As we continue our series salute to the members of the legislature who will retire from their seats at the end of this year. This installment begins our look at members who hold chairmanships of committees.  With their departure, we will see restructuring and power shifts once the new legislature convenes in January 2015. Today, we take a look at some long-time Harrisburg power brokers.

Representative Paul Clymer (R-Bucks)

Rep. Paul Clymer was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1980. Serving his 17th consecutive term for the 145th district, Rep. Clymer has been a member of the legislature for 34 years.

Rep. Clymer is currently the chairman of the House Education Committee and is a member of the House Gaming Oversight Committee. In House Gaming, he has been a leader in proposing stricter regulations and increased oversight of casino gambling in the Commonwealth. Rep. Clymer also serves as chairman of the Capitol Preservation Committee, which is responsible for preserving the historic integrity of the state Capitol. The representative also previously served as chairman of the House State Government Committee.

Rep. Clymer is a U.S. Army veteran and graduate of Muhlenberg College. He has been an advocate for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and the human trafficking hotline. Rep. Clymer has also been a strong supporter of the local chambers of commerce, as he believes a business community should create jobs.

For more on Rep. Clymer, see: http://www.paulclymer.com/bio.asp

Representative Gary Haluska (D-Cambria)

Representing the 73rd district, Rep. Gary Haluska has served in the House for 20 years. His retirement comes at the conclusion of his tenth consecutive term.

Rep. Haluska chairs the Game and Fisheries Committee. He was one of two House members appointed to a joint House-Senate Task Force on Forestry Issues.  He has also served on the Tourism and Recreational Development Committee, the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, and the Transportation Committee.

Prior to his first election in 1994, Rep. Haluska served 30 years as a member of the Patton Volunteer Fire Company, board member of the Cambria County Tourist Council and member of the board of directors of the Southern Allegheny Travel Council. He is married with one son and has three grandchildren. He lives in New Germany, Croyle Township, Cambria County.

For more on Rep. Haluska, see: http://www.pahouse.com/Haluska/bio.asp

Representative Ron Miller (R-York)

After serving eight terms as representative of the 93rd legislative district, Rep. Ron Miller will retire at the end of the current session.

Rep. Miller currently serves as chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.  He also currently serves as chair of the Pennsylvania delegation to the Chesapeake Bay Commission and is a member of the Transportation Committee.

In addition to his current committee assignments, Rep. Miller is a past chair of the House Labor and Industry Committee.  During the 2011-12 session the National Federation of Independent Business named him a “Guardian of Small Business.”

Rep. Miller attended Dallastown Area High School and earned a degree in secondary education from Mansfield University. Prior to his election, he was a safety, health and environmental manager for Adhesives Research in Glen Rock.

Rep. Miller resides in Jacobus with his wife Kitty, where he is a member of the Jacobus Fire Company and the Jacbous Lions Club.

For more information on Rep. Miller, see: http://www.repmiller.com/bio.aspx