Leaving senate: Pippy plans return to the 'private sector'
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After serving eight years in the state House and eight years in the Pennsylvania Senate, John Pippy, a Republican lawmaker from Moon, said "I think I am going back to the private sector. That's my plan right now."
Mr. Pippy, 41, announced on Jan. 24 that he will not run for re-election.
His term ends Nov. 30.
"I really enjoyed the Legislature for 16 years," Mr. Pippy said in a telephone interview. "Every election you wonder, 'Do I want to do this again.' At this age, I need to think what I'm going to do for the next 20 years."
Mr. Pippy is a major in the Pennsylvania National Guard. He will mark his 20-year anniversary in the military in May.
In the Legislature "I have been able to be involved with people and with a lot of legislation. I have really enjoyed working with people in the private and public" sectors, including children's issues and laws that help veterans.
Retiring from elected office will free up his nights and weekends -- time most politicians spend on campaigning and meeting with constituents at community events and activities.
Mr. Pippy does have weekend plans that he's willing to talk about.
He and his wife, Katherine, enjoy weekend visits with their daughter Katelyn, 18. She's a freshman at Cornell University in New York where she plays on the Division I women's hockey team, which is ranked third nationally.
Their daughter also has a re-occuring role on the Lifetime channel's "Army Wives." Though the TV character is away at college, as is Miss Pippy, "she did film an episode over Christmas," Mr. Pippy said.
Like most politicians, Mr. Pippy is reluctant to define where he believes he stands on the political spectrum -- liberal, moderate or conservative.
"I'm conservative on some issues, pragmatic on others," Mr. Pippy said. "In the end you have to get things done.
"I grew up in the [housing] projects right outside of Boston so I am supportive of social programs and safety net issues ... because of life experiences. Life experiences shape how you see the world."
While in the military he was deployed to Iraq, and deployment makes a person "see things from a different perspective."
In 2003, Mr. Pippy was elected to the Senate to represent the 37th District, which covers Collier, Findlay, Moon, North Fayette, South Fayette, Bridgeville, Oakdale and several communities in the North Hills, South Hills and Washington County.
When he joined the Senate, Mr. Pippy was serving on active duty with the U.S. Army Reserves in Iraq.
He also served in Kuwait.
There is no hint of his blue-collar Boston background in Mr. Pippy's accent.
"I lost that a long time ago," he noted.
Mr. Pippy's military background goes back to his college years, when he earned a bachelor of science degree in environmental engineering from the U.S.Military Academy at West Point and served on active duty assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas.
He has a masters' degree in international relations from Irish American University in Dublin, Ireland.
Before his election to the Legislature, he was a supervisor at the U.S. Steel Clairton Works.
Mr. Pippy is chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee and the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee.
His committee memberships include Appropriations, Game and Fisheries, State Government and Transportation.
He is a member of many caucuses, including those for autism, brain injury, business and jobs, coal, early childhood education, environmental and pro-life.
A longtime resident of Moon, Mr. Pippy says he "loves Western Pennsylvania" but did not comment on whether he expects to stay in the area.
He is a member of the advisory board for the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and the Greater Pittsburgh Council/Boy Scouts of America.
He serves on the boards of the Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Leadership Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Botanical Gardens.
He is a board fellow for the University of Pittsburgh Institute of Politics.
First Published February 9, 2012 12:00 am
