Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

Tarah Toohil reflects on her upset win over Todd Eachus in her 116th District state House race. She says some of her priorities will be jobs, property taxes and money from gambling.

AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER

BUTLER TWP. – In the days after her upset victory over Democratic House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, Tarah Toohil has barely had time to catch her breath.
“It’s like you go right off the campaign trail and into your job,” the 31-year-old attorney said on Thursday from her family home in Butler Township.
After spending time with family and friends on Wednesday, responding to hundreds of congratulatory e-mails and phone calls from well-wishers and giving interviews to various media outlets, the Republican began fielding calls from state representatives who are seeking House leadership positions and want her support. She also heard from people suggesting locations for a local legislative office.
On Thursday, Toohil began research on House committees that would be “more advantageous to my community” to join. She filled out a form for her temporary House stationery included in the orientation packet she received by overnight mail.
Also in the packet was her temporary parking pass for the state Capitol, where she will be heading on Monday to choose an administrative assistant from a House Republican Caucus pool and, on Tuesday, vote for Republican House leaders, she said.
The House will switch from a Democratic to GOP majority in 2011. Republicans will keep their edge in the state Senate.
Toohil also has been accepting speaking engagements – some of them, she said, appearances that Eachus had canceled.
Also on Thursday, Toohil attended a luncheon of the Wilkes-Barre Law & Library Association – the official name of the Luzerne County Bar Association – where U.S. Sen. Robert Casey, D-Scranton, spoke about ethics and leadership. She said association President Robert Schaub and county Judge Thomas Burke, for whom she clerked early in her career, made kind public remarks about her and her victory.
“It was a good celebration of going into public service. And it was nice to have a meeting with other members of the bar,” Toohil said.
After she gets administrative matters settled, Toohil said she will focus on “jobs … lowering property taxes, finding out where the gambling money went and helping the area’s economy.”
“I’m looking forward to being an accountable, transparent leader for our community. … I’m honored and privileged that the people have chosen me. It’s been a humbling experience and I’m going to work so hard for the people here,” she said.