Rob Wonderling will return to politics

I'm not entirely surprised by today's announcement that Republican state Sen. Rob Wonderling will resign his Senate seat to accept the high-profile post as president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.

Wonderling, 47, is an ambitious man who would like to be governor of Pennsylvania one day. In fact, he was rumoured to be interested in a run for lieutenant governor in 2010.

Leaving the Senate, where he is one of 50, and returning to the private sector should put Wonderling in a better position to make a run for governor or maybe Congress. (Pat Toomey chose a similar path, leaving the U.S. Congress to run the Club for Growth and returning as a U.S. Senate candidate.)

With Attorney General Tom Corbett the leading Republican candidate for governor in 2010, Wonderling would have at least four years to wait for an opportunity to make a run for governor. Wonderling could bide his time in the state Senate or make a lot more money (and important contacts) as head of the state's largest business group. It's also interesting to note that Wonderling has signed a three-year contract with the Chamber, leaving his options open for a future run for public office.

From a press release Wonderling issued announcing his decision to head the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce:

"After much prayer and careful deliberation with my family, I have accepted this unique opportunity to serve the greater Philadelphia region. I have spent more than half of my adult life serving the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, most recently as a Senator to the citizens of the 24th district. Each day has been an honor and pleasure to do so.”

"It has always been my belief that our democracy is best served by citizens who enter into public service for a period of time and then return to the private sector giving an opportunity for another citizen with fresh ideas and new thinking to take up the mantle of public service. Moving forward, I have no doubt, that there will be a citizen of the 24th district who will serve with distinction in the Pennsylvania Senate."

Wonderling kept a foot in the private sector even though he held the "full-time" legislative position. Wonderling currently works for Bentley Systems Inc., a multi-national software company.

Prior to being elected to the Pennsylvania Senate, Wonderling served as Gov. Tom Ridge's deputy secretary of transportation. Before joining the Ridge Administration, he worked for Air products and Chemicals Inc., and was president of the PENJERDEL Council, where he worked closely with the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce on issues involving the Delaware Valley's economic and environmental prosperity.

The current president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce is former Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker, who finished the remainder of Tom Ridge's term after Ridge was asked to head up Homeland Security after 9/11.

Schweiker led the Chamber for six years.

Read more about Wonderling's hiring at the Chamber's Web site.