<p>David J. Arnold, Jr., 48, won a decisive victory in a special election on January 14&nbsp;for the Pennsylvania state Senate seat vacated by a member who resigned last September after being charged in a criminal case.</p>
<p>The four-term district attorney for Lebanon County, was declared the winner for the 48th district seat with 64.7 percent of the vote. Arnold&rsquo;s new Senate district also includes parts of York and Dauphin counties. He will be sworn in on January 29.</p>
<p>Arnold said he views his new role &ndash; unexpected though it was - as a continuation of a career striving to be a positive influence in public service.</p>
<p>"I&rsquo;ve always had an interest in politics,&rdquo; said Arnold. &ldquo;Although I had no plan to run for office, when this seat came available it interested me.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Arnold credits his Widener Law Commonwealth education, particularly his outstanding professors, with preparing him for a career in public service.&nbsp; &ldquo;I enjoyed my time at Widener; it was a great experience,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I am grateful for what Widener has done for me.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Arnold said as a state senator he plans to focus on fiscal responsibility, supporting first responders, fixing the state&rsquo;s pension crisis and addressing school property taxes.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We congratulate the soon-to-be Senator Arnold on a successful race,&rdquo; said Widener Law Commonwealth Dean Christian A. Johnson. &ldquo;We wish him all the very best in this new chapter in his career.&rdquo;</p>