HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) \u2014 After 33 years, Pennsylvania\u2019s longest-serving state representative has lost reelection.<\/p>\n
Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) fell in his party\u2019s primary to Judy Trombetta, a Haverford Township Commissioner. Vitali said he thought he\u2019d win the race, but complimented Trombetta for her credentials and successful campaign.<\/p>\n
Close<\/a><\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Watch for us in your inbox.<\/p>\n Subscribe Now<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, in an odd sense, I\u2019m relieved and happy,\u201d Vitali said.<\/p>\n And he had a good run of 17 terms in office. During all of them, he was laser-focused on environmental policy. He once wrote that \u201cclimate change is the most serious long-term threat to this planet,\u201d and he\u2019s saddened he couldn\u2019t get more colleagues to agree.<\/p>\n \u201cWorking on environmental policy in Harrisburg, it\u2019s difficult. It\u2019s like running into a brick wall over your head again and again,\u201d Vitali said. \u201cI mean, because the forces are just aligned against you.\u201d<\/p>\n Vitali said labor often thwarted environmental policy issues with Democrats. The oil and gas industry did the same with Republicans, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really frustrating,\u201d Vitali added.<\/p>\n The lawmaker could also be frustrating, those who worked with him said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was a person who didn\u2019t always stay on the good side of leadership, and sometimes people were very irritated with him,\u201d said Jan Jarrett, former president of PennFuture, an environmental advocacy organization based in Harrisburg.<\/p>\n And the ire was bipartisan, such as when he criticized his own Democratic leadership and Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) for abandoning the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was not one to hold his tongue,\u201d Jarrett said. \u201cHe was a person that would speak up when he thought something was wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n Still, Jarrett described Vitali as \u201cthe honorable man in the city of Gomorrah.\u201d<\/p>\n Vitali called himself frank, and he concedes fellow lawmakers of both parties won\u2019t be sad to see him go. But he reminded them that he hasn\u2019t left yet.<\/p>\n