PA Convention Center gets new chairman

The board of the Convention Center Authority this afternoon elected Greg Fox as its new chairman, replacing Buck Riley, who abruptly resigned as of last Sunday. Riley, a Republican, had said in a resignation letter to his colleagues that Carl Singley, a lawyer and a Democrat, would take over temporarily in his absence since Singley was vice chair of the 15-member board.

Fox is a Republican who has sat on the board as one of two appointees of former Gov. Ed Rendell. The other is School District CFO Mike Masch, a Democrat.

The terms of both men officially expired when Gov. Corbett, a Republican, took over. But Corbett has yet to name his Democratic and Republican appointees in their place.

Fox's election as chairman, though, ensures him a spot on the board, and opens up his old seat for a Corbett appointee. Fox was nominated by Singley, and the vote was unanimous.

It is not surprising that the authority's board turned to a Republican as its chair, especially considering its political makeup and who sits in the governor's mansion. Either way, Fox, a partner at Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads L.L.P, has been regarded by his colleagues from both sides of the aisle as a hard-working and diligent board member. He initially joined the board in 2002 as an appointee of Gov. Mark Schweiker.

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