Madeleine Dean with Josh Shapiro

State Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Montgomery, today took the oath of office for her first term as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives serving the 153rd Legislative District. 

Dean was sworn into office after winning a special election for the seat vacated by former state Rep. Josh Shapiro. She and 5 other members won special elections to join the House in the 195th Legislative session.

"I want to thank my constituents for giving me this opportunity to serve them in this historical chamber," Dean said. "Although I begin my public service halfway through the legislative session, there is a lot of unfinished business that needs to be addressed in Pennsylvania. My priorities will remain in education, the environment, jobs and health care. After spending months on the campaign trail, I know these are the issues that people are waiting for Harrisburg to take action on and I can't wait to get started."

Dean's constituent service office is located at 1175 Old York Road in Abington and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The telephone number is 215-517-6800. She can be contacted via e-mail at RepDean@pahouse.net. She also has a website at www.pahouse.com/Dean.

Residents are also invited to sign up for periodic e-mail updates from Dean on state issues and services by visiting the website and clicking on the "E-Mail Alerts" link on the left side of the page.

Prior to being elected, Dean served as Abington Township Commissioner in Ward 7. She also taught persuasive writing, rhetoric, business writing, legal writing, and ethics as an assistant professor of English at La Salle University, and was a frequent contributor to the Philadelphia Daily News.

Dean began her law career as an associate in Philadelphia. She went on to serve as in-house counsel to Cunnane Bicycle Company, Inc., and later opened a small three-woman general law practice in Glenside.

Dean earned her undergraduate degree at La Salle University, Philadelphia, and her law degree at Widener University School of Law, in Wilmington, Delaware. She is currently attending the University of Pennsylvania, Fels School of Government.

(original here)