In a night marked by reflection, praise and dancing in honor of outgoing State Rep. Kathy Manderino, fellow house member Louise Williams Bishop wondered what might have been.

"Had Kathy put her pants on in a different way, I am certain we would have referred to her as Mr. Speaker. I greatly looked forward to working under her, but it was not to be—for now at least," the fellow Democrat from the 192nd District said.

Williams's sentiment of appreciation and admiration was echoed by countless city, state, local and community leaders who hailed the 18-year representative from Roxborough and Manayunk's 194th District as one of a kind.

"All of us deal with people a certain way... and Kathy takes her time, waits it out, and avoids a lot of the conflict... while still seeing an issue from beginning to end," Williams said. 

Serving since 1993, Manderino came from a political legacy as her father previously served as state Speaker of the House. A slideshow gallery depicted her legislative successes, and constituents composed a memory book for Manderino.

"In this time of political cynicism, I hope you think I'm one of the good guys, and you all need to know that there's a lot of good guys out there, in it for the right reasons, in it to serve the people," she said.

In a ceremony at Keenan's Valley View Inn, politicians, police, veterans, civic members, and youth organizers thanked Manderino, who chose not to seek election in 2010.

"I'm so lucky to have gotten the chance to get advice from such a class act, and I as I told her, I always loved her hair," said Al Spivey, Jr. chief of staff to Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr.

He praised Manderino's civility not only when on the same side of issues, but when at odds with each other. Spivey favored Rep. Chaka Fattah's unsuccessful bid for mayor against Michael Nutter, and also Josh Cohen, who attempted to secure the nomination to replace Manderino.

"I have to credit, Kathy. We're in good hands with the people she favored," he said. 

Mayor Michael Nutter himself thanked Manderino before kicking it on the dance floor with the retiring stateswoman.

"You are so warm, so personal, so committed... We will certainly continue to benefit from her energy, her insight, her intelligence and her integrity as some kind of servant—public or private," he said to the woman he shared office space with as a councilman.

Another favored political candidate was Manderino's successor—Rep.-elect Pam DeLisiso. The incoming representative for the 194th District introduced Manderino Wednesday.

"I keep hearing—and I know—that I have big shoes to fill. I hear it, I know it, and I'm going to do it," she said.

In her own remarks Manderino thanked each staff member, her political colleagues and community leaders who previously praised her—including the 21st Ward Veterans Association's Bruce Hoffman, Roxborough Eagles' Paul Bennett, and YMCA's Jim Williamson.

"I would not have had the opportunity to go to Harrisburg... without the help of each and every one of you in this room," she said.

Manderino has yet to publicly announce future plans, but at 51, as Nutter put it, "She's too young to retire."