State Rep. Mike Gerber (D-Whitpain) has been elected Treasurer of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, providing a high-profile platform for a political rising star who is widely said to hold ambitions for higher office.

Gerber, who easily won reelection to a second term in Montgomery County's 148th Legislative District in November, announced the new position in an e-mail from his political action committee this morning, framing his election by the DLCC's board of directors as an opportunity for him to play a role in Democratic politics on a national level (full release after the jump). Now the DLCC's third-ranking officer, Gerber is the only officer without a major leadership role in his or her state legislature. The DLCC works to form campaign committees in state legislatures.

In a statement provided by Gerber's PAC, Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, the DLCC chairman, said: "Mike has been a welcomed addition to the board. He is one of our most energetic and effective board members. It's rare someone reaches this level within the DLCC at such an early stage of his career."

What comes next for Gerber is an open question, but some have speculated he could pursue a seat in the state Senate in the coming years.

FULL RELEASE:

Mike Gerber Stepping Up On National Political Stage Elected Treasurer of the DLCC

Conshohocken, PA- The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) Board of Directors unanimously elected Mike Gerber ( D-Montgomery County , PA ) to serve as Treasurer of the DLCC at its December board meeting, making Gerber the third highest ranking member of the national organization. Gerber, 36, has been in the Pennsylvania House for just two terms and joined the DLCC's twenty-one member board two years ago.  

Mike Gronstal, Iowa 's Senate Majority Leader, was re-elected as Chair of the DLCC and said this of Gerber: "Mike has been a welcomed addition to the board.  He is one of our most energetic and effective board members.  It's rare someone reaches this level within the DLCC at such an early stage of his career."  Gerber is the only officer of the DLCC that is not a caucus Leader, Speaker of the House or Senate President.

"Mike has delivered here in Pennsylvania , so I am not surprised he is being elevated at the national level," says Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell.  "He's done a lot in a short period of time, advancing critical legislation and his caucus," Rendell added.

Representative Keith McCall, Pennsylvania's presumed soon-to-be elected Speaker of the House, also credits Gerber with playing a major roll in Pennsylvania.  "Mike works incredibly hard both legislatively and politically.  Our leadership team knows we're probably not at 104 without Mike's quiet but very effective work."

Pennsylvania's new House Majority Leader, Representative Todd Eachus (D-Luzerne County), who chaired the Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee last cycle added, "Mike was my partner at HDCC and was our guy in the Southeast the last two cycles.  During that time, we picked up an aggregate of ten seats in the Southeast.  Mike's productivity speaks for itself."

 The HDCC raised more than $6 million dollars during Eachus' tenure as Chair, a committee record.  Eachus also credited Gerber for his fundraising efforts.  "Mike delivered big time in just his second term.  He gave directly to the committee and was our point person with some of our most important partners, including the DLCC and Governor Rendell."  The Pennsylvania Department of State's records reflect Gerber's campaign committee contributed more than $250,000 to the HDCC during the 2007-08 cycle while the DLCC contributed $500,000 to the HDCC during the same period.  

Congresswoman Allyson Y. Schwartz, D-PA, Gerber's Congresswoman, praised Gerber as well. "Since his surprising win in 2004, Mike has become a major force in getting Democrats elected in Pennsylvania.  Because of his work, we have secured a much stronger position as we approach redistricting."  Under Pennsylvania law, the state legislature controls the redistricting process for Pennsylvania's U.S. House seats.  With Republicans holding firm control of the State Senate, Democrats are focused on maintaining control of the State House. 

 The DLCC is a national political organization headquartered in Washington , DC .  The DLCC's mission is to build and maintain winning, state-of-the-art campaign committees at the state legislative level throughout the country.  It partners with in-state legislative leaders to win and maintain majorities in those states where the state legislative bodies control redistricting for U.S. House seats. 

  Gerber takes on his role at the DLCC at an exciting time with redistricting following the next election cycle and a run of successes at the DLCC.  From 2004 through 2006, the DLCC helped push 20 chambers to Democratic control.  The DLCC continued its success in 2007 picking up the Virginia Senate and the Mississippi Senate .  In 2008, the DLCC helped secure five more majorities.  Democrats now control 60 legislative chambers to the Republicans' 36, with two chambers tied.  The DLCC grew into a $12 million dollar committee in the 2008 election cycle.  

 The DLCC Board is made up as follows:

DLCC Officers:

Chair:  Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, Iowa

Vice Chair:  Senate President Sylvia Larsen, New Hampshire

Treasurer: Representative Mike Gerber, Pennsylvania

Secretary:  Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Minnesota

Finance Chair: House Democratic Leader Ward Armstrong, Virginia

DLCC Chair Emeritus:  Senate President Thomas V. Miller, Jr., Maryland

 DLCC Board Members:

Speaker of the Assembly Karen Bass, California

Speaker of the House B. Patrick Bauer, Indiana

Senator Sean Burrage, Oklahama

Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, Washington

Senate President Richard Codey, New Jersey

Representative Garnet Coleman, Texas

Senate Majority Leader Ken Guin, Alabama

Senator Wally Horn, Iowa

Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, Nevada

Speaker of the House Dave Hunt, Oregon

Senator Christine Kaufmann, Montana

Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, Virginia

Representative Rachel Storch, Missouri

Representative Mimi Stewart, New Mexico