Rich Negrin Explained

Rich Negrin
Office:Pennsylvania Secretary of Environmental Protection
Term Start:June 27, 2023
Term End:December 9, 2023
Governor:Josh Shapiro
Predecessor:Patrick McDonnell
Successor:Jess Shirley (Interim Acting)
Party:Democratic
Education:Wagner College (BS)
Rutgers Law School (JD)

Rich Negrin is an American lawyer who formerly served as Pennsylvania Secretary of Environmental Protection from June to December 2023.[1]

Biography

The son of Cuban immigrants, Negrin was 13 when he witnessed the assassination of his father, the director of a refugee services center in New Jersey, by anti-Castro activists.[2] [3] After graduating from Wagner College and Rutgers Law School, he worked as a prosecutor in the Philadelphia District Attorney's office from 1995 to 2000.[4]

Under Mayor Michael Nutter, Negrin was appointed executive director of the Philadelphia Board of Revision of Taxes in 2009 and then the city's managing director and deputy mayor in 2010.[4] He unsuccessfully ran for district attorney in 2017, receiving endorsements from The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Fraternal Order of Police.[5] [6] He received 14.2% of the vote in the Democratic primary, placing third behind Larry Krasner and Joe Khan.

In January 2023, Negrin was nominated as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection by Governor Josh Shapiro.[4] He was confirmed by the Pennsylvania State Senate on June 27, becoming the first Latino to lead the agency.[1] He announced resignation, effective December 9, on October 25, 2023 for medical reasons.[7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Nunez. Alan. June 28, 2023. PA Senate overwhelmingly confirms Secretary Rich Negrin to lead the Department of Environmental Protection. Al Día.
  2. News: Geringer. Dan. February 3, 2012. City's managing director turns loss of dad, daughter into mission to make others' lives better. The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  3. News: McFadden. Robert. November 26, 1979. Cuban Refugee Leader Slain in Union City. The New York Times.
  4. News: Seidman. Andrew. January 11, 2023. Former top Philly official Rich Negrin is Josh Shapiro's pick to lead the Pa. Department of Environmental Protection. The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  5. News: May 13, 2017. Negrin best Democrat for DA; Rhynhart for controller. The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  6. News: Marin. Max. March 15, 2017. FOP endorsement of DA candidate Negrín draws criticism. City & State PA.
  7. News: Murphy . Jan . Jan Murphy . Shapiro Cabinet officer to resign following six-week medical leave . 27 October 2023 . PennLive Patriot-News . Advance Local Media LLC . October 27, 2023.