Senator Joe Scarnati

State Senator Joe Scarnati

Board Government Advisor, State Senator and Senate of Pennsylvania

25th District

Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati is currently serving his 4th term in the Pennsylvania Senate. As President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Joe holds the third-highest constitutional office in the State. He was born and raised in Brockway Pennsylvania and represents the 25th Senatorial District, which includes Cameron, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Tioga and portions of Clearfield and Warren Counties.

Joe grew up understanding that business and industry are vital to our state’s economy and its future. After graduating from Penn State University at DuBois, Joe became a third-generation business owner in the Brockway area. He has carried on the lifelong tradition of working to better his community through involvement and civic leadership, serving on both the Brockway Borough Council and the Jefferson County Development Council. He is also a member of the St. Tobias Roman Catholic Church in Brockway. Working in the private sector for 20 years prior to coming to Harrisburg and serving as a local official have given him a unique perspective on how government can work more effectively to help job-creators, working families and communities.

Since being elected to office, Joe has been a leader in reforming the way business is conducted in Harrisburg, and he remains committed to making the institution more open and accessible to the citizens of the Commonwealth. As Senate President Pro Tempore, Joe serves as an ex-officio member of each of the 22 Senate Committees. He has been a committed leader in addressing numerous important fiscal and conservative issues within the state.

In his 12 years as a State Senator, Joe has served as a rank and file member of the Senate, as a member of Senate Leadership and currently as Senate President Pro Tempore – a position that he was elected to by the full Senate. In November of 2008, with the passing of Catherine Baker Knoll, Joe became Pennsylvania’s 31st Lieutenant Governor. He served the remainder of Lieutenant Governor Knoll’s term, which ended January 18, 2011.

Joe enjoys spending time in his hometown of Brockway and working outdoors. He is the father of three children, Lisa, Kelly, and Michael.