Change Address

VOTE411 Voter Guide

Pennsylvania State Representative District 130

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 PA 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 four years and a resident of their respective districts one year before their election, and shall reside in their respective districts during their terms 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 yearsSalary: $113,591Vote for ONE.Note: On Democratic and Republican primary ballots, voters will also choose members of the State and County Committees. We do not list these candidates on Vote411. For information on these candidates, we suggest you contact your local Democratic or Republican Party committee.

Click a candidate icon to find more information about the candidate. To compare two candidates, click the "compare" button. To start over, click a candidate icon.

  • Candidate picture

    Erik Bonnett
    (Dem)

  • Candidate picture

    Mitch Micale
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    Melissa Brewer
    (Rep)

Biographical Information

What do you see as the most pressing issues facing residents of your district, and how would you address them?

What changes, if any, would you support to enable better access, ensure security, and support the processes of our elections?

What are your thoughts on the state budget process? What changes, if any, would you support so that the budget is enacted in a timely manner?

Should the state legislature enact laws concerning the impacts on water, energy, or land use from the development and operation of data centers? Would state regulation of data center development and operation interfere with the authority of municipalities to establish ordinances under the MPC (Municipal Planning Code)?

County Berks
Occupation I.T. Business Owner
Education Pennsylvania State University — B.S., Information Sciences and Technology
Qualifications Former Constable, serving in a dual capacity supporting both the executive and judicial branches of Pennsylvania state government. Served as a Legionnaire in the International Legion of Defense of Ukraine. Microsoft Certified in Artificial Intelligence and Cloud Computing (Azure)
Campaign Website http://www.erikbonnett.com
The most pressing issues in our district are property taxes, school taxes, and the rising cost of living. Many families are struggling to keep up. I will push for fair taxation so the wealthiest Pennsylvanians pay the same share as the middle class, and I support raising the minimum wage to ease financial pressure. I’m also concerned about data warehouses. We need transparency about what data is being collected and how it’s used. I oppose big tech collecting and exploiting personal data to target specific audiences with A.I. generated content. Residents are also concerned about ICE facilities, while crime must be addressed, I believe in more funding for local law enforcement, not relying on federal agencies unfamiliar with our communities.
To improve elections in Pennsylvania, I support changes that expand access, ensure security, and strengthen trust in the system. Every person should have a say, and technicalities shouldn’t prevent eligible votes from being counted. I back strong post-election audits, modernized and fully funded voting technology, and adequate funding for county election officials. We must guard against intimidation and policies that disproportionately burden underrepresented groups. I also support including a candidate headshot and basic info (occupation) on ballots to give voters a better idea of who they're casting a vote for. I will advocate for term limits for all elected officials and ban insider trading to keep public service focused on the people.
Pennsylvania’s budget process is often delayed by political gridlock. It creates uncertainty for schools, local governments, and, most importantly, working families who rely on timely funding. A budget should be passed on time, every time, because people depend on it. To improve the process, there should be clear deadlines with consequences if they are missed. I also believe in greater transparency so Pennsylvania can see how decisions are made and where their tax dollars are going. I would prioritize early, bipartisan negotiations to avoid last-minute deals behind closed doors. A more open process will restore public trust and ensure the budget reflects responsible spending, fair taxation, and the real needs of our communities.
I have a background in IT, AI, and cloud computing, and I understand the impacts data centers have on communities. These centers put a strain on water, energy, and land. I do not support big tech making deals with government behind closed doors to barter personal information or use it to target people with AI-generated misinformation, which divides our communities. We should wait to see how other states fare, especially with noise complaints day and night. Big tech should pay for energy grids and infrastructure. Europe puts data centers underground to use geothermal cooling. If a facility pollutes water, it should face a D.E.P. shutdown until corrected. State regulation should exist, but municipalities must retain authority under the MPC.
County Berks
Occupation Educator
Education Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Early Childhood Education
Qualifications Educator, Community Leader
Campaign Website http://mitch4pa.com/
The biggest issue facing families is affordability. Home energy bills are too high, groceries and everyday goods cost too much, and Pennsylvanians are paying one of the highest gas taxes in the nation just to get to work and school. Government should be helping, not making things worse with excessive regulations that drive up utility costs. I support unleashing Pennsylvania energy, cutting red tape, and getting serious about eliminating waste, abuse, and fraud in government so taxpayers can keep more of what they earn.
Our elections should be simple, secure, and trusted. That starts with requiring voter ID, verifying citizenship, cleaning up the voter rolls, and ending no-excuse mail-in voting. Voting is a sacred right of American citizens, and protecting it should not be controversial. Pennsylvanians deserve an election system with clear rules, strong safeguards, and confidence that only legal votes are counted.
Harrisburg has a spending problem and a failure to police fraud. Reports showing a 165% increase in welfare fraud should be a wake-up call. Every dollar lost to waste, abuse, and fraud is money taken away from classrooms, public safety, roads, and care for those who truly need it. The budget process should be timely, transparent, and centered on accountability. I support stronger oversight, better fraud detection, and a hard line against wasteful spending so taxpayers know their money is being protected and spent where it belongs.
Data centers can bring investment, jobs, and opportunity, but the people closest to the community should have the strongest voice in deciding where and how they are developed. I believe municipalities should retain the final say under the Municipal Planning Code when it comes to land use, infrastructure, and local impact. If these projects move forward, they should be able to support their own energy demands and infrastructure needs without placing added strain or added cost on local residents.
County Berks
Occupation Currently Unemployed
Education University of Pennsylvania (Ed.D.); Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (M.Ed.); University of Pittsburgh (B.S.)
Qualifications I am a lifelong resident of Berks County and 19 year resident of Oley Township. I am a wife, mother, and taxpayer. I have served my community and other local communities across my adulthood. I have 30+ years experience in the realm of PreK-12+ education as an educator and leader.
Campaign Website http://www.brewerforpa.com
Property tax reform and affordability are pressing issues for the residents of my district. I believe Pennsylvania needs to determine a better way to fund public schools while alleviating the burden on local taxpayers. As an educational administrator and taxpayer, I have experienced both sides of the property tax issue and believes I can lead and participate in productive discussions to improve public school funding and advance property tax reform. Further, I support establishing an independent Pennsylvania “DOGE” Commission to explore, uncover, and purge governmental waste. Not only must we ensure our budget is fiscally responsible, wee must ensure our valuable tax dollars are spent with accountability.

