Gov. Rendell today tapped Gary Tuma, a longtime mouthpiece of disgraced former state Sen. Vincent J. Fumo, to be his new press secretary.
“Gary Tuma is a veteran newsman who brings a variety of perspectives to the job – he has been a reporter covering the Capitol, a press secretary at a cabinet agency, and a press secretary in the legislature,” Rendell said. “Gary is a well respected, hard working and experienced press secretary, and I couldn't be more pleased that he is joining my administration.”
The 56-year-old Tuma has been the special projects director for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party since May.
Before that, he had spent 13 years as the press secretary to the Senate Democratic Appropriations Committee – nearly all of that under Fumo (D., Phila), who is expected to begin a 55-month federal prison term on corruption charges in two weeks.
That followed more than two-years as press secretary at the Pennsylvania Department of Education under former Gov. Robert P. Casey.
Tuma, a Pittsburgh native, came to Harrisburg in 1989 to cover state government as a reporter for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Tuma succeeds Chuck Ardo, who recently announced his retirement after nearly eight years of working for Rendell, first as a campaign aide and later as the top administration spokesman.
Tuma will join another former Fumo PRman in Rendell’s press shop.
For the past several months, Ken Snyder – a longtime Fumo media consultant -- has worked under contract for the Rendell administration.
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