Republican David Rowe announced his candidacy for State Representative in the 85th District on Tuesday. Rowe is a successful small business owner, local conservative Republican leader, and East Buffalo Township Supervisor.

“I am running to fight for the hardworking people of Snyder and Union counties,” Rowe said. “We need stronger economic growth and more family-sustaining jobs, lower taxes, a robust farming community, and less burdensome regulation on small businesses and local municipalities. I will stand up for our conservative values against the liberal Harrisburg lobbyists and insiders who push for bigger, more intrusive, and more expensive government.”

The Speaker of the House announced that a special election will be held on August 20th to fill the seat vacated by Fred Keller, who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives last week. Prior to the special election, Republicans will have a conference of 17 delegates to nominate a candidate sometime in June. The Union County Republican Committee Chair will appoint 9 voting delegates, while the Snyder County Republican Committee Chair will appoint 8 voting delegates.

Rowe is both a solid social and fiscal conservative. He is 100% Pro-Life, an NRA member and fully committed to defending our Second Amendment rights, and believes in smaller government and low taxes. Rowe will protect traditional family values and religious liberty.

“As a local business owner and employer, I know the business community is constantly challenged with ever increasing government regulations and taxes,” explained Rowe. “That’s why as an East Buffalo Township Supervisor I have never voted to raise taxes or expand government regulations. I am ready to take this same conservative, common sense approach to Harrisburg.”

For the past nine years, Rowe has been the owner and operator of LBG Fitness Inc. (CrossFit Lewisburg) and employs six local residents. He attended National Sun Yat-Sen University in Taiwan and participated in its Mandarin Chinese Immersion Study after two years of Christian missionary work as an educator in Southeast Asia. Rowe attends the New Hope Lutheran Brethren Church in East Buffalo Township and is a leader of its music ministry.

Rowe is an active leader in the local community, serving as Vice-Chairman of the East Buffalo Board of Supervisors; Secretary of the Union County Republican Committee; a member of the Capital Campaign Council of Evangelical Community Hospital; a Director of the Central Susquehanna Fire and Emergency Services board; and a Commissioner of the Buffalo Valley Regional Police Department, among other leadership roles. Rowe has financially supported the Expectations Womens’ Center (a Pro-Life pregnancy aid center in the Lewisburg area), the Buffalo Valley Recreation Authority, the Union County Library, local youth sports clubs, and more.

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Darwin Swope, Legislative Outreach Specialist for State Representative Fred Keller, is announcing his intention to seek the Republican nomination for the 85th District seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives recently held by Fred Keller.

“Working with Rep. Fred Keller for the past 9 years in charge of Constituent & Municipal Services, I am uniquely qualified for this position. During this time I have assisted numerous businesses, local governments, and citizens in successfully resolving issues,” Swope said. “In addition, I have served in various capacities at the Local Municipal level since the 1990’s which demonstrates my track record of endlessly protecting the interests of the constituents of the 85th District. I will take this same work ethic and problem-solving experience to Harrisburg.”

During his Public Service tenure, Swope has served on the boards of various community organizations. He has served on the Eastern Snyder County Regional Authority (ESCRA) and the Penn Township Municipal Authority. In these positions he advocated for efficient use of public funds which kept user rates low; among the lowest in the area while maintaining high quality service. As an example of his leadership he advocated for the repair of existing equipment versus purchasing new, thus saving the rate payers thousands of dollars in user fees and taxes.

Swope said that “as a member of the General Assembly, my legislative priorities will be:

• Property tax elimination for owner/occupied homes

• Term limits of 12 years for both House and Senate

• Increased support for Lyme Disease and Cancer

• Economic Development that is fair to both established and new business

These priorities have been developed from my public service over the past 25yrs.”

Swope is a lifelong resident of the 85th District; his family descendants date to the founding of this area. He is a graduate of the Selinsgrove Area School District in the Vo-Ag/FFA program, SUN-Area Vo-Tech, and Bloomsburg University as a Dean’s List student in Finance. While as an employee of Pennsylvania House Furniture in Lewisburg, he was a member of the United Steelworkers of America (USWA). He is a lifelong member of Christ Lutheran Church, Middleburg PA, serving on the council. Moreover, Swope is president of the Valley View Cemetery Association. Also, he served as coach/manager of the Middleswarth Chips ice hockey team.

“A Government of Career Politicians that cuts back room deals with Special Interest(s) deep inside the bowels of Harrisburg, raises serious issues of fairness. These closed door sessions often lead to the picking of winners, and losers, to the detriment of the tax payers. Picking winners and losers should be left to the casinos, not politicians. This very culture is why Property Tax Elimination has been so elusive for many decades. My focus will be on the constituents of the 85th District, not the Special Interest(s). As a strong advocate for fair, open, and transparent government, I pledge to serve a maximum of 8 full years. I will pay 50% of my own Health Insurance. Lastly, I will serve in Harrisburg as your Public Servant and NOT as your Master.

Additionally, I am Pro-Life, Pro-Second Amendment, and the son of a World War II Veteran of the US Navy. During my service, my work ethic will be second to none in order to protect our values and tax dollars from Government overreach.”

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