Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Lehigh County election officials say there are too many additional ballots left to count to call the hotly contested race for the 131st district
Election night left state Rep. Justin Simmons looking like a winner but county officials today say the outcome of the 131st House race is not yet certain. Hundreds of ballots are still to be counted. It's expected to take weeks to finalize the outcome. "I'd say there are between 750 and 1,000 ballots left to count," said Lehigh County election official Tim Benyo. A preliminary tally without those ballots shows Simmons with a 562-vote lead. "It's definitely too tight to call this race [for the 131st district] yet," Benyo told Patch on Wednesday morning. Ballots still to be counted include: Simmons, 26, of Upper Saucon Township, won the 131st seat two years ago. He graduated from St. Joseph's University in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in …
Incumbent state Rep. Justin Simmons defeats teacher Kevin Deely, a Democrat, by a few hundred votes Tuesday to keep the 131st House seat under GOP control. Deely could choose to challenge results.
- ELECTIONS
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Wednesday, November 7, 2012
The 131st House seat will remain under GOP control thanks to state Rep. Justin Simmons' win over Democrat Kevin Deely Tuesday, according to unofficial results. Simmons received 14,226 votes compared to 13,664 for Deely with only 562 votes separating the two. Vote tallies are unofficial until certified by county election officials. At a watch party at Oliver Shakewell's in Allentown, Simmons thanked all his constituents for voting. "I am extremely humbled to be re-elected as representative for the 131st district," he said. "I will continue to do my best for all 65,000 constituents in my district regardless of whether or not they voted for me. I will always listen to them." Simmons' win helps Republicans maintain control of the state House, …
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
State Rep. Justin Simmons, R-131st, and Democratic challenger Kevin Deely will face off in a debate at DeSales University today.
- SCHOOLS
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Tuesday, October 9, 2012
The Southern Lehigh Chamber of Commerce (SLCC) of The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber will host a debate for the 131st Legislative District race between Republican State Rep. Justin Simmons and Democratic candidate Kevin Deely at DeSales University in Center Valley. This is your opportunity to find out where these candidates stand on the issues that matter most to you. The debate will be moderated by Tony Iannelli, President & CEO of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, and will be filmed to air on WFMZ Channel 69 Business Matters prior to the election. The debate will be followed by a cocktail reception where attendees will have the opportunity to network with chamber members and talk one on one with their future state …
40.536793
-75.375699
DeSales University
2755 Station Ave, Center Valley, PA
/articles/simmons-deely-to-debate-at-desales-today
1039280
/locations/7982568
Friday, October 5, 2012
State Rep. Justin Simmons, R-131, says his opponent Kevin Deely opposes bipartisan teacher accountability measures.
- GOVERNMENT
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Friday, October 5, 2012
Throughout this year's presidential campaign, it's become clear that there is very little Governor Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama agree upon. However, the Wednesday, October 3rd debate did find one area of common ground: Race to the Top, the President's program to help improve public schools by improving accountability among teachers, is a good program. I, too, believe that accountability in our schools is a good thing. That is why, in June of this year, I supported HB 1980, a bipartisan reform bill that provides greater accountability of teacher performance in Pennsylvania's schools. This legislation was supported by Republicans and Democrats, as well as the Pennsylvania Education Association. It was supported by these varied …
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The deadline to file for a rebate on 2010 Pennsylvania property taxes is Dec. 31, 2011.
- GOVERNMENT
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Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The office of state Rep. Justin Simmons (R-131) has announced that the deadline to apply for the state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is Dec. 31, 2011. Eligible participants in the program can receive a rebate of up to $650 based on their rent or property taxes paid in 2010. The program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians who are 65 years or older, widows and widowers 50 years or older, and individuals 18 years or older with disabilities. Eligibility income limits for residents are set at the following levels: • $0 to $8,000, maximum $650 rebate (homeowners and renters) • $8,001 to $15,000, maximum $500 rebate (homeowners and renters) • $15,001 to $18,000, maximum $300 rebate (homeowners only) • $18,001 to $35,000, maximum $250 rebate (…
40.58192
-75.38797
State Rep. Justin Simmons
Route 378 & Black River Rd, Bethlehem, PA
/articles/deadline-approaching-for-property-tax-rent-rebate-filings
1850098
/locations/5965336
Monday, October 31, 2011
State representative questions Saucon Valley bus stop change
- GOVERNMENT
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Monday, October 31, 2011
The following Op-Ed was submitted by state Rep. Justin Simmons (R-131): As State Representative for the 131st District, I have become increasingly concerned with the Saucon Valley School Board’s decision to place a bus stop near the home of a registered sex offender. Children are the future of our country and the most vulnerable members of our society. We must do everything we can to protect them. The addition of Meghan’s Law has been a great success in our state and I am proud to say we have strengthened it this session in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. While I understand that the Saucon Valley School Board’s decision to move this bus stop was due to hazardous conditions at the previous stop, it seems to defeat the purpose …
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Residents packed SoLeHi library for two hours of questions and answers on Pennsylvania's emerging natural gas industry
A public forum on Marcellus Shale gas drilling drew about 100 people Thursday including a fracking opponent who was almost escorted out of the room when he began challenging panelists. “This is my fifth (forum) and they’re all the same. They keep putting out this message that everything’s fine and it’s not. It’s a mess,” said Michael Shaw, a Kutztown resident active in a group called Gastruth.org. Shaw was a loud dissenting voice among a standing-room only crowd at Southern Lehigh Public Library. Republican State Rep. Justin Simmons hosted the event, which featured five panelists who each offered reassuring views that Pennsylvania’s rich underground energy source can be safely harvested without significant harm to the environment. Simmons …
40.53655
-75.3879
Southern Lehigh Public Library
3200 Preston Ln, Center Valley, PA
/articles/fracking-opponent-disrupts-gas-drilling-forum
1039185
/locations/4503603
Fae Danner
4:09 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012
Let me correct you. Justin Simmons said he would run for two terms because he is a believer in term limits. He NEVER said anything about believing in "one termers." Also, do you think only teachers are for education? Frankly, while I hope that most are for the education of the students, their issues in their strikes have been, to the best of my recollection, related to their pay and pensions. … more ›