New Pa. House lawmaker, Rep. Thom Welby, takes oath of office

The residents of the Scranton-based 113th House District have a new state lawmaker on the job in Harrisburg.

State Rep. Thom Welby, who was elected in a special election on Nov. 2, took the oath of office on Wednesday morning, according to a statement from House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton’s, D-Philadelphia, office.

Welby replaces Democrat Marty Flynn, who won election to the Lackawanna County-based 22nd Senate District in May, replacing former Democratic Sen. John Blake, who resigned to take a job with U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-8th District, the Capital-Star previously reported.

In a statement, McClinton called Welby, who was expected to start voting on Wednesday afternoon, “a well-respected leader in his community,” and said she was “confident he’ll leverage his years of experience to elevate the voices of his Lackawanna County constituents.”

Welby’s term will run until next November. A former broadcaster, he spent nine years as Flynn’s chief of staff, according to McClinton’s office.