Keith J. Gillespie

American politician

Keith J. Gillespie

Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 47th district
In office January 7, 2003^[1] – November 30, 2022
Preceded by	Leo Joseph Trich, Jr.
Succeeded by	Joe D'Orsie

Personal details
Born	(1952-09-18) September 18, 1952 (age 71) Wilmington, Delaware
Political party	Republican
Residence	West Manchester Township, York County, Pennsylvania
Alma mater	Keystone Junior College Franklin & Marshall College
Website	www.repgillespie.com

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.

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

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