Former Pa. Rep. Miccarelli lands job at Delaware County nonprofit that receives public dollars

After leaving the General Assembly last year under the shadow of domestic violence and sexual assault accusations he denies, former Republican Rep. Nick Miccarelli has found a new job.

As first reported by the Delaware County Daily Times, Miccarelli is now executive director of Community Transit, a nonprofit company that transports Delaware County residents who have disabilities or are elderly.

A 2017 tax form names a 12-person board of directors for the company. At least six of the names match individuals identified as Republicans since 2013, including former Chester County GOP chair Shepard Garner.

“I don’t believe that politics played any role,” Miccarelli told the Capital-Star. “The process was thorough and exhaustive and I think the board’s decision had nothing to do with politics.”

Miccarelli told the Daily Times he thought his experience working with Uber and other ride-sharing companies made him a good candidate to walk the company through a re-branding effort.

“Nick brings not only a fresh perspective, but a wealth of knowledge of human services issues in the commonwealth,” Wendy Petkus-Mazeika, director of business development at the company, said in a press release. “He is very enthusiastic about helping the residents of Delaware County maintain their freedom and independence.”

The company lists administering county programs, SEPTA subcontracting, and the Pennsylvania Lottery as “major sources of revenue” on its website.

Citing Miccarelli’s past, the political connections of the board, and the public money, local liberal activists told the Daily Times they planned to protest a Wednesday County Council meeting over the decision.

Miccarelli was accused last year of sexual assault by a Harrisburg political consultant and of domestic violence including physical threats by state Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-Luzerne.

House Republican leadership stripped him of his committee assignments following an internal investigation and called on him to resign, but he refused while denying the accusations.

Leaving the General Assembly after ten years, Miccarelli will have a lifetime pension and health care. He declined to share his salary, but said that “people are saying it’s a six figure job and it’s not.”

Miccarelli also said he was “not surprised” by the backlash against his hiring but planned to focus on improving the company.

Community Transit employs 130 full-time and part-time employees, some of whom are unionized as part of a Teamsters local.

The president of that local is state Rep. Dave Delloso, the Democrat who won Miccarelli’s seat last November.

That means Delloso will face Miccarelli during contract negotiations or while handling any other employment disputes.

“It just seems to be amongst the most awkward things they could have done,” Delloso told the Capital-Star.

But Miccarelli didn’t foresee any conflicts in the relationship, saying it would be based on business.

“Dave is gonna do the best thing for his members, and I’m going to do the best thing for Community Transit,” he said.