STATE REPRESENTATIVES
Description of office: The General Assembly is the legislative branch of government in Pennsylvania. It is composed of two houses: the Senate is the upper house, and the House of Representatives is the lower house. A majority vote in both houses is necessary to pass a law. The House of Representatives consists of 203 members representing one district each, with an equal number of constituents. Representatives must be at least 21 years old, have been a citizen and a resident of the state for four years and a resident of their district one year before their election, and shall reside in their district during their term of service. The House develops budget packages, makes taxation decisions, allocates spending, and passes laws (including redistricting in collaboration with the Senate). The House also has the exclusive authority to impeach public officials. Representatives also serve on various policy committees that may propose legislation.
Term: 2 years
Salary: $95,432
Candidates were asked: What issue(s) would you prioritize, and how would you work with others in government to get legislation passed and signed into law?
22ND DISTRICT
Part of Lehigh County consisting of Allentown Wards 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 (Divisions 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6), 9, 10, 11 (Division 2), 14 and 15) and the Township of Salisbury Wards 1, 2 and 3 (Division 2).
Democrat
Vote for one
JOSHUA SIEGEL
Lehigh County
Website: votejoshsiegel.com/ Occupation: Assistant Operations Manager Education: B.S. International Relations and Diplomacy, Seton Hall University, Pursuing Masters in Public Policy Lehigh University
Qualifications: Assistant Operations Manager/Chief of Staff to Lehigh County Controller, Allentown City Councilperson Response: My top priorities are protecting democracy through protecting mail in voting, fighting for same day registration and pushing for campaign finance reform. Passing policies that protect working and help working families such as paid family leave and paid sick leave, raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour, universal child care and free public four year universities and community colleges. I will also fight to protect the right to organize and for workers to join///
SAEED GEORGES
No response
Republican
Vote for one
ROBERT E. SMITH JR.
Lehigh County
Website: SmithforPa.com
Occupation: Director of Operations -New vitae
Education: LCCC-Business Ethics, NYU-Middle East study’s, Middlesex county college-law and Theater Qualifications: Allentown city council-1998-2000, Allentown school board 2003-2019 Elected 5 times President of school board, Joc board chairman two years Response: Property tax reform for everyone in my district especially our senior citizens who are losing their homes. 2- Election Integrity - We need voter ID which a majority of the voters want. We need to eliminate drop boxes. 3- Energy independence. The gas tax in PA is 2nd highest in country,needs to be cut for our struggling families. 4- Education fair funding for Allentown and Salisbury school districts,and school choice for all our students. 5- Illegal Drug///
131ST DISTRICT
Part of Lehigh County consisting of the township of Lower Milford, Salisbury Ward 3 (Division 1), Upper Milford and Upper Saucon and the borough of Coopersburg; part of Northampton County consisting of the township of Lower Saucon Districts 1, 2, 4, 7 and 8); and part of Montgomery County consisting of the townships of Marlborough, Salford and Upper Hanover and the boroughs of East Greenville, Green Lane, Pennsburg and Red Hill.
Democrat
Vote for one
KEVIN BRANCO
Lehigh County
Website: www.Brancoforstaterep.com Occupation: Business owner
Education: B.S. Political Science (Kutztown University)
Qualifications: I received my degree in Political Science with minors in Public Administration and Speech Communication from Kutztown University. I served as an intern for Rep. Robert L. Freeman to strengthen my college education, and again as a fellow for the Bipartisan Management Committee in/// Response: Education: Start funding education again. Funding has been continually cut over the past 10 years causing subpar education, increased local school taxes, and driving student loan debt to record highs. Re-invest in PA businesses: Develop policy that makes Pennsylvania more attractive for start-ups and recent graduates. Pennsylvania has one of the best systems of higher education, yet we struggle to keep talented students in the state after graduation. Support our Unions: Work to pass policies that support///
Republican Vote for one
MILOU MACKENZIE No response
132ND DISTRICT
Part of Lehigh County consisting of
Allentown Wards 8 (Divisions 4 and 7), 11 (Divisions 4, 5, 6 and 7), 13 (Division 4), 17 and 18, and the townships of South Whitehall and Upper Macungie Districts 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6.
Democrat Vote for one
MIKE SCHLOSSBERG
Republican Vote for one No candidates
133RD DISTRICT
Part of Lehigh County consisting of Bethlehem (Lehigh County portion) and the townships of Hanover and Whitehall and the boroughs of Catasauqua, Coplay and Fountain Hill.
