Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Barrar retiring, won’t seek re-election
State representative has served Delaware and Chester counties since 1997
UPPER CHICHESTER >> After two decades of service and wanting to spend more time with family while also facing health concerns, state Rep. Stephen Barrar, R-160, of Upper Chichester, announced his retirement.
The 65-year-old said he plans to finish out his term through November 2020 and will step down at that time.
“It is not easy to leave,” Barrar said. “I have always loved this job, but after 24 years, I feel it is time to step down. Over the years, I have spent a lot of time away from my family. I want to spend more time together. Also, I have been dealing with some serious health issues which have led to my decision to retire.”
Barrar and his wife, Elena, have two daughters and five grandchildren, three of whom live out-of-state and with whom he hopes to spend more time when his long stint in Harrisburg is finished.
The state representative is a graduate of Interboro High School and prior to his legislative career, was the owner of the Twin Oaks Garden Mart, which he closed after becoming a state legislator in 1997. Prior to that, he was an Upper Chichester township
commissioner from 1992 to 1996, the last two years of which he served as the board’s president.
“This has been the opportunity of a lifetime and I hope I have represented you well and to the best of my ability,” he said. “As the representative for the 160th District, I have tried to always be there for my constituents. I am proud to say that in 24 years in office, I have only missed four session days. You elected me to do this job for you and I have tirelessly been on the job representing you.”
Barrar explained why he first decided to run for the state-level office.
“Being a small business owner, ... I just felt that I could do things in the Legislature to focus more on the issues that were plaguing the small business community,” he said in particular of regulations and taxes.
Among his assignments was the Veteran Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, where he served as chairman since 2010. Barrar himself served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and had become a proponent of first responders and veterans while serving on the committee.
“The cause of the veteran has always been something I cared about,” he said, explaining he had friends who lived with PTSD and knew disabled veterans in the community. “I just felt like I could do a lot of good here ... I would hope that when people up here remember me, they’ll remember the efforts to make our state a better place for our veterans and first responders.”
With Pennsylvania being the third largest state regarding the number of veterans with just under one million, Barrar said one of the larger issues facing the state is the aging veteran population and their need for adult day care as society continues to age and live longer.
Earlier this month, he received the annual Charles Dick Medal of Merit from the National Guard Association of the United States. Only three distributed annually, Barrar was chosen for his work on behalf of the lives of National Guard personnel and their families.
Some of the challenges included facing the insurance industry and trying to equalize education funding.
“The biggest challenge,” Barrar said of the insurance lobby, “has been going toeto-toe with different special interests ... I’ve won very few battles against them.”
A fairer way to fund education was something he and the Delaware County delegation attempted with fervor many times, to no avail.
“The most elusive goal of the Legislature is property tax reform,” Barrar said. “How do we continue to pay for the rising cost of education year after year?”
He helped to pass legislation to reauthorize, expand and increase state funding for fire companies and ambulance organizations and lobbied to make certain that one of the three members of the Pennsylvania Civil Service Commission be a veteran.
He also served on the House Appropriations Committee and opposed the actions of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) that led to its demise.
Looking forward to his final session, Barrar said he wants to continue to address the funding and personnel needs of fire and EMS organizations; create and enhance programs for veterans and their families; enhance the National Guard College Tuition Assistance Program; establish a program to address the post-traumatic needs of first responders; and secure funding for Pennsylvania’s National Guard Youth Challenge Program.
In announcing his retirement, Barrar praised the staff in his district and Harrisburg offices and said he will miss the camaraderie with those he worked with.
“You can’t replace that with anything,” the representative said. “My staff is not only the best of the best, but they are also like family and a huge part of my success. I will miss them more that I can say. I know the people in this district will also miss their hard work and dedication. As a team, we have tried to help every person who walked through our door, helping them navigate through government’s red tape and various other issues.”
Barrar said the decision was a bittersweet one and he was so thankful he had the opportunity to do the job for as long as he has.
“I will truly miss the people I have been serving for all these years,” he said. “The people of this district will always remain in my heart and I have made so many lifelong friends. I hope I have made you proud ... I thank you all for standing by me for so many years and allowing me to be your representative in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. It has been a dream come true.”
And, soon, Barrar will be departing on another dream.
“My dream is to do some sailing and spend a lot more time with my grandchildren and my sailboat,” he said of his hopes to sail to the Florida Keys and the Caribbean. “Life is short and we have to take advantage of the days that are given to us.”
The 160th state legislative district includes Upper Chichester, Bethel, Concord and Chadds Ford in Delaware County and Pennsbury, Pocopson and Kennett Township in Chester County.