While the legislature is not in session, we are taking time during these quieter days to reflect upon the careers of the members of the House and Senate who will be retiring at the end of the year. In all, six Senators and 22 House members are moving on.

Representatives Kevin Haggerty (D-Lackawanna) and Deberah Kula (D-Fayette) are both Democrats and hail from two very different parts of the state.

Rep. Haggerty of the 112th district is a former high school athlete and Villanova graduate. He will retire at the end of this session, after serving one term and enduring an incumbent vs. incumbent match up in the spring primary.  His district, and that of fellow freshman Frank Farina, was affected by the new redistricting lines.  

With a life-long commitment to young people, Rep. Haggerty previously served as a learning-support teacher, as well as a counselor and coach for the Youthful Offender Program at a northeastern Pennsylvania youth detention facility. Once elected in 2012, he put his experience to work as a member of the House Children and Youth Committee. He also serves on the Game and Fisheries, Human Services and Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committees.

Rep. Haggerty resides in northeastern Pennsylvania with his wife and two children.

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

Rep.  Kula is leaving the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to run for the Senate seat being vacated due to the retirement of long-time Senator Rich Kasunic. Rep. Kula was first elected to the House in 2006 after previously serving as a North Union Magisterial Judge for 14 years. She was also the deputy court administrator for the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas.

Most recently, Rep. Kula has served as the Vice-Chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, as well as a Vice-Chairman of the House Democratic Policy Committee. Rep. Kula is also the current chairwoman of the Southwest Delegation. She also serves on the Games and Fisheries, Judiciary, Appropriations and Rules Committees.

Rep. Kula lives in North Union Township with her husband and has three children and nine grandchildren.

For more information about Rep. Kula, see: http://www.pahouse.com/kula/bio.asp

Join us tomorrow for more reflections and info on the members who are moving on.  Feel free to post a comment and continue watching this blog and our Twitter feed for tributes.