The legislature is not in session right now, but we are busy getting ready for the fall session, which starts September 15. When they return from the summer recess, six Senators and 22 House members will be serving their final days in the legislature.  We have been spending some time over the summer tipping our hat to those members and thanking them for their service. Today, we are taking a look at two freshmen members who will be moving on in January 2015.

Rep. J.P. Miranda (D-Philadelphia) was elected in 2012 and has served one term, representing the 197th district. Miranda faced a four-way primary last spring, in which Democrat challenger Leslie Acosta emerged the winner.

Rep. Miranda graduated from West Chester University and has been active in his community since his youth. He administered the “Philly Counts!” program for the 2010 U.S. census.

Rep. Miranda served on the Commerce, Local Government, and Veteran Affairs & Emergency Preparedness committees. He was also a vocal advocate for education, urging the legislature to make the issue a priority in the Commonwealth while in office.

For more about Rep. Miranda, see: http://www.pahouse.com/Miranda/?pg=bio

Rep. Erin Molchany served one term for the 22nd district after being elected in 2012. She served as the secretary for the Consumer Affairs Committee and was a member of the Policy, Education, Human Services, Urban Affairs committees.

After her graduation from Duquesne University in 1999, Rep. Molchany worked for nonprofits for 12 years. She was also the Director of the Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project (PUMP). Using this experience, Rep. Molchany was able to serve her district well during her time in office.

The 2010 redistricting process moved Rep. Molchany’s district from western Pennsylvania to Allentown. As a result, her primary became one of the races that pitted incumbent against incumbent. The district shifted to become the 36th district, and she faced off against Rep. Harry Readshaw (D). Readshaw won the match up, whose former district lines made up 72 percent of the new district.

For more about Rep. Molchany, see: http://www.pahouse.com/Molchany/?pg=bio