Rendell Picks Pratt

Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell last week nominated attorney A. Michael Pratt to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission’s board after removing Mitchell Rubin from the five-member panel.

The governor ended Rubin’s tenure as commissioner after a federal jury on March 16 found former Sen. Vincent Fumo guilty on 137 counts of political corruption charges, including paying Rubin $150,000 for a no-show Senate job. Rubin became a commissioner in 1998 and was appointed chairman in 2003.

Pratt’s nomination for a four-year term is subject to Senate confirmation. He is a partner at Pepper Hamilton LLP, where he has worked on commercial and product liability cases.

“Michael Pratt is extremely accomplished and well qualified to serve as a member of the [PTC],” Rendell said in a press release. “He is widely respected for his expertise in dealing with such issues as complicated contracts and litigation, which will certainly benefit the work of the Turnpike Commission and its customers.”

Pratt received his law degree from Harvard University in 1985 and attended Washington and Jefferson College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in English in 1981. He is a native of Grindstone, located in southwestern Pennsylvania.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM BOND BUYER