David J. Brightbill

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David J. Brightbill was a State Senator and Majority Leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate. He is a member of the Republican Party

He was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania to Jonathan and Verda (McGill) Brightbill and attended Pennsylvania Military College for two years before finally graduating from Pennsylvania State University in 1964. He went on to obtain a law degree at Duquesne University School of Law in 1970. Prior to being elected to the Senate in 1982, he served as Lebanon County District Attorney from 1977 to 1981. He was elected Majority Whip in 1989 and 1997 by the Republican caucus and became the Majority Leader in 2001 after Senator F. Joseph Loeper resigned in December 2000. [1]

Brightbill served the 48th district, including all of Lebanon County, portions of Berks, Dauphin, and Lancaster Counties, and the Chester County borough of Elverson.

Brightbill was defeated in the May 2006 Republican primary election by tire salesman Mike Folmer, receiving 36.8% of the vote. [2]Brightbill's defeat was largely attributed to anger generated over a legislative pay raise vote in July 2005.[3]

At the end of his term, Brightbill joined the Reading law firm of Stevens & Lee in their government affairs practice.

On May 19, 2007, he received an honorary doctorate degree from Elizabethtown College.

[edit] See also

2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy

[edit] References

  1. ^ Pennsylvania Manual
  2. ^ Election Returns, Pennsylvania Department of State
  3. ^ Republican Leaders Fall, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 17, 2006
Preceded by
F. Joseph Loeper		 Republican Leader of the Pennsylvania Senate
2000–2006		 Succeeded by
Dominic Pileggi
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