| rdfs:comment | - State Sen. James Rhoades, R-Schuylkill, died from injuries received in a head-on collision in October, 2008. His wife and the driver of the other car were injured, but the injuries are not life-threatening. For decades, Rhoades was chair of the Senate Education Committee. A former teacher and principal, he was a champion for children and education. He also was widely respected for building bi-partisan understanding and action on education issues. Gov. Ed Rendell has directed that flags be flown at half-mast.
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| abstract | - State Sen. James Rhoades, R-Schuylkill, died from injuries received in a head-on collision in October, 2008. His wife and the driver of the other car were injured, but the injuries are not life-threatening. For decades, Rhoades was chair of the Senate Education Committee. A former teacher and principal, he was a champion for children and education. He also was widely respected for building bi-partisan understanding and action on education issues. Gov. Ed Rendell has directed that flags be flown at half-mast. Rhoades's death opens the Education Committee to new leadership, which could affect efforts to improve public integrity. The Republican vice chair of the Education Committee is Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, R-Dauphin, who now is the chair of the Senate State Government Committee (SSGC). Under Piccola, the committee voted on and passed many reform proposals only to have them expire in the House State Government Committee. He has promised to continue to push a reform agenda if re-elected in November 2008. If he moves to the Education Committee, much will depend on who replaces him at the SSGC. The tragedy occurring so close to the election will not allow Rhoades's name to be removed from the ballot. If he wins, the presiding officer of the Senate will call a special election at least 60 days after Nov. 4.
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