Member Biography

David John Brightbill 

David John Brightbill 
Sessions Office Position District Party
1983       48 Republican
1984       48 Republican
1985     Majority Caucus Secretary 48 Republican
1986     Majority Caucus Secretary 48 Republican
1987     Majority Caucus Secretary 48 Republican
1988     Majority Caucus Secretary 48 Republican
1989     Whip 48 Republican
1990     Whip 48 Republican
1991     Policy Committee Chair 48 Republican
1992       48 Republican
1993       48 Republican
1994       48 Republican
1995       48 Republican
1996       48 Republican
1997     Whip 48 Republican
1998     Whip 48 Republican
1999     Whip 48 Republican
2000     Majority Floor Leader 48 Republican
2001     Majority Floor Leader 48 Republican
2002     Majority Floor Leader 48 Republican
2003     Majority Floor Leader 48 Republican
2004     Majority Floor Leader 48 Republican
2005     Majority Floor Leader 48 Republican
2006     Majority Floor Leader 48 Republican

COUNTIES: Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Chester, Dauphin  


Biography

11/03/1942 - 11/06/2025

David John “Chip” Brightbill (R48) Berks (Part), Lehigh (Part) and Lebanon Counties 1983-2002 (R48) Berks (Part), Chester (Part), Dauphin (Part), Lancaster (Part) and Lebanon Counties 2003-2006

Early Life:

David John “Chip” Brightbill, born November 3, 1942, Lebanon, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania; son of Jonathan (“Jack”) McMichael and Verda McGill Brightbill; Lebanon High School, 1960; Pennsylvania Military College (now Widener University), 1962; Penn State University, B.S. (business administration)1964; Duquesne University School of Law (J.D.), editor-in-Chief, Duquesne Law Review, cum laude, 1970; attorney; Elizabethtown College, (Honorary), 2007; Lebanon School Board, 1965-1967; litigator, Assistant Lebanon County District Attorney Office, 1970-1977; elected, District Attorney, Lebanon County, 1977-1981; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1982-2006; attorney, Stevens and Lee, 2007-2025; married, Donna Long, five children, J. David, Jonathan, Andrew, Christian and Adam; died November 6, 2025; celebration of life, 11:00 AM, Saturday November 15, 2025, Blair Music Center (on the campus of Lebanon Valley College), College Avenue, Annville, Pennsylvania.  

Early Career:

Reporter, Lebanon Daily News, 1964-1967, Pittsburgh Press, 1968.

Attorney firm, Brubaker, Whitman, Christianson; attorney, partner, Siegrist, Koller, Brightbill and Long, now known as Long Brightbill; attorney, government practice, Stevens and Lee, 2007-2025.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Lebanon School Board, 1965-1967.

Elected, Republican, District Attorney, Lebanon County, 1977-1981.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 48th district, Berks (Part), Lehigh (Part) and Lebanon Counties, 1982-2002, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 48th district, 2003-2006, Majority Caucus Secretary, 1985-1988; Majority Whip, 1989-1990, elected, Majority Policy Chair, 1991; Majority Whip 1997-1999; Majority Floor Leader 2000-2006; committee assignments, Appropriations, Rules and Executive Nominations (Chairman); defeated, primary, left office November 30, 2006.

Legacy:

A day before his 40th birthday, November 2, 1982, was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate’s 48th district, defeating Democrat John Anspach, a two-term Lebanon County Commissioner, succeeding Fredericksburg Republican Clarence Manbeck, the founder of Farmers Pride Poultry. 

Chief legislative architect of Pennsylvania’s nationally recognized Land Recycling Program that provides for the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfield sites, signed into law by Governor Thomas Ridge. Senate Bill 1 - Bill Information Details 

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members B". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (1999-2000). Crowell, G.; Secretary, Department of General Services. (Volume 114) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 3-37, 3-41; Biographies of Members of the Senate, page 3-13.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (2005-2006). Schehr, E., (Editor). (Volume 117). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, page 3-36, 3-39. Biographies of Members of the Senate, page 3-14.

Video: Leader of Brownfields Initiative David Brightbill Retires

David ''Chip'' Brightbill, former district attorney & state senate leader, dies at 83 - LebTown

Former Pa. Senate GOP Leader ‘Chip’ Brightbill dies at 83 | WITF

David 'Chip,' Brightbill dies at 83. The Pennsylvania Senate leader was a champion for the economy, the environment and his constituents - pennlive.com

Honorable David John “Chip” Brightbill (1942-2025) - Find a Grave Memorial