State Rep. Don Walko will be closing his district office when he leaves at the end of the year to take up the post of judge in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court.  Last week we posted that he planned to arrange for constituent service during the transition.

Today, we received the specifics on the transition.  Here is the letter from Rep. Walko:

I will leave office as state representative for the 20th Legislative District at the end of December to begin serving as a judge in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Working with House Democratic leadership, I have arranged for continued constituent service coverage for the residents of the 20th District until my successor takes office, which is expected to be no later than June.

During that period, the constituent service phone number for the 20th District will remain the same: 412-321-5523.

Art Nese, who has worked on constituent service in my local office for 15 years, will respond to your calls. He will work from state Rep. Dan Deasy’s office in the West End and will also be able to meet you at other convenient locations near you.

Art and Rep. Deasy’s staff will be able to assist you with the same services my office has provided, including:

• Property Tax/Rent Rebate information and applications
• Senior citizen information including PACE and PACENET
• CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)
• PennDOT forms and concerns
• College financial aid information and applications
• Unemployment compensation
• Voter registration and absentee ballot applications
• Problems with any state government agency

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve you as your representative in Harrisburg for the past 15 years. I am grateful for the new opportunity to serve the people of Allegheny County in my new capacity as a judge.