Member Biography
James R. Brewster
| Sessions | Office | Position | District | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 45 | Democrat | ||
| 2011 | 45 | Democrat | ||
| 2012 | 45 | Democrat | ||
| 2013 | 45 | Democrat | ||
| 2014 | 45 | Democrat | ||
| 2015 | 45 | Democrat | ||
| 2016 | 45 | Democrat | ||
| 2017 | 45 | Democrat | ||
| 2018 | 45 | Democrat | ||
| 2019 | 45 | Democrat | ||
| 2020 | 45 | Democrat | ||
| 2021 | 45 | Democrat | ||
| 2022 | 45 | Democrat | ||
| 2023 | 45 | Democrat | ||
| 2024 | 45 | Democrat |
COUNTIES: Allegheny
Biography
James R. “Jim” Brewster (D45) Allegheny County (Part) 2010-2024
Early Life:
James R. “Jim” Brewster, born 1948, McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania; California University of Pennsylvania, B.S., (Education); vice president, operations, Mellon Bank; McKeesport City Councilman, 1995-1998; president, McKeesport City Council, 1998-2004; mayor, city of McKeesport, 2004-2010; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 2010-2024; married, Linda Harding Brewster, three daughters, Jamie, Jodi, Jill, seven grandchildren.
Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:
Director or board member for: the Allegheny League of Municipalities; Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities; McKeesport Optimist Club; Municipal Risk Management; Allegheny County Air Quality Control; McKeesport Development Corporation; McKeesport Recreation Board; Penn State Greater Allegheny, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum Trust. Secretary of the Board of Pittsburgh Regional Transit, Vice President of the Board of Monroeville Convention and Visitors Bureau, Chairman of the McKeesport Housing Authority, Chairman of the McKeesport Democratic Committee, Pennsylvania Higher Education Association, Animal Protection Caucus, Arts and Culture Caucus, Aviation Caucus, Bicameral Italian-American Caucus, Climate Caucus, Coal Caucus (co-chair), Fire and Emergency Services Caucus, Hunger Caucus, LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus, Pharmacy Caucus, Senate Manufacturing Caucus (co-chair), Sportsmen Caucus, Women’s Health Caucus, Youth Safety Caucus.
Pennsylvania Politics:
McKeesport City Councilman, 1995-1998; president, McKeesport City Council, 1998-2004.
Mayor, city of McKeesport, 2004-2010.
Elected, special election, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate 45th district, Allegheny County (Part), November 2, 2010 (resignation, Sean F. Logan), seated, November 17, 2010, committee assignments: Banking and Insurance, Game and Fisheries (minority chairman), Law and Justice (minority chairman), Legislative Budget and Finance (minority chairman), Local Government, Policy, Transportation, did not run for election, retired November 30, 2024.
Awards:
Elected, McKeesport Area School District Hall of Fame, 2009, McKeesport Athletic Hall of Fame, 2009. “Mayor of the Year,” 2010, Pennsylvania Mayor’s Association; “Friend of Youth” by the McKeesport Optimist Club for founding the “Toys for Tots” program, starting a youth basketball program at the McKeesport Salvation Army.
Cited:
The Pennsylvania Manual, (2019-2020). Mattos, S., (Editor). (Volume 124) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 3-35, 3-38; Biographies of Members of the Senate, page 3-15.
Brewster Decides to Retire from the PA Senate After 14 Years
Pennsylvania’s 45th District in the Senate of Pennsylvania includes the following communities in Allegheny County: Cities of Clairton, Duquesne, McKeesport; Townships of Baldwin, Elizabeth, Forward, North Versailles, South Versailles; Boroughs of Baldwin, Braddock, Brentwood, Castle Shannon, Dravosburg, East McKeesport, East Pittsburgh, Elizabeth, Glassport, Homestead, Liberty, Lincoln, Monroeville, Munhall, North Braddock, Pitcairn, Plum, Port Vue, Trafford, Turtle Creek, Versailles, Wall, West Elizabeth, West Homestead, West Mifflin, Whitaker, Whitehall, White Oak, Wilmerding.