(The Center Square) – It was a full day of celebration in Harrisburg honoring the inaugurations of Treasurer Stacy Garrity, Auditor General Timothy DeFoor, and Attorney General David Sunday.
This marks the first time all three row officer positions have been held by Republicans.
Garrity and DeFoor both pledged to build from the momentum they’d gained during their first terms in their respective roles, while Sunday outlined his vision for the state’s highest law enforcement office.
Gov. Josh Shapiro spoke at each of the three ceremonies, which were otherwise filled with speakers and performers who showed the unique thumbprint of each official.
Several times, the phrase, “All public service is a trust given in faith and accepted in honor,” was invoked. It is inscribed on the Finance Building, which hosts the offices of the treasurer and auditor.
Garrity’s ceremony included a touching tribute to her late father who she took time away from her role to care for at the end of his cancer journey last year. Throughout the ceremony, speakers placed great emphasis on the Iraq War veteran’s compassion.
Former Executive Deputy Treasurer Hugh Allen, who Garrity kept on staff after her Democratic predecessor, called the entire Garrity name “strong-willed, iron-spined, compassionate people,” while Shapiro referred to the treasurer as “mission driven.”
For Garrity, that mission includes a strong focus on 529 educational savings plans and returning unclaimed property. A strong Trump supporter, the treasurer struck a hopeful tone for the year to come, drawing a stark contrast to many of the concerns playing out on the national inaugural stage.
“We must put aside past disagreements, embrace this moment of opportunity, and find common ground,” she said. “We cannot grow by division. We can – and will – grow by working together to make Pennsylvania a leader among states, and to make Pennsylvania a place where our next generation can succeed and prosper.”
Auditor Timothy DeFoor made history in his first term both for being the first person of color elected to statewide office and for being the first actual auditor elected to the Auditor General position. His previous roles include stints as an investigator in both the Office of the Inspector General and the Office of Attorney General.
Former Gov. Mark Schweiker lauded DeFoor’s work in the position and invoked Martin Luther King, Jr. in his praise. DeFoor himself reflected on his unlikely trajectory from a “shy kid who hated math.”
“I strive to be a leader who does the job the way it is supposed to be done—someone who draws conclusions based on facts, not politics, and serves the people of Pennsylvania by improving government, not tearing it down,” said DeFoor.
The auditor also spoke of the importance of financial literacy, creating career pathways within the auditor’s office, and his work in exposing the role Pharmacy Benefit Managers play in forcing independent pharmacies out of the market.
David Sunday, a former district attorney from York County, received kind words from Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, R-Jacobus, who represents his district in the state senate. “Dave Sunday doesn’t just talk about getting stuff done,” said Phillips-Hill. “He actually does get stuff done.”
Sunday was later introduced by his wife Lishani and their 10-year-old son.
The Attorney General is known for his approach to curbing the heroin epidemic in York County. His creation of the York County Heroin Task Force in 2014 incorporated health care professionals along with government and law enforcement to address the problem.
“I don’t care who gets credit, as long as the mission is achieved,” said Sunday of his work, noting that it makes him a “terrible politician.”
Sunday promises to bring a similar energy to the state’s mental health crisis, citing the impact on public safety. He reiterated the philosophy of “accountability and redemption” used throughout his campaign.
“We absolutely must hold criminals accountable,” he said. “At the same time, we need to embrace redemption for those who have been held accountable and seek to better their lives. Remember, 95% of everyone who enters prison will eventually reenter society.”
