SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — State Senator-elect Jarrett Coleman said Thursday he has resigned from the Parkland School Board, effective immediately.
Coleman, a Republican who was elected to represent Pennsylvania's 16th Senate District, was in his first term as a school director.
He said in a statement that while resigning is not legally necessary, he decided it is the right thing to do.
- State Senator-elect Jarrett Coleman is resigning his position as Parkland School Board director
- It is legal to hold both positions, but Coleman said he thought resigning was best for constituents
- Coleman had previously said he was not going to resign his school board position
“Part of being a leader involves making difficult decisions at times," Coleman said. "After consulting with my team, we determined that although legal to hold both positions, it would be best for the constituents of the 16th Senate District for me to resign as school board director as is customary when assuming higher office.
“It has been an honor to serve the families and taxpayers in the Parkland School District while a member of the school board. I will bring the same energy and determination to the Pennsylvania Senate.”
"After consulting with my team, we determined that although legal to hold both positions, it would be best for the constituents of the 16th Senate District for me to resign as school board director as is customary when assuming higher office."Jarrett Coleman, state senator-elect for Pennsylvania's 16th district
Coleman also said resigning will let Parkland residents elect a replacement as part of the next municipal election. The school board can appoint someone to fill that vacancy, but because of the timing, the person would only serve for a few months before school board elections.
Coleman said in an interview with LehighValleyNews.com after he won the state Senate race that he didn't plan to resign from the school board.
“It's a volunteer position, and many other board members have a job as well,” Coleman said in that interview.
The Pennsylvania Constitution specifically bars state senators and representatives from holding other elected offices that provide them pay, benefits or perks, but school board members are not compensated.
Coleman ousted longtime incumbent Sen. Pat Browne in the Republican primary for the 16th Senate District, which represents parts of Bucks and Lehigh counties.
Tom Shortell contributed to this report.
