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Leslie Richards (born April 3, 1967) is the current general manager of SEPTA, the public transportation agency serving the Philadelphia area.[1] She previously served as a member of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners and as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, from 2015 to 2019 under Governor Tom Wolf.[2]
Leslie S. Richards | |
|---|---|
| General Manager of SEPTA | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Jeffrey Knueppel |
| Secretary of Transportation of Pennsylvania | |
| In office May 11, 2015 – December 31, 2019 | |
| Governor | Tom Wolf |
| Preceded by | Barry Schoch |
| Succeeded by | Yassmin Gramian |
| Member of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners | |
| In office January 3, 2012 – January 2015 Served with Josh Shapiro, Bruce Castor | |
| Preceded by | Jim Matthews |
| Succeeded by | Val Arkoosh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 3, 1967 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Ira Richards |
| Residence | Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania |
| Alma mater | Brown University University of Pennsylvania |
Richards earned a bachelor's degree in economics and urban studies from Brown University, and a master's degree in regional planning from the University of Pennsylvania. She has three children with her husband, Ira: Rebecca, Benjamin, and Sophie.[3]
Richards was elected to the Whitemarsh Township Board of Supervisors in 2007, and became chairwoman of the board in 2008.[4]
Richards was elected to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners in 2011. Her election, along with that of fellow Democrat Josh Shapiro, marked the first time in over a century that Democrats controlled the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners.[5] Richards served as Montgomery County's representative on the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.[6] Richards also serves on the board of SEPTA.[7]
Pennsylvania political operatives had mentioned Richards as a potential Congressional candidate in Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district.[8] Richards declined to run for the seat after incumbent Congressman Jim Gerlach retired in 2014.[9]
In 2015, following the election of Democratic Governor Tom Wolf, Richards was nominated to serve as Secretary of Transportation of Pennsylvania. She was subsequently confirmed by the Pennsylvania State Senate in May 2015.[2]
In 2017, Richards was appointed the first female chair of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission as well as the Public Private Partnership (P3) Board.[10]
On November 21, 2019, Richards was named as SEPTA's new general manager, replacing Jeff Knueppel in January 2020.[1]
On October 25, 2024, Richards announced she would be stepping down from her position as SEPTA’s general manager & CEO on November 29, 2024.[11]
| Award | Organization | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Urbanist Changemaker of the Year | 5th Square | 2022 |
| International Woman of the Year | Women's Transportation Seminar | 2018 |
| Celebrating Women Who Move the Nation | Conference of Minority Transportation Officials | 2018 |
| Above and Beyond Distinguished Service Award | City and State PA | 2018 |
| Service to Humanity | March of Dimes of Southeastern Pennsylvania | 2018 |
| Female Innovator of the Year | The Stevie Awards | 2017 |
| Female Executive of the Year | The Stevie Awards | 2017 |
| Women of Distinction | Philadelphia Business Journal | 2017 |
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