Governor Tom Wolf Spouse(s) Ira Preceded by Barry Schoch Name Leslie Richards | Succeeded by Valerie Arkoosh Party Democratic Party Political party Democratic | |
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Born June 20, 1973 (age 50) ( 1973-06-20 ) Alma mater Brown University
University of Pennsylvania Residence Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania, United States Education Brown University, University of Pennsylvania Profiles | ||
Scholar story leslie richards
Leslie Richards (born June 20, 1973) is the current Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, appointed by Governor Tom Wolf in 2015 and confirmed in May 2015. Previously, she was a member of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners.
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Personal life and education
Richards earned a bachelor's degree in economics and urban studies from Brown University, and a master's degree in regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania. She has three children with her husband, Ira: Rebecca, Benjamin, and Sophie.
Career
Richards was elected to the Whitemarsh Township Board of Supervisors in 2007, and became chairwoman of the board in 2008.
Richards was elected to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners in 2011. Her election, along with that of fellow Democrat Josh Shapiro, marked the first time in over a century that Democrats controlled the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. Richards serves as Montgomery County's representative on the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Richards also serves on the board of SEPTA.
Pennsylvania political operatives had mentioned Richards as a potential Congressional candidate in Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district. Richards declined to run for the seat after incumbent Congressman Jim Gerlach retired in 2014. As of January 2015 she is Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
In 2015, following the election of Democratic Governor Tom Wolf, Richards was nominated to serve as Secretary of Transportation of Pennsylvania. She was subsequently confirmed by the Pennsylvania State Senate in May 2015.