Merski only Pa. legislator chosen for national legislative leaders program

HARRISBURG, July 5 – State Rep. Bob Merski, D-Erie, announced that he has been selected to participate in the 2022 Emerging Legislative Leaders Program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

As one of 50 legislators chosen from 45 states for this year’s program, he is the only legislator from Pennsylvania to be selected.

“It is a profound honor to have been selected for this leadership program,” Merski said. “As a non-partisan event, legislators from all walks of life and political ideologies will be attending, and I look forward to having meaningful debates and discussions. I am a believer in listening and understanding the needs of the people I represent no matter their party.”

The program will be held July 11-14 in Charlottesville, Virginia. The four days will be filled with discussions and debates about leadership in a representative democracy.

This program selects first and second-term leaders who are identified by their peers as future leaders in their fields.

The 2021-22 legislative session is Merski’s second term. Earlier this year, he was unanimously elected chairman of the Northwest Delegation – a coalition of lawmakers representing the interests of residents in Erie and other counties in Pennsylvania’s Northwest quadrant. 

Since 2005, over 600 legislators have participated in this program.