Thaddeus Kirkland

Rev. Thaddeus Kirkland
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 159th district
Assumed office
January 5, 1993[1]
Preceded by Robert C. Wright
Personal details
Born (1955-01-12) January 12, 1955
Chester, Pennsylvania
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) Susie
Occupation Pastor of Community Baptist Church, Chester, PA
Religion Baptist

Thaddeus Kirkland (born January 12, 1955) is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives[2] and mayor of the Chester, PA. A graduate of Chester High School class of 1973, and Cheyney University Class of 1991,[3] Kirkland assumed office in his hometown on January 4, 2016 as mayor of the City of Chester.[4] Before elected into to the General Assembly, he was a community service coordinator at Crozer Chester Medical Center, and there he directed outreach and educational programs for teenagers. [5]

In the 2015 Democratic mayoral primary, Representative Kirkland defeated incumbent Mayor John Linder 1,818 to 721.[6] Representative Kirkland has represented the 159th Legislative District since 1993.[7] The 159th Legislative District, includes the communities of the City of Chester, Chester Township, Lower Chichester Township, portions of Ridley and Upper Chichester townships, Eddystone, Marcus Hook, Trainer, Upland and Parkside. [8] In 2002, he was named to the PoliticsPA list of Best Dressed Legislators.[9]

Rep. Kirkland currently sits as the Democratic Chairman of the House Tourism and Recreational Development Committee and a member of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus.[10]

Thaddeus is also the younger brother of former professional basketball player Wilbur Kirkland.[11]

Kirkland decided to stay on as the representative of Chester, as well as serving as mayor of the Delaware County community. He is the first representative who has resigned and then rescinded his resignation. The House Democratic spokesman stated that because of this action he will not be taking a mayoral salary until he departs from the House, and instead will take his legislative pay and continue to count toward his pension credits. [12] Kirkland has been in the House since 1992. [13]

Sponsored Legislation

In the 2015-2016 session, Rep. Kirkland was the primary sponsor of several bills some examples of which are: HB 418 concerning human shaped targets at shooting ranges,[14] HB 419 concerning crimes that could not be expunged from a criminal record,[15] and HB 420 concerning body cameras to be worn by active duty police officers.[16] None of these bills have yet to be vote on. Additionally, Rep. Kirkland has been involved in areas of prayer in school, video surveillance, technical training, and Head Start programs.[17]

Chester-Upland School District Controversies

In June, 2011, Kirkland announced that if $20 million worth of cuts were not restored to the Chester-Upland school district, he planned to file a federal lawsuit against Pennsylvania to close the three public high schools in Chester, PA.[18] However, the school board was not on board with Kirkland's plan, calling a press conference where they stated that they were "fully capable of speaking for" themselves and "totally disagree" with what Kirkland wanted to do.[19] During the month of June Thaddeus welcomed the innovation of Chester Charter School for the Arts. Its an 11-acre parcel on Highland Avenue, once the site of a Chester Housing Authority development, and will soon become a new K-12 public school. [20]

References

  1. ↑ "SESSION OF 1993 - 177TH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - No. 1" (PDF). Legislative Journal. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. 1993-01-05.
  2. ↑ http://votesmart.org/candidate/9167/thaddeus-kirkland
  3. ↑ Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Representative Thaddeus Kirkland". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  4. ↑ http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20160104/kirkland-promises-a-fresh-start-in-chester
  5. ↑ "Biography". Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  6. ↑ http://election.co.delaware.pa.us/eb/May_2015/49M.html
  7. ↑ http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?id=126
  8. ↑ "Biography". Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  9. ↑ "Sy Snyder's Best Dressed Legislators". PoliticsPA. The Publius Group. 2002. Archived from the original on 2002-08-03.
  10. ↑ "Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland, Director of Public Affairs". www.chestercity.com. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  11. ↑ Hardy, Dan (August 1, 2000). "His Star Shone A World Away From 76ers Glenmoore's Wilbur Kirkland, 53, Is A Former European Basketball Legend Who Does Not Regret Not Playing Locally.". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philly.com. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  12. ↑ "State lawmaker sworn in as mayor but holds on to legislative post". PennLive.com. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  13. ↑ "Pennsylvania News and Updates - The Morning Call". www.mcall.com. Retrieved 2016-11-11.
  14. ↑ Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Bill Information - House Bill 418; Regular Session 2015-2016". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  15. ↑ Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Bill Information - House Bill 419; Regular Session 2015-2016". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  16. ↑ Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Bill Information - House Bill 420; Regular Session 2015-2016". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  17. ↑ "Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland, Director of Public Affairs". www.chestercity.com. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  18. ↑ Delaware County Daily Times, "State Rep Threatens Suit Over Budget Cuts", June 14, 2011
  19. ↑ Delaware County Daily Times, "C.U. Board Dismayed by Kirkland Suit Threat", June 15, 2011
  20. ↑ "Former Chester Housing Authority Property Site of New School | Chester Housing Authority". chesterha.org. Retrieved 2016-11-11.

External links


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