Sara Steelman

Not to be confused with the Missouri politician, Sarah Steelman.

Sara G. Steelman (born 1946 in Wichita, Kansas) of Indiana, Pennsylvania, American biologist and politician, served seven terms as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1991 until 2002. Steelman is married to John Henry Steelman, a mathematics professor at Indiana University.^[3] She is a 1963 graduate of Southeast High School in Wichita, Kansas. She graduated with a degree in Zoology from the University of Chicago in 1967 and earned a Ph.D. in behavioural genetics from Stanford University in 1976.^[4] She moved to Indiana in 1986 when her husband joined the faculty at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.^[5]

Sara G. Steelman
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 62nd district
In office January 1, 1991[1] – November 30, 2002[2]
Preceded by	Paul Wass
Succeeded by	Dave L. Reed
Personal details
Born	(1946-04-24) April 24, 1946 (age 78) Wichita, Kansas
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	John Henry Steelman
Children	1 child
Residence	Indiana, Pennsylvania
Occupation	Biologist

She was first elected to represent the 62nd legislative district in 1990, defeating Republican Paul Wass. She was also a supporter of reform of house rules to provide more openness and more participation by rank and file legislators.^[6] She proposed a keg registration law to combat underage drinking.^[7]

She was defeated for re-election in 2002 by 24-year-old Republican Dave L. Reed.^[8][9] Both candidates made improving the local economic climate part of their platforms.^[5] As a challenger, Reed raised $120,000 for the campaign and knocked on 11,000 doors in the district.^[10] During the campaign, Steelman "erupted" on the district's airwaves with taxpayer-funded "public service announcements" for the first time in a decade.^[11]

She then worked as director of the Indiana Arts Council.^[12]

References

1. "SESSION OF 1991 – 175TH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY – No. 1" (PDF). Legislative Journal. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. 1991-01-01.
2. Per Article II, Section 2 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, the legislative session ended on November 30, 2002
3. "Dr. John Henry Steelman". Faculty Profile. Indiana University. 24 Nov 2003.
4. "Sara G. Steelman (Democrat)". Official Pennsylvania House of Representatives Profile. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Archived from the original on 2002-10-28.
5. Katarski, Jeffry (2002-10-15). "62nd District race pits youth vs. experience". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.^{[permanent dead link]}
6. Reeves, Frank (1991-01-06). "Reforms fail as Legislature opens session". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
7. Kusic, Sam (2002-03-17). "Registration stickers for beer kegs proposed". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.
8. "2002 General Election – Representative in the General Assembly". Commonwealth of PA – Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. 2004. Archived from the original on 2008-06-26.
9. Shannon, Joyce (2002-11-06). "Reed upsets Steelman". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Archived from the original on 2013-01-04.
10. Brownawell, Angel (2002-11-07). "24-year-old pulls House upset". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.^{[permanent dead link]}
11. Roddy, Dennis (2003-12-21). "Mine! Mine! Mine!". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. PG Publishing Company. Incumbent Democrat Sara Steelman, who went a decade without doing such broadcast spots, suddenly erupted on her district's airwaves promoting state programs as if she had invented them, in the months leading up to election. Reed defeated her, anyway.
12. "Henderson Brothers announces appointments". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. 2003-05-11. Sara Steelman, director of the Indiana Arts Council and former state representative