Hundreds of Pennsylvania workers meet new governor
HARRISBURG — Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf ended his first week in office Friday by meeting hundreds of the state employees who now work under him.
The line for the late afternoon reception with the new governor and his wife, Frances, snaked through the Capitol, and some waited about an hour to shake their hands.
Wolf said he came up with the idea after the November election as a way to meet what he calls his “fellow employees.” He said some had suggestions and others gave him reading material.
“It’s normal. It’s what you do,” said Wolf, who wore a state government employee ID badge around his neck.
State workers received an e-mail invitation to the event Thursday from Wolf’s chief of staff, Katie McGinty. Wolf aides said the light refreshments set up in the rotunda were paid for with leftover inaugural funds.
Danielle Elewahni, who has worked for about a month as an Agriculture Department administrator, was among those who braved the long wait.
“I’m excited we have a fresh new person in government, and I’m excited about the changes,” she said after meeting the Wolfs.
Belinda Williams, a public health program administrator with the Health Department, told Wolf that she had spoken with 30-year state workers who couldn’t remember such an event happening before.
Don Bickel, who works in information technology at the Office of Administration, said furloughs, job cuts and pay freezes have affected morale.
“I’ve never heard of a governor with any interest in state employees,” said Bickel, a second-generation Pennsylvania government worker who brought his 8-year-old daughter, Alexandra, to the reception.
