Editorial: Mourning the loss of Rep. Mike Reese, a dedicated public servant

If you drive around Westmoreland County, you might think that Mike Reese was running for the state House of Representatives again.

The green-and-white signs promoting support for him have popped up again like mushrooms. This time they aren’t about swaying a vote in the November election, which he won for the seventh time.

They are candles lit in his memory.

Reese died unexpectedly Saturday at the age of 42, the victim of a brain aneurysm. He was recovering from a covid infection, but a direct link to the virus has not been established.

His death is, first, a wrenching loss for his wife, Angela, and their three young children, plus his extended family. We extend our sympathies as they grieve.

But moreover, Reese’s death has robbed the people of the 59th Legislative District of a man roundly heralded as the best kind of public servant — a leader, an advocate, a personable represenative of his district who played straight and fair.

State Rep. George Dunbar, R-Penn Township, called him “probably the most respected member of the House.” Majority Leader Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre, called him a model legislator. Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, ordering flags to fly at half-staff, called him “a good man and a strong leader.” His Democratic colleague Rep. Dan Miller from Mt. Lebanon said “Mike was always approachable and I looked forward to what we could’ve done together this coming session in our respective roles.” Across the state, Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a Democrat from Philadelphia, said he was “truly heartsick” over Reese’s death.

Reese was deeply involved in education issues, and this tribute from the Pennsylvania State Education Association is telling: He was “a thoughtful, fair legislator who could hold a differing opinion while being respectful, kind and open minded. He was truly one of the good ones, and he will be missed by us.”

Reese was recently elected to a leadership position for the coming term. And that means the loss extends to every Pennsylvanian — even those in corners of the state where they never saw those green signs.

Let us hope that some people decide to honor him by doing what he did.

Those who are already in government should do what they say Reese did — put constituents first and foster an atmosphere of cooperation.

And those who aren’t in government should learn to participate. Stand up. Step forward. Serve your neighbors.

Public service is the best memorial for a public servant.