A Mon Valley political fixture is stepping down from his state Senate seat, but he insists it won’t lead to a seat change in his district.
State Sen. Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport, said Wednesday he is retiring at the end of this year. He will not seek reelection.
Brewster serves Pennsylvania’s 45th State Senatorial District, which covers Allegheny County’s Mon Valley, as well as eastern and southern suburbs such as Plum, Monroeville, Brentwood, Baldwin, and Castle Shannon.
Brewster, 75, has been involved in government for over three decades, all centered around his hometown of McKeesport. He served on McKeesport Council for 10 years before being elected mayor of the Mon Valley city in 2003.
In 2010, he was elected state senator, a position he has held ever since.
“It has been an honor, privilege, and pleasure to serve the citizens of the 45th Senatorial District in the Mon Valley and Southwestern Pennsylvania in the state Senate, but it is time to explore other options and take on new challenges,” Brewster said.
“While I am concluding my service in the Senate at the end of 2024, I will continue to help the communities of the 45th district.”
Throughout his time in the Senate, Brewster has been a leader on issues impacting the Mon Valley and Western Pennsylvania. With his long tenure serving the Mon Valley he has been recognized as “dean” of the region’s legislative delegation.
“I am exceptionally proud of the work that my staff and I have done to solve problems for citizens throughout the area,” Brewster said. “The efforts have been rewarding and I hope they will have a lasting impact.
“I want to thank my wife Linda, my family, staff and friends for supporting me throughout four decades of public service.”
Many colleagues, officials and community leaders have weighed in on Brewster’s announcement to retire.
To read the rest of the story, please see a copy of Thursday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at http://monvalleyindependent.com.