He becomes a Pennsylvania state senator today, but it will be with a heavy heart that Joe Pittman takes the oath of office in Harrisburg this afternoon. One of his staff members, a former campaign worker for Pittman, was killed over the weekend in a car accident in Armstrong County.
21-year-old IUP student Brian Henry Swatt, who was just hired last week to Pittman’s staff, died when his car went over an embankment at the intersection of Route 268 and Butler Road in East Franklin Township. He was originally listed as a missing person until the accident scene was discovered about 24 hours after he was last seen.
Pittman’s swearing-in at the State Capitol building is scheduled for one o’clock. On Indiana In the Morning on WCCS on Friday, he said he expects it to be a brief ceremony, and then it’s right to work.
Pittman’s term of office is only through the end of next year, and he would have to run for re-election next year to return to the 41st District seat. He says taking over for retired Senator Don White, who was his boss for nineteen years, is a special privilege. “More than anything, it’s an honor. It’s very humbling. It is exciting and there’s a healthy dash of fear in it as well,” he said. “The responsibility that you inherit…I feel a very, very strong obligation to the district.”
You can watch Senator Joe Pittman take the oath of office on the internet at pasenategop.com. Click on the “Watch Session Live” tab.
