Stout Announces Retirement from Senate

EIGHTY FOUR – February 4, 2010 – Veteran Washington County lawmaker Sen. J. Barry Stout said today that he has decided not to seek re-election to a ninth term representing the 46th Senate District and will retire from the Pennsylvania Senate at the end of his current term in November.

“At the end of this term, I will finish nearly 40 years of serving the citizens of southwestern Pennsylvania,” Stout said. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve and to have been a part of a dynamic period in our state’s history.

“I am grateful for all the kindness and courtesy that has been extended to me over the years by so many people, but it is time to conclude my career in public service and retire,” Stout said.

Stout served three two-year terms in the state House of Representatives before being elected to the state Senate in 1977. He said he is stepping aside because of health related challenges stemming from an accident that fractured his pelvis.

“In order to represent my sprawling, diverse and dynamic district, I have to be able to actively function throughout the five counties I represent and in Harrisburg,” Stout said. The 46th District includes parts of Washington, Greene, Westmoreland, Beaver and Allegheny Counties.

Stout said the credit to his long service belongs to “my loving family, wonderful staff and constituents who have continually supported me,” Stout said. “It has been a tremendous experience and I hope my work has helped make a better future for our young men and women.”

“I have been fortunate to have had an incredibly dedicated, loyal and professional staff that has worked hard to make sure that my constituents have been well-served,” Stout said. “For nearly 40 years, we have been a team that has tried to deliver quality public service.

“It is amazing how much can get done when public officials work together, realize they cannot do it all themselves and forget about where credit for success lands,” Stout said.

The 46th District has been the state’s energy center because it is home to two of the largest energy generating resources in the United States, the well- established coal industry and the newly developed Marcellus Shale gas play. Stout has led efforts to develop natural resources to create jobs and new business opportunities.

“Thousands of jobs that support families in my district rely on energy and our ability to create the proper balance between resource development and protecting the environment,” Stout said. “A proper balance will be even more important in the future because of the new energy finds that will create even more jobs.”

Stout’s greatest impact has been on transportation issues. Long acknowledged for his expertise on road, bridge and transit construction and operation, Stout has put his stamp on virtually every major project or piece of transportation legislation impacting southwestern Pennsylvania and the rest of the state for nearly 40 years.

The Washington lawmaker has been the Democratic Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee for generations and is second most senior member of the state Transportation Commission—a key post that develops the state’s plan that prioritizes road, bridge and transit projects.

Stout’s work on key projects includes:

• securing billions in dedicated state funding for roads and bridges for planning, construction and maintenance as well as the revenue stream for the Turnpike Expansion Project;
• leading the fight to generate $2.5 billion in funding to develop the Mon-Fayette Expressway and the Southern Beltway—the second largest highway project in the nation;
• working to complete the Uniontown to Brownsville Phase and the connection of Route 43 at Cheat Lake with I-68 in West Virginia which will allow an easy connection for commerce from southwestern Pennsylvania to all points on the east coast.
• advocating the completion of the Southern Beltway from Greater Pittsburgh International Airport to U.S. Route 22 in Washington County and acquiring the right-of-way to extend the road to I-79;
• developing the highly-touted and nationally famous Trolley Museum in Washington County;

“In two years, when Route 43 is finished we will have completed over 60 new miles of road construction built to interstate standards,” Stout said. “In a time when stretching dollars is crucial and financial resources are scarce, this is quite an accomplishment for southwestern Pennsylvania.”

Stout said he takes pride in his efforts to foster economic development.

“We have built new highways that have created job opportunities and made key investments for our young men and women and our region so they can stay here,” Stout said.

Stout said that when he was first elected, his goal was to create job opportunities for young people so they could remain in southwestern Pennsylvania and contribute to the economy. He said that remains a top priority.

There are a number of successful business parks including the nationally recognized Southepointe Business Park in Cecil Township that employs over 5,000 people today that Stout played a part in developing. He also said he was pleased about the continued development of the Meadows Casino and racing facility and its expansion which will create jobs for area residents.

Stout has also worked hard over the years to support many local initiatives such as the development of numerous water and sewer infrastructure projects, improvement for several recreation areas, procuring equipment for fire department, funding for libraries and senior programs.

“Water line extensions and wastewater treatment infrastructure is key in our region because of the coal mines and underground water issues,” Stout said.

Stout said that he thought the key to his success over the years was simple because the citizens of southwestern Pennsylvania are hard-working people who appreciate public officials “who look them straight in the eye and tell them the truth.”

Stout said that after he retires he plans to spend more time with his wife Lenore, his six children and 14 grandchildren. Stout and his wife recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

“My wife, family and staff have sacrificed so much over the years,” Stout said. “I cannot thank them enough for all that they’ve done and what they’ve had to endure over the years.”

Stout also thanked his Senate colleagues, House members from his area and all the local officials who have always been willing to fight for the communities and the people of his district.

Stout is a veteran who served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He is a graduate of Washington and Jefferson College, attended the Pittsburgh School of Mortuary Science and was Washington County Deputy Coroner.

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