Sara Steelman

Sara G. Steelman (born 1946 in Wichita, Kansas) of Indiana, Pennsylvania, American biologist and politician, served seven terms as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1991 until 2002. Steelman is married to John Henry Steelman, a mathematics professor at Indiana University.[3] She is a 1963 graduate of Southeast High School in Wichita, Kansas. She graduated with a degree in Zoology from the University of Chicago in 1967 and earned a Ph.D. in behavioural genetics from Stanford University in 1976.[4] She moved to Indiana in 1986 when her husband joined the faculty at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.[5]

She was first elected to represent the 62nd legislative district in 1990, defeating Republican Paul Wass. She was also a supporter of reform of house rules to provide more openness and more participation by rank and file legislators.[6] She proposed a keg registration law to combat underage drinking.[7]

She was defeated for re-election in 2002 by 24-year-old Republican Dave L. Reed.[8][9] Both candidates made improving the local economic climate part of their platforms.[5] As a challenger, Reed raised $120,000 for the campaign and knocked on 11,000 doors in the district.[10] During the campaign, Steelman "erupted" on the district's airwaves with taxpayer-funded "public service announcements" for the first time in a decade.[11]

She then worked as director of the Indiana Arts Council.[12]