The Community Connection

Ciresi seeks reelection in 146th House Dist.

- By Evan Brandt ebrandt@21st-centurymed­ia. com @PottstownN­ews on Twitter

State Rep. Joe Ciresi made official Wednesday what many of his supporters already knew, that he will seek a second term representi­ng the 146th District in the Pennsylvan­ia House of Representa­tives.

Ciresi, a Democrat, made his announceme­nt just two days after his only announced opponent, Limerick Supervisor­s chairman Thomas Neafcy, said he will seek the Republican nomination to run.

The 146th District includes the boroughs of Trappe, Royersford and part of Pottstown, as well as Limerick, Lower Pottsgrove and Perkiomen townships.

In his announceme­nt, Ciresi, 49, noted that in his first term he has introduced eight bills and cosponsore­d 607 during his first term in office.

“He has supported legislatio­n including a freeze on local property taxes for seniors (HB 1672 and 1675); an expansion of the property tax/ rent rebate program (prime sponsor of

HB 797), full fair funding for education, and charter school accountabi­lity and reform (HB 526),” according to his release.

Most recently he met with two Republican representa­tives to discuss mass transit alternativ­es.

“It’s no secret that partisan gridlock and tensions have reached a fever pitch in Washington and throughout the country,” Ciresi said. “During my years in public service — before as a school board director as well — I have tried my best to work across the aisle and find common ground with my colleagues. That’s what we need in Pennsylvan­ia to get things done.”

According to his press release, “Rep. Ciresi helped deliver over $11 million in grant funding to those municipali­ties and school districts in 2019 alone.”

Ciresi serves on the Commerce, Local Government, and State Government committees in Harrisburg, as well as the Pennsylvan­ia Council on the Arts. He held his first policy committee hearing at Steel River Playhouse in Pottstown to highlight the positive economic impacts of film, theater, music, and all of the creative arts in the region.

This will be Ciresi’s third run for state office.

In 2016, Ciresi was narrowly defeated by incumbent Republican Thomas Quigley, but two years later, Ciresi won the re-match.

Prior to that, he was a member of the Spring-Ford School Board for 12 years, several as both board president for three years and vice president for three years.

Prior to winning election in 2018, Ciresi worked as the Sales and Marketing Director of the Kimmel Center for 17 years.

He has owned a home in Limerick Township with his wife, Pam, and 21-yearold son since 2001.

 ??  ?? Rep. Joe Ciresi
Rep. Joe Ciresi

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