HARRISBURG – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale issued the following statement on the passing of former Gov. George Leader:
“Gov. Leader was a pioneer in reforming state government. He started the transformation of state government from a patronage system to professional workforce.
“He lived the definition of a statesman in his approach to government and his approach to life after being governor. His passing is a great loss to York County and the entire state because he was an inspiration to many people and provided counsel to many governors in the past half-century.
“When I jumped into the race for auditor general I had lunch with Gov. Leader to get his perspective and bounce ideas off him. His advice and insight proved right on the mark.
“Tracey and I will keep the Leader family in our thoughts and prayers.”
DePasquale chaired the York County Democratic Party when its annual fall dinner was renamed in Leader’s honor. DePasquale is the first York County resident elected to statewide office since Leader in 1954.
