Newly elected Wolf will forgo state salary as Pennsylvania governor
Calling himself a “citizen politician,” millionaire businessman and Gov.-elect Tom Wolf plans to forgo the $187,256 annual state salary when he's inaugurated.
Wolf said he'll give the money to charity or return it to the state, depending on what the law allows, The Associated Press reported.
Wolf, who ran his family-owned cabinet manufacturing business The Wolf Organization, refused a salary during the 19 months he served as Revenue secretary in Gov. Ed Rendell's administration.
Wolf told reporters that he and his wife, Frances, will use their family home in Mount Wolf and the governor's mansion while he is in office.
On his 2012 tax returns, Wolf and his wife reported income of more than $2.2 million.
Wolf stepped down from his chief executive officer role at The Wolf Organization in 2013. As of the end of this year, he will step down from his non-executive chair spot on the board of directors, his campaign announced Thursday.
A financial interest statement Wolf filed with the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission in March as he sought public office declared he held almost 28 percent of the shares of The Wolf Organization in 2013.
During an editorial board meeting with the Tribune-Review in mid-October, Wolf said that if he was elected, he would put his assets from the corporation into a blind trust.
Though outgoing Republican Gov. Tom Corbett of Shaler accepted the annual salary, he did not accept annual cost-of-living increases.
Pennsylvania lawmakers get automatic pay raises each year based on an adjustment for inflation.
According to a June 2013 analysis from the Council of State Governments, Pennsylvania's governor's salary is the highest in the nation.
Across the country, 21 governors earn more than the average of $133,348.
Maine Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican re-elected this year, earns the least with a salary of $70,000.
Melissa Daniels is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 412-380-8511 or mdaniels@tribweb.com.