Democrat Vote for one
JEANNE McNEILL
Republican Vote for one No candidates
134TH DISTRICT
Part of Lehigh County consisting of Allentown Wards 2, 3, 11 (Divisions 1 and 3), 12, 13 (Divisions 1, 2 and 3), 16 and 19, and the township of Salisbury Wards 4 and 5 and the borough of Emmaus.
Democrat
Vote for one
ENID SANTIAGO
Lehigh County
Website: enidsantiago.com
Occupation: Board Chair
Qualifications: I am Latinx woman, a single parent of 4 biological children, one of which was a victim of the school to prison pipeline, and a warrior for my community. My lived experiences have pushed me to run to be the State House Representative for the 134th new blended///
Response: The 134th district is ready for a bold progressive, who will not toe the line of true radical reform, instead will be a fearless leader for their district. As one of the first women/LGBTQ state representative I will propose legislation to make discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity a law. Equal Fair School Funding for our children and College for All Legislation, that would provide free tuition to all students who would otherwise be///
PETER SCHWEYER
Website: www.peterschweyer.com Occupation: State Representative Education: BA, Political Science, Schreyer’s Honors College at Penn State University Qualifications: Current 4 term State Representative; Member House Appropriations Committee, Sub-Committee Chair of Fiscal Matters; Sub-Committee Chair of Utilities; past member of Allentown City Council including leadership positions as President and Vice President; past Chairman of LANTA
Response: Funding for public education is my top priority. As a parent of two Allentown SD students, we see every day the challenges an underfunded school district faces. We must enact the fair funding formula as Allentown SD along with East Penn and Salisbury are not getting their fair share of funding from Harrisburg. I have been a leader on issues surrounding renewable energy and critical infrastructure including passing a historic investment in telecommunications. I have///
Republican
Vote for one
BRENT LABENBERG
Occupation: business owner
Education: Emmaus High School 1983, US Navy 1983-87
Qualifications: US Navy Veteran, Currently Emmaus Council President (7th yr), 25 years on Borough Council. Chairman of General Administration Committee, Chair of Building Comm., Chair of Union Contract Negotiations. Budget And Finance Committee, Public Works Committee. Police and Non-uniformed Pension Board. Response: My priority would be to take care of what we have already before we spend a cent on any new programs because the state is not doing a very good job now. We need to do better with our roads, bridges, schools, state parks, state police (more funding, more police), etc. In general, anything that can make the state more efficient will save money. I believe these are nonpartisan issues. I believe the state should///
135TH DISTRICT
Part of Northampton County consisting of Bethlehem (Northampton County portion) and the township of Hanover Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6.
Democrat
Vote for one
STEVE SAMUELSON
Republican Vote for one No candidates
136TH DISTRICT
Part of Northampton County consisting of Easton and the townships of
Lower Saucon Districts 3, 5 and 6, Palmer Districts Eastern and Western (Division 1) and Williams and the boroughs of Freemansburg, Glendon, Hellertown, West Easton and Wilson.
Democrat
Vote for one
ROBERT FREEMAN
Republican
Vote for one No candidates
137TH DISTRICT
Part of Northampton County consisting of the townships of Bethlehem, Hanover District 5, Lower Nazareth, Palmer Districts Middle, Upper Eastern, Upper Western and Western (Division 2) and Upper Nazareth and the boroughs of Nazareth and Tatamy.
Democrat
Vote for one
ANNA THOMAS
Republican Vote for one
JOE EMRICK
138TH DISTRICT
Part of Northampton County consisting of the townships of Bushkill, Forks, Lower Mount Bethel, Moore Districts Eastern and Pt. Phillips, Plainfield, Upper Mount Bethel and Washington and the boroughs of Bangor, Chapman, East Bangor, Pen Argyl, Portland, Roseto, Stockertown and Wind Gap.
Democrat
Vote for one No candidates
Republican
Vote for one
ANN FLOOD
183RD DISTRICT
Part of Lehigh County consisting of the townships of Lowhill and North Whitehall and the borough of Slatington and part of Northampton County consisting of the townships of Allen, East Allen, Lehigh and Moore Districts Beersville and Klecknersville and the boroughs of Bath, North Catasauqua, Northampton and Walnutport.
Democrat
Vote for one No candidates
Republican Vote for one
ZACH MAKO
187TH DISTRICT
Part of Lehigh County consisting of the townships of Heidelberg, Lower Macungie, Lynn, Upper Macungie Districts 3, 7 and 8), Washington and Weisenberg and the boroughs of Alburtis and Macungie.
Democrat
Vote for one No candidates
Republican
Vote for one
GARY DAY
No response
RYAN E. MACKENZIE
No response