State Rep. Jim Rigby is serving his third term in office to residents of the 71st Legislative District, which consists of the following municipalities: in Cambria County, the townships of Adams, Allegheny, Chest, Clearfield, Cresson, Dean, Gallitzin, Munster, Portage, Reade, Richland, Stonycreek, Summerhill, Washington and White; and the boroughs of Ashville, Cassandra, Chest Springs, Cresson, Ferndale, Gallitzin, Geistown, Lilly, Loretto, Portage, Sankertown, Scalp Level, South Fork, Tunnelhill and Wilmore; and in Somerset County, the townships of Ogle and Paint and the boroughs of Paint and Windber. It also includes all or portions of the following school districts: in Cambria County, Cambria Heights, Ferndale Area, Forest Hills, Greater Johnstown, Penn Cambria, Portage Area and Richland; Glendale in Clearfield County; and in Somerset County, Conemaugh Township Area and Windber Area.
For the 2023-24 legislative session, Jim has been assigned to serve as a member of the following four committees: Judiciary, Liquor Control, Local Government, Policy and Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness. He is also chairman of the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Corrections, as well as chairman of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Response Committee’s Subcommittee on Security and Emergency Response Readiness.
As a lifelong Johnstown resident, Jim Rigby spent more than four decades serving the community. He began by volunteering as a fireman and then served as a police officer before being named Ferndale Borough’s chief of police in 2015. A former small business owner, Jim also served on Ferndale Borough Council for 24 years (six as president) and spent 29 years working for the American Red Cross.
He intends to use his unique perspective in Harrisburg as a continuation of his decades of community service for the benefit of 71st District residents. In his varied experiences, Jim has already created jobs, balanced budgets and made difficult decisions. He also plans to focus on addressing the Commonwealth’s opioid epidemic and the issue of blighted homes.
Previously, he served as the board president for the Women’s Help Center, which assists area victims of domestic violence and their children. He also served on the Cambria County Sexual Assault Response Team.
Jim lives in Johnstown with his wife, Kathleen; Charlie the cat; and dogs Malachai, Marshall and Myla. Together, Jim and Kathleen have three adult children: Kayla, Kirsten and Beau.