Mellow: "... my profound personal honor to serve ..."

HARRISBURG - Senator Robert Mellow, the Pennsylvania State Senate’s longest-serving member and its highest-ranking Democrat, announced today that he will not seek re-election.  He was first elected to the Senate in 1970.

Mellow’s 22nd Senate district includes part of western Monroe County. 

“The long hours in Harrisburg over the years have cost me precious time with my daughters and now my grandchildren”, said Mellow, Tuesday. “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.

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.”