Scott Wagner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Scott Wagner
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 28th district |
|
| In office April 2, 2014 – June 4, 2018 |
|
| Preceded by | Mike Waugh |
| Succeeded by | Kristin Phillips-Hill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 21, 1955 York Township, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | Candy Overlander (divorced) Ellen Beecher (divorced) Silvia Rodriguez
(m. 1991; div. 2008)Tracy Higgs
(m. 2014) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Pennsylvania College of Technology (no degree) |
Scott R. Wagner, born on September 21, 1955, is an American businessman and politician from Pennsylvania. He served as a state senator for Pennsylvania's 28th district. In 2018, he ran for Governor of Pennsylvania as the Republican candidate but lost to Tom Wolf.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Scott Wagner grew up on a farm in Spring Garden Township, Pennsylvania. He finished high school at Dallastown Area High School in 1973. After high school, he went to Williamsport Area Community College for one semester. He then left college to start his own businesses.
Business Career
Wagner began his business journey at age 19. He bought his first piece of land for $8,500 and sold it two years later for a good profit. He then started other successful businesses. These included a laundromat and a ski shop. He also bought several buildings to rent out.
In 1985, Wagner helped start a company called York Waste Disposal. This company grew to make $40 million a year. He sold it in 1997. In 2000, he started a new company called Penn Waste. By 2018, Penn Waste had 400 employees. The company collects garbage from 180,000 homes. In December 2019, Wagner sold Penn Waste to a Canadian company. Wagner also owns three other companies, including a trucking company.
Political Career
Serving in the Pennsylvania Senate (2014–2018)
Wagner decided to run for the Pennsylvania Senate in a special election in March 2014. He ran as a write-in candidate. This means his name was not printed on the ballot. Voters had to write his name in. He ran on a platform of saving money for the state. He also said he was an "outsider" who would fight against political insiders. Wagner made history by becoming the first write-in candidate to win a seat in the Pennsylvania State Senate. He was sworn into office on April 2, 2014.
As a senator, Wagner worked to make the state government more careful with money. He helped Republicans win more seats in the Senate. This led to Republicans having a large majority in 2016.
Wagner also worked on important laws. He supported a bill to protect people from unfair treatment. This bill aimed to stop discrimination based on sex or gender identity. He also worked with another senator on a "Clean Slate" law. This law helps people with old, non-violent misdemeanor records. It allows these records to be sealed if the person stays crime-free for ten years. This bill became law.
Wagner supported drilling for natural gas on state lands. He also wanted fewer rules for the oil and gas industry. Wagner resigned from the Senate in June 2018. He did this to focus on his campaign for governor.
Running for Governor in 2018
In 2018, Scott Wagner ran as the Republican candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania. He challenged the current governor, Tom Wolf. Wagner won the Republican primary election on May 15, 2018. He resigned from the state senate on June 4, 2018, to focus on his campaign.
Wagner and Governor Wolf had a televised debate. During his campaign, Wagner made a controversial comment. He later said he had chosen "poor words" and apologized.
Wagner received support from the NRA Political Victory Fund. He said he would change Governor Wolf's Medicaid expansion. Medicaid helps people get health care. He also said he would veto any bill that limited marriage rights for same-sex couples. Wagner promised to get rid of property taxes, including school taxes. He also supported school uniforms for students. He spoke out against standardized testing. Wagner suggested selling the state's liquor stores. He said the money saved could go to education.
In the November 2018 election, Wagner lost to Governor Wolf. Wagner spent a lot of his own money on his campaign.
Republican Party Support
Scott Wagner has always been a Republican. He has given more than $3.2 million to state and local campaigns since 2007.
Wagner supports President Donald Trump. He has compared himself to Trump. Trump endorsed Wagner for governor in 2018. Wagner also had a leadership role in a group that supported Ron DeSantis's campaign for president in 2024.
Personal Life
Scott Wagner has been married four times and has two daughters.
