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State Rep. Justin Simmons

Monday, May 6, 2013

Meet Simmons' Rep at Township Office Tuesday

Residents can meet an outreach specialist from the staff of state Rep. Justin Simmons at the Salisbury Township building on Tuesday.

A satellite office of state Rep. Justin J. Simmons, 131st Legislative District, is currently located at the Salisbury Township Municipal Building, 2900 South Pike Avenue, Allentown, PA 18103. An outreach specialist will be available the first Tuesday of each month from 9 a.m. until noon. For further information or to make an appointment, please call 610-861-5201.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Simmons-Deely Race In Play with 750 Votes Uncounted

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 …

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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 ›

Tally Shows Simmons Defeats Deely in 131st House Race by Slim Margin

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.

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, …

Crestor Januvia

10:48 am on Thursday, November 8, 2012

But what can you expect from a district that voted in that moron Karen Beyer.   more ›

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Simmons, Deely to Debate at DeSales Today

State Rep. Justin Simmons, R-131st, and Democratic challenger Kevin Deely will face off in a debate at DeSales University today.

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 …

Joe Costa

10:16 pm on Tuesday, October 23, 2012

I thought Justin made Deely look like a joke. Deely really has no idea what he's talking about most of the time. To Bob, you're wrong. Mr. Impink was my 8th grade science teacher and he was great. As a former high school teacher, he gave my peers and I good advice to do well in high school. I've never enjoyed science classes that much, but I enjoyed Mr. Impink's class. I know many others that …   more ›

Friday, October 5, 2012

Op-Ed: Justin Simmons Says Teacher Accountability is a Common Sense, Bipartisan Idea

State Rep. Justin Simmons, R-131, says his opponent Kevin Deely opposes bipartisan teacher accountability measures.

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 …

Carl W

9:51 am on Thursday, October 11, 2012

Sorry, Simmons, however I can't support any Republican, you included. Why? From PQA. to Florida, Republicans cost states LIKE PA & Fla. MILLIONS of dollars, at a time when we're so rich (???), for voter I.D, which is unnecessary, and making it illegal for seniors to come to polls in busses, all in an attempt to destroy any votes for Democrats. And this is not the first year such has been done-- …   more ›

Monday, November 28, 2011

Redistricting Plan Would Change Salisbury's State Representation

Salisbury residents have until Wednesday to comment about Pennsylvania's plan to redraw legislative districts.

Salisbury Township will continue to be divided among three state House seats under a proposed statewide redistricting plan, while the state Senate seat would change. The township is currently represented by the 131st state House seat (representing township Wards 2,3 and 4), held by Republican Justin Simmons; the 133rd (Ward 1), represented by Democrat Joseph Brennan, and the 134th (Ward 5), represented by Republican Doug Reichley. The same three seats would continue to represent Salisbury under the redistricting plan, but the township wards they represent would change. The 131st would represent Wards 3 and 4-1; the 133rd would represent Wards 1 and 2, and the 134th would represent Wards 4-2 and 5. Salisbury is now part of the sprawling …

Salisbury Resident

9:57 am on Tuesday, November 29, 2011

It is unfortunate that our small community is so divided among its representation. Registering a "complaint" is great and part of the steps granted by our constitutional judiciary process. However I wouldn't even know where to begin in order to convince the commission to look at other options. It would be easier to go to Allentown and make the case to get Salisbury's land back that was rightfully…   more ›

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Fracking Opponent Disrupts Gas Drilling Forum

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 …

david sweeney

5:48 am on Thursday, July 7, 2011

Gee Michael, we were in Wyoming and there were so many jobs people were coming in from out of state to work (I believe the the unemployment is under 4%) and the dealerships couldn't keep new vehicles on the lots...We must have been in the wrong area, because everyone there was thrilled about the oil and gas development.........   more ›

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