It didn’t take Joe Scarnati lengthy to determine how he’ll fill his days after retiring from his 20-year legislative career on Nov. 30.
The now former Pennsylvania Senate president professional tempore goes to work as a associate at Allegheny Technique Companions, a agency centered on enterprise growth and public advocacy with workplaces in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scarnati’s hometown of Brockway, Jefferson County.
The agency was launched in November by a outstanding Pittsburgh legal professional Nick Varischetti, whose household is a minority proprietor of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tommy Johnson, who not too long ago served as vice-president of CONSOL Power and CNX Assets .
Scarnati served his final 14 years within the Senate as senior chief of the bulk Republican caucus in addition to a three-year stint as lieutenant governor following the demise of Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll. His years of presidency service are seen as an asset for the agency that focuses on enterprise startups and advocacy for present companies.
“Joe Scarnati’s expertise navigating the best ranges of state authorities are unmatched,” stated Johnson, ASP’s managing director in a information launch saying the hiring. “He brings a depth of understanding about enterprise and authorities that may bolster our workforce’s skill to ship for our shoppers.”
“Sen. Scarnati’s expertise positions him completely as a go-to advisor who can give attention to financial development by enterprise and job-creation,” stated Varischetti, the agency’s founding associate.
Previous to being elected to the Senate, Scarnati helped run his household’s restaurant and served on the Brockway Borough Council. Extra not too long ago, he bought The Dan Smith Sweet Firm, which makes and sells candies, candies and different specialty gadgets at 5 shops throughout western Pennsylvania.
He introduced final February that he was leaving the Senate on the finish of the legislative session. On the time, Scarnati stated the decision was “personal, not political” and that at this level his life he merely needed to dedicate some extra time to his enterprise and have extra time to spend along with his household.
As he was wrapping up his Senate service, Scarnati got here underneath scrutiny for liberal use of his marketing campaign cash in an investigative series by PennLive’s partner Spotlight PA in addition to his shut relationship with Harrisburg lobbying agency Lengthy Nyquist, the place former Scarnati aide, Todd Nyquist, is a associate, together with former Pennsylvania Senate staffer Michael Lengthy.
In regards to the former, Scarnati stated he abided by the philosophy that something that approached being marketing campaign associated was charged to the marketing campaign as a substitute of taxpayers. In regards to the latter, he stated Lengthy Nyquist obtained no particular consideration and he and his workers had been strictly observant of Pennsylvania’s battle of curiosity legal guidelines.
As he strikes on to his new enterprise within the non-public sector, Scarnati stated within the information launch, “I’m excited on the prospect of becoming a member of two folks I do know and belief at a time after they’re constructing one thing from the bottom up. There isn’t a query that the panorama within the advocacy house is altering. This workforce’s strategy, coupled with the expertise being assembled will make this agency a market chief,.”
The state ethics legislation bars Scarnati from conducting any enterprise with the Senate for a 12 months after leaving workplace.
Jan Murphy could also be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Comply with her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.
