GOP Rep. Mark Keller to retire, brings 2020 retirement total to eight

(*This post has been updated to correct the date of Rep. Mark Keller’s election and the length of his tenure in the state House.)

*Eight-term Republican Rep. Mark Keller announced Thursday that he’ll call it a career in 2020, and not seek re-election.  

Keller, who’s represented the Perry County-based 86th District since 2005*, is the eighth state lawmaker to announce their retirement this winter.

In 2011, under then-Gov. Tom Corbett, Keller famously had seven of his bills on municipal government operations become law in the same day. 

During his 14-year tenure, Keller focused on agriculture and agricultural education in his native, rural Perry County. He is serving his third consecutive term as vice-chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. 

“I want to take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to the constituents of the 86th District for placing your trust in me over the years. I never felt like this position was a job, but rather a humbling opportunity and tremendous responsibility to be the voice for our conservative, rural community in Harrisburg,” Keller said in a statement. “Your unwavering support provided the strength I needed to power through times of challenge and adversity. For this, I can never give enough thanks.”

Keller’s term will expire Nov. 30, 2020. 

Keller said, “Still, there is much work to be done! I am looking forward to serving out the rest of my term and pledge to keep working hard for you until my term concludes in November 2020.”