Keith J. Gillespie

Keith J. Gillespie (born September 18, 1952) is a Republican former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 47th District who served from 2003 to 2022.

Keith J. Gillespie
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 47th district
In office
January 7, 2003[1] – November 30, 2022
Preceded byLeo Joseph Trich, Jr.
Succeeded byJoe D'Orsie
Personal details
Born (1952-09-18) September 18, 1952
Wilmington, Delaware
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceWest Manchester Township, York County, Pennsylvania
Alma materKeystone Junior College
Franklin & Marshall College
Websitewww.repgillespie.com

Career

Prior to entering politics, Gillespie was a paramedic at Memorial Hospital in York, Pennsylvania. Later, he was the director of safety, security and pre-hospital systems at Memorial Hospital. Gillespie was also a president of the York County Republican Club.

Gillespie was first elected in 2002. He is currently a member of the House Game and Fisheries, Intergovernmental Affairs, Professional Licensure, and Tourism and Recreational Development Committees. He is also chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal/State Relations and Arts and Entertainment.

Committee assignments
  • Game & Fisheries (chair)[2]
  • Professional Licensure[2]

Election results

The 47th District from which Gillespie is elected includes residents of Conewago, East Manchester, Hellam, and Manchester Townships in a northeast portion of York County, their surrounded and adjacent boroughs, and three (the northernmost) of Springettsbury Township's eight local districts.[3] Gillespie received 21.5% of the vote in a crowded eight-candidate Republican primary in 2002, which sent him to that year's general election.[4] While Chad Lonergan had won the corresponding Democratic primary,[4] Gillespie faced only independent candidate Marlin Cutshall in the 2002 general election and won with 13,114 votes (92.3%).[5] He had no reelection challengers until 2010 when he beat Democrat Eric Wolfgang 72.8% – 27.2%.[6] Democratic candidate Sarah Speed faced Gillespie in 2012 and he kept his seat with 20,236 votes (60.7%) to her 13,127.[7] Gillespie had no ballot opposition in 2014 and 2016. Democrat Michael Wascovich received 35.6% of the vote in 2018 to Gillespie's 64.4%.[8] In 2020, he won against Democrat Fred Owens, 65.4% to 34.6%.[9]

In 2022, Gillespie lost in the Republican primary to challenger Joe D'Orsie, 40% to 59%.[10]

Personal

Representative Gillespie graduated from Solanco High School in 1970. He attended Keystone Junior College and Franklin and Marshall College, studying biology and business administration.

Gillespie and his wife, a registered nurse at Memorial Hospital, have three children.

References
  1. "SESSION OF 2003 – 187TH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY – No. 1" (PDF). Legislative Journal. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. January 7, 2003.
  2. "Representative Keith Gillespie". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  3. "District 47" (PDF). Representative Gillespie. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  4. "2002 General Primary Election, County Results – York". Pennsylvania Department of State. May 21, 2002. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  5. "2002 General Election, County Results – York". Pennsylvania Department of State. November 5, 2002. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  6. "2010 General Election, County Results – York". Pennsylvania Department of State. November 2, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  7. "2012 General Election, County Results – York". Pennsylvania Department of State. November 6, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  8. "2018 General Election, County Results – York". Pennsylvania Department of State. November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
  9. "Fred Owens". Ballotpedia. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  10. Maenza, Anthony (May 18, 2022). "Longtime state Reps. Saylor, Gillespie lose Republican primary races". York Dispatch. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
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