Several Bucks Countians On Shapiro-Davis Transition Team

Several Bucks Countians – both Democrats and Republicans – have been announced as members of Gov.-Elect Josh Shapiro and Lt. Gov.-Elect Austin Davis’ transition advisory committees.

The committees, which are typical for incoming governors, are created to advise the incoming administration and help set an agenda.

Shapiro and Davis, both Democrats, have already said their top priorities are growing the state’s economy, making communities safer, and ensuring all Pennsylvania students receive a high-quality education.

Shapiro, the state’s attorney general until he is sworn in as governor, has said he wants to run the state government focused on people and not political party.

Former Democratic Congressman Patrick Murphy, of Bristol, will lead the Advisory Committee for Public Safety and serve on the Emergency Management Committee for the incoming Shapiro-Davis team.

Murphy and members of the committee, which is made up of former law enforcement officials, community safety advocates, and emergency management officials, “will advise the transition on steps the Shapiro-Davis Administration should take to invest in law enforcement and make our communities safer, ensure the Commonwealth is ready for a wide range of emergency situations, and improve the criminal justice system to address historic inequities, restore trust, and make our communities safer,” transition officials said.

Murphy, the former under secretary of the U.S. Army and a veteran, welcomed his appointment to the advisory committee.

“It’s an honor to serve the people of Pennsylvania as the Chairman of Gov.-Elect Shapiro’s public safety committee. The governor-elect and I share a commitment to public safety – it’s one of the core functions of government,” he said.

“I’ve known Gov.-Elect Shapiro since I came back from Iraq, where I prosecuted terrorists, and trust in his plans for making Pennsylvania a safer place. I look forward to getting to work.” 

Former GOP Congressman Jim Greenwood, who represented the county in Washington D.C. and now works as a senior policy advisor for DLA Piper Global Law Firm, will serve on the Innovation Committee.

Greenwood has endorsed Shapiro and other several Democrats since former President Donald Trump’s time in politics. He has said he felt Trump’s brand of politics doesn’t fit in our system.

Former Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler, a Republican who has served as a state lawmaker and judge, will serve of the Shapiro-Davis Law Enforcement Committee.

Heckler previously has endorsed Shapiro and appeared in a commercial for him.

Christina Finello, the solicitor for the Bucks County Clerk of Courts and a former Democratic candidate for Congress, will serve on the transition’s Local Government Committee.

Kristen Farry, the vice president of policy and government relations for Langhorne Borough-based Woods Services, will serve of the Healthcare Committee. Farry, a Republican, is a Langhorne Borough Council member and the wife of Republican State Sen.-Elect Frank Farry. She previously worked in state government.

“Pennsylvanians gave us a mandate to bring people together and get things done – and this diverse, experienced group of leaders and policy experts from every region across the Commonwealth will advise our Transition on the most pressing issues and priorities we face,” said Shapiro.

Shapiro and Davis will take office on January 17.

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