State Rep. Abby Major said she is committed to changing the culture and ethics rules for her colleagues in Harrisburg after relating a personal story Wednesday at a news conference that added to sexual harassment allegations against Rep. Mike Zabel of Delaware County.

Zabel, a Democrat, on Wednesday submitted his letter of resignation from the House, effective March 16.

“I’m happy that the people that he harassed in Harrisburg will not have to worry about him returning and having to face him,” said Major, R-Leechburg.

During the news conference, Major detailed a Nov. 14 incident in which, she said, Zabel propositioned her and touched her inappropriately at a Harrisburg establishment.

Major represents the 60th District, which spans Armstrong and Westmoreland counties, including the Kiski Valley. She is the first woman to do so.

She told the Tribune-Review on Wednesday that her comments at the news conference “got a great reception from the women who work in Harrisburg. They’re really grateful to have someone speaking on their behalf.”

Major said her experience was mild compared with other allegations of harassment that have been leveled against Zabel.

She encouraged other women who have been harassed while in Harrisburg to share their stories with her, noting they can keep them confidential.

“Women must stick together if we ever want to make real change here in Harrisburg or anywhere,” Major said.

Major said existing rules governing harassing conduct by House members apply only if they are taking part in a legislative event or performing their duties as a legislator.

“If a representative were to be in their district at a bar and sexually harasses a woman or gropes a woman, that wouldn’t count as an ethics violation,” she said. “We’re asking for a more expansive set of ethics rules that hold us to a higher standard all the time because we’re always representatives, right?”

State Rep. Paul Schemel, a Republican representing part of Franklin County, addressed why the rules should apply to lawmakers outside the Capitol.

“The work we do oftentimes isn’t in this building, it’s in our districts, but it’s all over the place. It’s in restaurants, it’s in the grocery stores, everywhere we go,” he said. “We’re approached by constituents all the time. We’re approached by people that work in different government agencies or work for various special interest groups all of the time, oftentimes outside of this building.

“If we’re not held to account for our behavior in those other places, what does it say about the institution inside this building?”

Major said they are asking for the agreed-upon rules to be amended because “it wasn’t expansive enough to cover these instances.”

“It will be up to the (House) speaker and the Democratic leadership and the Republican leadership to work together to change the rules. Ultimately, it’s up to the Democratic leadership in the House. Hopefully, we can work together for an outcome to protect women.”

Nicole Reigelman, press secretary for Democratic House Speaker Joanna McClinton of Philadelphia, said the Ethics Committee was established last week. The eight-member committee has four members of each party, including Republicans Tim Bonner of Mercer and Butler counties and Carl Walker Metzgar of Somerset.

“They have their first meeting next week to organize but can already take complaints/reports of harassment,” she said.

In a statement, House Democratic Caucus leaders affirmed their commitment to a safe work environment and encouraged people to come forward to have concerns addressed.

“As part of our caucus’s ongoing commitment to protection and transparency, a website will soon be available to the public to learn more about the newly empowered Ethics Committee’s process for collecting and investigating reports of discrimination and harassment,” the statement said.

When contacted for comment Thursday, Erica Wright, communications director for Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, a Hempfield Republican, pointed to a statement Monday from Senate Republican leadership regarding workplace harassment. It says the Senate has a policy providing for harassment complaints to be made.

“Every credible complaint is independently investigated before recommendations for actions are received by both Republican and Democrat leaders,” the statement said.

During her statement Wednesday, Major said Zabel showed signs of intoxication when he harassed her. Though they “barely knew each other outside of a few work-related conversations,” she said, Zabel complimented her appearance and “continued pressing the issue, eventually putting his arm around me and touching my back.”

Major said Zabel “asked me if I wanted to get out of here and go upstairs. I said I wasn’t interested and looked around for help.”

She said she moved away when another male colleague began to speak.

Major said Zabel followed her as she walked down a hallway, intending to exit the building and head for her car parked outside. She said she took refuge in a bathroom and later asked a trusted male friend to walk her to her car.

She said Zabel “was again behind us” as they opened the doors to step outside.

“I was stunned,” she said. “I left for the evening, disturbed by the situation.”

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