I support Voter ID requirements for all eligible voters in Pennsylvania. This is a common-sense matter for me. Voting is one of the most important responsibilities of a US citizen. As both a right and a privilege, voter identity should be verified with proper identification. In addition, I believe all polling locations must be properly staffed with impartial poll workers to ensure all voters are treated fairly and all votes are counted. Poll worker education and vetting must be a high priority. While my priority is always to vote in person, I believe mail-in voting can be safe and secure. I would insist upon Voter ID for all forms of voting: mail-in; absentee; in-person.
Passing the state budget by 6/30, is essential to avoid delays in funding important state agencies and programs. The Governor typically presents the budget in February with legislative committee hearings to follow. The legislative calendar dictates when appropriations committee work commences. I would suggest the legislative calendar afford greater opportunities for these hearings and perhaps consider shifting the budget timeline early in the fiscal year to allow for more time for this work. In my experience as a school superintendent who developed three school budgets in partnership with our Board of School Directors, the sooner we got to work on the new fiscal year's budget, the smoother the process.
The topic of Data Centers is one I would need to spend a bit more time to understand both the big picture vision of Data Centers in my district as well as in the Commonwealth. This is a big matter for all citizens, municipalities, townships and the state. I am in favor of local control in most matters, and would likely start from that perspective, but given I need to do more research, I will not take a firm position on this question at this time.