Biography

01/05/1962 -

John R. Gordner (R27) Columbia Luzerne (Part), Montour, Northumberland and Snyder Counties 2003-2022

Early Life: 

John R. Gordner, born January 5, 1962, Berwick, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; son of Carl L. and Shirley Gordner; Berwick Area High School, 1979; Dickinson College, B.A., 1983; Dickinson School of Law (now, Penn State Dickinson Law), J.D., 1987; attorney; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1993-2001; changed party affiliation, Republican, October 1, 2001; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 2003; resigned, House, November 24, 2003; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, Special Election, November 24, 2003-November 30, 2022; resigned, Pennsylvania State Senate; counsel, President pro tempore, Pennsylvania Senator Kim Ward, 2022; married, Lori, two children. 

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

President, Berwick Jaycees; vice-chairman Greater Berwick Chapter-Red Cross; fund drive chairman, Berwick Area United Way; member, board of directors, Boy Scouts of America, board member, Columbia-Montour Council; Berwick Rotary Club, Central Susquehanna Community Foundation, Central Susquehanna Opportunities, Economics Pennsylvania; Board of Deacons, First Baptist Church of Berwick.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1993-2001; Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority, 1994-2001; changed party affiliation, Republican, October 1, 2001; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 2003; Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority, 2002-2003; appointed, board, Center for Rural Pennsylvania, 1997-2002, 2005-2010; chair, 2007-2010; resigned, House, November 24, 2003. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 27th district, Columbia Luzerne (Part), Montour, Northumberland and Snyder Counties, Special Election, November 24, 2003, vacancy, resignation, Ed Helfrick; Majority Caucus Administrator 2011-2012; Majority Chairman, 2013-2014; Majority Whip, 2015-2022; Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority 2004-2020; appointed, Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee, 2005-2008; appointed, Capitol Preservation Committee, 2009-2022 chairman, 2015-2022; appointed, Joint State Government Commission, 2015-2022; elected, delegate, Republican National Convention, 2012; committee assignments, Banking and Insurance, Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, Game and Fisheries, Intergovernmental Operations, Judiciary, Rules and Executive Nominations (Vice Chairman), Transportation, Urban Affairs and Housing; resigned, November 30, 2022; Lynda Joy Schlegel Culver, seated, February 28, 2023. 

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us) 

Cited:

The Pennsylvania Manual, (2021-2022) Mattos, S. (Editor). (Volume 125). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, page 3-38; Biographies of Members of the Senate, page 3-19.