Senator Lisa Baker
Senator Lisa Baker is serving her first term representing the 20th Senatorial
District, which includes parts of Luzerne, Monroe and Susquehanna counties and
all of Pike, Wayne and Wyoming counties.
She chairs the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee and
is a member of the following committees: Aging and Youth, Appropriations,
Communications and Technology, Environmental Resources and Energy, and Public
Health and Welfare.
Active in community and civic organizations, Senator Baker serves on the board
of directors of the United Way of Wyoming Valley, WVIA Public Broadcasting, and
the advisory board of Penn State Wilkes-Barre. She was East Stroudsburg
University’s 2007-08 legislative fellow.
Her dedication to Pennsylvania’s veterans is evidenced by her work to secure
funding for veterans’ outreach and support programs. Her commitment to
emergency services personnel led to the creation of a state tax credit for
volunteer firefighters and EMS workers.
Senator Baker is leading the push for changes to the laws and procedures
governing the juvenile justice system, in the wake of widespread corruption in
Luzerne County. She is sponsoring legislation to overhaul a poorly-functioning
state budget process and to prevent future budget crises.
Honors and awards include the 2008 Guardian of Small Business Award from the
National Federation of Independent Business, the 2008 ATHENA Award from the
Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, and the 2010 Patrick
Henry Award from the National Guard Association of the United States.
Senator Baker previously held top-level positions under Governors Tom Ridge and
Mark Schweiker, including directing their Northeast Regional Office. She was
chief of staff to state Senator Charles Lemmond. She also served as executive
director of The Blue Ribbon Foundation, established to support health and
wellness initiatives in northeastern and north central Pennsylvania.
She is a graduate of Dallas High School and Shippensburg University where she
received a B.A. in Government Administration. She resides in Lehman Township,
Luzerne County, with her husband Gary, and their son Carson.
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