Beth Ann Rosica: Questions mount at PHRC as vacancies, resignations, and an investigation collide

Beth Ann Rosica’s writings are a blend of news, opinion, and analysis. 

Recent accusations of possible fiscal malfeasance inside the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) — the commonwealth’s civil rights enforcement agency — has attracted a significant amount of attention and reporter’s ink.

But, as I illustrated last year, the commission’s veneer has been showing the kind of cracks indicative of systemic neglect or abuse for some time.

According to its website and state law, the PHRC, created in 1955, is responsible for promoting “equal opportunity for all” and to enforce “laws that protect people from unlawful discrimination.” It is supposed to be independent and nonpartisan with a total of eleven commissioners, with no more than six from one political party. Selected and appointed directly by the Governor, the commissioners’ primary role is to resolve cases that are not settled voluntarily. 

Despite the requirement of eleven commissioners with no more than six from one political party, there are currently only five positions filled, and based on a previous review by Broad + Liberty, all are registered Democrats.

Last year, I reported that Shapiro had not filled a single vacancy during his tenure as Governor. In 2023, there were four vacancies, and as of today, there are now six.

In the past month, two commissioners resigned, including the Chair, Joel Bolstein, who served 27 years. He responded thoughtfully to a request for comment, detailing the reasons for his resignation related to his longevity on the Commission and increased responsibilities at his day job as an attorney and managing partner at a Bucks County law firm.

Bolstein summed it up: “The reason for my resignation was it was just time.”

On the surface, this response makes sense, yet he did not give any advance notice. Bolstein submitted his resignation as Commissioner, effective immediately. 

“My resignation was provided to the Governor on April 8, 2026 and was effective as of that date.”

Perhaps that is standard practice, but it does raise questions — particularly since he was the only registered Republican on the PHRC due to Shapiro’s failure to fill the previous four vacancies with non-Democrats. With his departure, the Commission is now out of compliance with the law. All remaining commissioners are registered Democrats, based on a prior analysis.

Furthermore, less than a week later, Dr. Raquel Yiengst resigned after 40 years of service as a commissioner. The PHRC announcement addressed the lack of a quorum issue as a result of her departure.

“With Yiengst’s departure, the PHRC will have five seated commissioners out of a possible eleven. This creates the possibility that the Commission may be unable to convene a quorum which requires a majority to be in attendance. Such a situation could delay or halt the Commission’s ability to advance specific guidance, like the Personal Care Assistant Accommodation guidance currently up for consideration; hear cases; and deliver justice to the people it serves.”

After three years under Shapiro’s leadership, the PHRC vacancies rose from four to six. His office returned a request for comment, stating that the administration is working to fill the vacancies now.

“The Governor’s Office is working diligently to nominate qualified individuals to fill these vacancies on PHRC and have new commissioners confirmed by the State Senate,” said spokesperson Rosie Lapowsky. “While PHRC continues its important work, our Administration is eager to restore the Board to its full complement.” 

Shortly following the resignations of longtime Commission members, questions arose about Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter.

The Inquirer initially reported on April 17, 2026 that the Governor asked Lassiter “to resign amid an investigation into how it has been spending tax dollars.” Lassiter described the situation as a “hit job,” “without a conversation” or “due process.”

According to ABC News, “Lassiter said the staffers cited claims of improper expenses at the agency when they asked him to resign. He said he provided them with evidence the claims were untrue, but the governor’s office never contacted him to discuss the matter further.”

On April 20, 2026, the PHRC announced Lassiter’s resignation, effective June 30, 2026. It included comments from former Chair Joel Bolstein.

“Chad Dion Lassiter has been a Godsend to PHRC,” said Joel Bolstein, former Commission Chair. “He is irreplaceable. He is a true servant leader that comes around once in a generation…. I am in awe of all he has accomplished at PHRC and I know that God will guide his future path because there is more good for him to accomplish in this world.”

The next day, April 21, Penn Live published an oped from Lassiter, entitled “Leaving Pennsylvania’s human rights agency stronger than I found it,” where he announced his retirement effective June 30, 2026. 

It is noteworthy that the official state communication described his departure as a resignation, while he claims in his op-ed that he’s retiring.

In response to a request for comment about whether Lassiter was still employed by the state, the Governor’s press office referred to the PHRC announcement, referencing his resignation as of June 30.

A spokesperson for the Governor, Rosie Lapowsky, provided more information regarding the ongoing investigation.

“The Office of Administration is conducting a review of agency purchases in accordance with Commonwealth policy,” said Lapowsky. “ As a result, some procurement methods, including cards, have been temporarily suspended, and OA is working with the appropriate agencies through that process. All appropriated resources remain available for the agency to continue its statutorily aligned mission.”

The big unanswered question is why Lassiter continues to be employed, paid by tax dollars, in the midst of an investigation — one so concerning that the Governor asked him to resign.

As an employee, Lassiter continues to have access to his email, documents, etc. After reading his oped, I emailed his personal account which I found online, and he responded immediately, asking me to contact him via his work email. However, after emailing his work account twice, he failed to respond.

How can the Office of Administration conduct an objective investigation of an employee while he still has access to his email and work documents? What is to prevent him from interfering in the process?

As a result of the investigation, Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) plans to introduce legislation to make changes to the Executive Director role. Currently, the director is not subject to Senate confirmation, even though the eleven commissioners are. Phillips-Hill’s proposal, if passed, would require a Senate majority confirmation in addition to removing the director from the adjudication of cases which she views a conflict of interest.

Phillips-Hill is eager for the Governor to fill the vacancies — four of which have been languishing since Shapiro took office.

“Unfortunately, due to the inaction of the governor for many years, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission lacks a quorum,” said Phillips-Hill in response to a request for comment. “I look forward to meeting with the candidates nominated by the governor who need to be confirmed by the Senate so we can clean up the mess at the commission.” 

Additional questions remain regarding the “independent and nonpartisan” nature of the organization. Lassiter describes his work as the Executive Director in the oped as that of a social justice advocate. Under his eight year leadership, a Civil Rights Division was launched. The PHRC was originally created to protect against unlawful discrimination; yet, it appears to have devolved into a taxpayer progressive advocacy agency. Lassiter’s state biography references his commitment “to promote anti-racism through education and outreach; a ‘No Hate in Our State Town Hall’ to address the surge of White Nationalism in Pennsylvania.”

The confluence of recent events appears to support the idea that the PHRC is not an independent or nonpartisan entity. While Shapiro may have followed the letter of the law with no more than six commissioners from the same political party, he clearly did not follow the intent of the law. Leaving four seats vacant over three years with only one Republican on the Commission does not make for a nonpartisan, independent organization.

Three years later, there are six seats vacant and there are serious concerns about the Executive Director’s fiscal management. Based on Director Lassiter’s own words, he has focused his tenure on progressive advocacy with apparently little to no oversight from the Commissioners who he reports to.

Beth Ann Rosica resides in West Chester, has a Ph.D. in Education, and has dedicated her career to advocating on behalf of at-risk children and families. She covers education issues for Broad + Liberty. Contact her at barosica@broadandliberty.com.