About Jim

Jim Brewster was elected to the State Senate in 2010 to represent the 45th Senatorial District in parts of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.

Senator Brewster serves as chairman of the Senate Law & Justice Committee and the Game
and Fisheries Committee. He is Vice Chair of the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee. He also serves as a member on the Senate Appropriations, Banking
and Insurance, Education, Local Government, and the Transportation Committees.

He is a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania with a degree in education.

Prior to his election to the Senate, Jim was Vice President of Operations with Mellon Bank.

Jim became a McKeesport City Councilman in 1995, and served as council president for
seven years prior to being elected mayor in 2004. During his years as McKeesport mayor, Jim
was credited for bringing $27 million in state, county and federal dollars to the city. He also
helped develop the Palisades, McKee’s Point Marina and Greater Allegheny Passage Trail at
the Waterfront.

Jim has served as a director or board member for: the Allegheny League of Municipalities;
Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities; McKeesport Optimist Club; Municipal Risk
Management; Allegheny County Air Quality Control; McKeesport Development Corporation;
McKeesport Recreation Board; Penn State Greater Allegheny. He served on the Board of
Directors at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum Trust, Inc., and continues as
Secretary of the Board of Port Authority of Allegheny County, Vice President of the Board
of Monroeville Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Chairman of the McKeesport Housing
Authority and McKeesport Democratic Committee.

Jim was elected to both the McKeesport Area School District Hall of Fame and McKeesport
Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. He was also honored as “Mayor of the Year” in 2010 by the
Pennsylvania Mayor’s Association, and “Friend of Youth” by the McKeesport Optimist Club
for founding the “Toys for Tots” program and starting a youth basketball program at the
McKeesport Salvation Army.

He is married to the former Linda Leah. They have three daughters and seven grandchildren.

Updated 10/2018