By Mark Abrams

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Pennsylvania’s first elected gay legislator is getting ready to take office in the State House in January after winning an uncontested race this past week.

Brian Sims ran against long-time Democratic incumbent Rep. Babette Josephs of the 182nd Legislative district in Philadelphia in the April primary and beat her.

He had no Republican opponent in Tuesday’s general election so once the first vote was cast and no write-ins were visible, Sims was considered elected by the end of the night.

Sims says he’s proud to be the first LGBT legislator to be elected in Pennsylvania, but says that distinction will not define him once he is sworn in at the beginning of January.

“I want to change our tax code. I also want to grapple back so much of that funding that we lost for education. So, I’ve got my work cut out for me in a whole bunch of areas,” he says.

Sims says he’s also spent the past few months meeting with legislative leaders and he says they’ve made him feel welcome.