CONCORD — 168th District State Representative Tom Killion has been selected as the Republican nominee for the upcoming 9th Senatorial District Special Election following a conferee meeting at the Concordville Inn on Thursday.
The State Senate Special Election will fill the seat recently vacated by Dominic Pileggi, who resigned after winning an election this fall to become a Delaware County Judge. The 9th Senatorial District encompasses sections of both Chester and Delaware counties.
“Tom Killion is ready to bring his common-sense approach to governing to the Senate,” Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason said. “During his time in the State House, Tom Killion has been a vocal supporter of keeping taxes low, protecting our open spaces, and implementing much-needed pension reform. Our Party looks forward to working hard to elect Tom Killion and maintain our historic majority in the State Senate.”
About State Representative Tom Killion
Rep. Tom Killion was elected to represent the residents of Delaware County’s 168th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2003. Killion brings significant private sector experience and demonstrated leadership ability at the state and county government levels. His background, coupled with a strong interest in economic growth and business development has led to appointments on several key House committees, including the House Appropriations Committee, as well as the Insurance, Liquor Control and Consumer Affairs Committees. Citing his leadership skills, House leaders named Killion chief deputy whip for the 2015-16 legislative session.
Prior to his service in the legislature, Killion was Chairman of Delaware County Council, where he served local residents from 1992 to 2000. While on Council, Tom was instrumental in the effort to convince SAP American to establish its North American headquarters in Pennsylvania. Now the third largest software firm in the world, SAP’s campus in Newtown Square is home to 2,500 employees and has attracted a range of spin-off industries to locate in the region.
Tom is committed to keeping taxes low, fighting for fiscal responsibility in state government, finding innovative funding solutions to preserve open space, and improving our state’s healthcare. He has actively supported medical malpractice reform, property tax reform and efforts to privatize the state’s liquor system. This session, Killion is engaged in efforts to fix the $50 billion unfunded liability in Pennsylvania’s public pension systems.
Tom has been active in a diverse range of non-profit organizations. He helped raise private dollars for the creation of a new Rocky Run YMCA branch and worked to improve the quality of life for residents through the Healthy Communities Initiative and Domestic Abuse Project. Tom also served as a board member of Elwyn, Inc. and the Delaware County Cerebral Palsy Association, both of which support residents with mental and physical disabilities. Tom is a long-time supporter of improving the states’ library system and is past President of the Rachel Kohl library board. A former Vice Chairman of the Chester Heights Planning Commission, Killion has been a longtime advocate of smart growth and land preservation issues.
As the founder of a small business, Tom knows first-hand the impact of government on our economic and community life. He has been a consistent voice in Harrisburg for common-sense solutions to the problems faced by our hard-working families and businesses. In addition, his work on the Advisory Committee for Penn State University’s Brandywine campus has provided Tom special insight into the unique higher education needs for Pennsylvania.
During his long history of community service, Killion has served on various other boards and organizations. These include the Children and Adult Disability and Educational Services (CADES), SEPTA, VisitPhilly, the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry, Southeastern PA Chamber of Commerce, and the Southeastern PA Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
In 2015, Killion was named the Legislator of the Year by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. Killion previously received the same award from the Delaware County Pharmacists’ Association, Pennsylvania Orthopedic Society, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery. He is also the recipient of the National Federation of Independent Business’s Guardian of Small Business Award, Penn State Brandywine Outstanding Alumni Award, the SPCA Animal Welfare Leadership Award, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Helen Sigel Wilson Volunteer Recognition Award, and the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce’s Free Enterprise Award.
He and his wife Eileen live in Middletown and have two adult daughters. Tom is a graduate of Penn State University and Cardinal O’Hara High School.
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