This week’s biggest Winners & Losers

The Pennsylvania Society is turning over a new, um, page with the hiring of Heather Greenleaf as executive director. Greenleaf, a Montgomery County native who recently worked as a project manager for Imagine Exhibitions, will replace outgoing Executive Director Julien Scranton beginning in early March. Pennsylvania Society President Elizabeth Preate Havey said in a statement that Greenleaf has a “firm understanding of what it means to be a member of The Pennsylvania Society.” She added: “We have no doubt she will hit the ground running as we prepare for our annual meeting this spring.”

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission – the economic development organization in the greater Allegheny region – has new leadership for the next couple of years. Pat Fabian, a Democratic Armstrong County Commissioner since 2016, was voted as chair of the panel, a promotion from the vice-chair position he most recently held. Fayette County Commissioner Vince Vicites, now vice-chair of that board, and Greene County Commissioner Betsy McClure, who was chosen as secretary-treasurer, were also approved for positions on the panel.

The commonwealth’s college grads can say it candidly this week: “Thanks, Biden.” The Biden administration announced the cancellation of $1.2 billion in student debt nationwide, including about 5,600 borrowers – and a total of $45.1 million in debt – in Pennsylvania getting wiped clean. Eligible borrowers include those who have been making at least 10 years of payments and had originally taken out $12,000 or less for college, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Democratic candidate for state treasurer Erin McClelland is facing heat for reportedly raising and spending campaign money before she officially registered a fundraising committee with the Pennsylvania Department of State, according to the Pennsylvania Capital-Star. The report says that McClelland raised and spent campaign funds last year using a committee registered in Allegheny County, but that McClelland didn’t register a fundraising committee with the state until January 2024. McClelland acknowledged several mistakes with her reports to the Capital-Star, and her campaign plans to file an amended report.

A Republican hoping to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly in this year’s GOP primary- has been disqualified from the ballot. According to a report from New Castle News, Commonwealth Court Judge Michael H. Wojcik disqualified Kramer from the ballot after three Erie residents challenged his nominating petition signatures. “We fought up until the last possible moment, but unfortunately, it was not enough,” Kramer said following the court’s decision.

A well-known union president was ousted last week after he allegedly made salary and expenditure decisions without approval from the union’s executive board. Ernest Garrett, who was elected president of AFSCME District Council 33 in 2020, was removed from office after the union’s judicial board found that he “made numerous unilateral decisions to change staff salaries,” including giving jobs to family members that while not a violation, reeked of nepotism within the labor group.