1. Kim Lee Ward is an American politician who served as President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate.
27 Facts About Kim Ward
1. 2.
Kim Ward was first elected to the state senate in 2008, and represents the 39th Senatorial District which covers the central portions of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
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Kim Ward was the first female president pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate.
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Kim Ward started her political involvement during the 1994 US Senate Campaign of former Senator Rick Santorum, when she served as the County Chair for his Westmoreland County campaign.
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Kim Ward served as the Southwest Regional Director for Santorum's 2000 re-election bid.
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From 2000 until 2002 Kim Ward owned and operated a consulting and government outreach firm called Commonwealth Political Associates.
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In 2001, Kim Ward won election as a Hempfield Township Supervisor.
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In 2002, Kim Ward joined the administration of Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker.
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In 2004 Kim Ward served as the Southwest Political Director for the re-election campaign of President George W Bush.
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In late 2006, Kim Ward announced that she would run for Westmoreland County Commissioner in the 2007 election.
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In 2008, Kim Ward was called upon to fill the vacancy on the ballot created by State Senator Bob Regola's withdrawal from consideration.
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In 2012 Kim Ward was courted to run against US Senator Bob Casey.
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Kim Ward opted to run for re-election to her state senate seat, which she did by winning both Republican and Democratic nominations.
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Senator Kim Ward was sworn into her first term on January 6,2009.
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Kim Ward was critical of Governor Ed Rendell's leadership and his call for tax increases during the impasse.
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On October 27 of 2010, Kim Ward saw her first piece of legislation signed into law: Senate Bill 1181.
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Kim Ward sponsored SR 348, which mandated an audit of Pennsylvania's methadone treatment programs.
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Kim Ward further called for reforms in the oversight of the program in a letter to the Department of Public Welfare.
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Kim Ward introduced Senate Bill 637, which was passed, and mandates that all contractors within the state verify that their employees are documented as eligible employees.
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Kim Ward's bills would alter who is a mandated reporter of child abuse and increase penalties for failing to report suspected child abuse.
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Kim Ward was the sponsor of SB 1166, a proposed constitutional amendment which would require the General Assembly to vote to approve extending an emergency declaration beyond 21 days.
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Kim Ward opposed an amendment to Act 16, the medical marijuana law, that would have allowed medical patients to grow six plants at home.
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Kim Ward was the Senator that made the motion to table the homegrow amendment introduced by Senator Shariff Street in association with House Bill 1024.
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In November 2022, Kim Ward was chosen to succeed President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate Jake Corman on an interim basis from December 1 to January 2.
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Kim Ward grew up in Meadowlands, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Roger and Joanna Renko.
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Kim Ward attended Community College of Allegheny County, University of Pittsburgh, and Middle Tennessee State University.
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Kim Ward has three grown sons, Tom, Matthew, and Michael.