Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell yesterday announced the departure from his administration of senior adviser John H. Estey, who will return to the private sector on Feb. 15.
"John Estey performed admirably as my chief of staff and as senior advisor," Rendell said in a statement. "His departure is a loss to the commonwealth."
Estey plans to practice law at Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLP, where he had been a partner from January 2002 to January 2003 before joining Rendell's administration. Estey, who will be based in Ballard's Philadelphia office, will be a partner again, leading a new government relations and regulatory affairs practice that will serve as a strategic partner to business clients nationwide in their interactions with state government.
"We expect [Estey] to play a large role in the future of the firm, representing important clients and managing key client relationships in the government relations area," Ballard chairman Arthur Makadon said in a press release.
Before serving as Rendell's senior adviser, Estey was Rendell's chief of staff from January 2003 to April 2007. He also served as deputy chief of staff to Rendell between 1997 and 1999 while Rendell was mayor of Philadelphia.
While Estey will no longer serve as Rendell's senior adviser, he will continue in his role as chairman of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority and as Rendell's designee to the Delaware River Port Authority. The governor said he was pleased that Estey would still be involved with the two agencies. Estey has served as Rendell's designee for the DRPA since 2004, and Rendell named him chairman of PRPA in 2007.
The governor's office said that they have no plans to replace Estey.
"I don't think that anyone can fill Mr. Estey's enormous shoes," Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo said. "It would take a team of brilliant, dedicated professionals." q
