DeWeese Announces Re-election Bid

WAYNESBURG, Feb. 4 --State Rep. Bill DeWeese today announced that he is running for re-election to the 50^th District seat he has held for over three decades.

"There's so much at stake for the families of the 50th District,” DeWeese said, “that I am prepared to continue fighting to represent their interests in Harrisburg. It’s a cause to which I have devoted my entire career.”

DeWeese’s service in the House of Representatives is one of unprecedented productivity and accomplishment. In the past two years alone he has been a leader in passing legislation to open public records to taxpayers, enhance mining safety, provide health insurance to children with autism and legalize table games to keep much needed revenues in our Commonwealth, rather than have them spent out of state. DeWeese has also led the effort to tax natural gas extracted from drilling in the Marcellus Shale, which is a burgeoning industry in Greene, Fayette and Washington counties.

DeWeese said his tenure and leadership in the state House has given him an understanding of the legislative process and relationships with colleagues, staff, and state agency officials that have benefited the families of the 50^th District for decades.

"I have been able to secure substantial financial help for our counties, municipalities and school districts, as well as our local hospital and Waynesburg University," said DeWeese. "I don't believe there is a township supervisor, borough official, firefighter or school board member in the 50th District that I have not worked with on behalf of the people we serve.” 

During his career, DeWeese has helped secure at least $275 million in state funding for the 50th district -- a figure that does not include nearly a half-billion dollars for construction of three state prisons, the latest of which will be built in either German Township or Luzerne Township. 

In Greene County, the area he has represented the longest, DeWeese has helped county commissioners avoid increasing taxes by securing millions of state dollars for the county. This includes over $1 million in the 2007-08 fiscal year and $1.26 million in the 2006-07 fiscal year.

In the current fiscal year, DeWeese secured nearly $1 million in state assistance for Greene County for various projects, including $510,000 for its facility repair, renovation and equipment program.

DeWeese is also responsible for providing $1 million for expansion of the Eberly Library at Wayesburg University (2007), $1.5 million for expansion of Southwest Regional Medical Center (2008), $4.3 million for creation of a new miners' training school in Greene County (2007) and $2.47 million to the UMWA Career Center for miner retraining (2006-08). He was also instrumental in obtaining $1.75 million for the Foundation Coal Family Aquatic Center in Waynesburg in 2006.

"Obviously in this election I am facing unprecedented challenges,” DeWeese said. “But as a Marine and a long-time public servant I am well prepared for the battle ahead. I look forward to personally meeting with voters, as I have for decades, and making a strong and compelling case for my re-election.”