Frank Andrews Shimkus

Who is Frank Andrews Shimkus?

Frank Andrews Shimkus is a retired broadcaster and Democratic politician in Pennsylvania.

Shimkus grew up in the High Works neighborhood of Scranton. He graduated from the University of Scranton in 1973 with a degree in English. He then went into broadcasting, despite the misgivings of his father. After working as an announcer at WEJL in Scranton and WCAU in Philadelphia, he went into television. He served as an anchor and reporter at WNEP-TV in Scranton from 1980 to 1998, doubling for much of that time as news director. After a brief two-year hiatus, he moved to WYOU as anchor and assistant news director. During his broadcasting career, he was known on-air as "Frank Andrews."

While still at WNEP, Shimkus earned a master's degree in theology from Antietam Bible College in 1993 and a doctorate in biblical studies from the same institution two years later. He currently serves as the part-time pastor of Trinity Congregational United Church of Christ in Scranton.

Shimkus resigned from WYOU in March 2006 to run for the state house, winning a 5-way Democratic primary to succeed the retiring Gaynor Cawley in a district that included almost 60 percent of Scranton.