Pocono News Section

Mahanoy City Copes With the Loss of State Senator

Mahanoy City Copes With the Loss of State Senator - Monday, October 20, 2008 at 5:40PM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Monday, Oct 20, 2008 @ 05:40pm EST
MAHANOY CITY, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY- Northeastern Pennsylvania is coming to grips with the loss of a state lawmaker. James Rhoades was running for re-election for his 8th term as State Senator. He was killed in a violent car crash over the weekend.

Mahanoy City is a small town, but it was home to larger than life lawmaker, Republican State Senator James Rhoades. Elected in 1980, he gained praise from not only Republicans but also Democrats.

Senator James Rhoades is described as a working man's man. A man, who despite being very powerful in Harrisburg, never lost touch with his roots - the people he was proud to serve.

The billboard at the west end fire company in Mahanoy City has a farewell message to a man most in his hometown called a friend. State Senator James Rhoades lived and worked here. Flags fly at half staff at the high school, where he taught.

He and his wife Mary Edith were involved in a grinding crash in Monroe County Friday night. The larger than life lawmaker died Saturday morning. Edward Tobin was a longtime friend of the Senator. "It was a bad thing for the whole area, Schuylkill County. He was a great man, he was a working man's man. Whatever you were registered Republican or Democrat, he was right in your corner," he said.

Jack Clark fought back tears as he talked about his friend James Rhoades. He sat outside the lawmakers’ office in downtown Mahanoy City. "When I heard about it I was devastated. He was one of the best friends I had," he said.

Nancy Blackwell also fought back tears as she remembered a man she called a hero. "He's not just our Senator, he's a best friend. If you ever had a problem with anything just go over to his office, he'd help you in any way he could. It’s a very big loss" she said.

Champ Holman has been his Chief of Staff and good friend for some 30 years. "To walk in this office knowing he's not going to be here, it was hard, extremely hard for all of us. We're in the office because he'd want us to be in the office providing service for people again," he said.

Anthony Crimaldi is Superintendent of the Mahaony Area School District. Senator Rhoades taught in the district and was a principal in Harrisburg. He rose to the ranks to become Chairman of the Senate Education Committee. "It's not very often you get someone with that kind of experience who was actually in a classroom and central office. He actually knew what we were going through," said Crimaldi.

“It’s difficult. We've received thousands, literally thousands of calls, saying Senator Rhoades was there for us. He was a people person. People loved him. He walked with a president and he walked with the common man. He was truly a man of the people," added Holman.

Senator Rhoades' name is still on the ballot. It will remain that way unless someone files a court challenge. If he is re-elected, then the Lt. Governor would have to call for a special election.

His funeral arrangements are still being finalized, but here's what Holman told Eyewitness News. A public viewing will be held at Mahanoy Area High School Friday night from 4 to 9 P. M. The funeral will be at the high school at 11:00 A. M. Saturday.