Special Election: Pennsylvania State Representative District 196
The Special Election for PA Representative in the 196th District will be held May 19, 2026, the same day as the General Primary.This election will fill the seat previously held by Republican state representative Seth Grove, who resigned at the end of January. The candidate who is elected on May 19th will be sworn in after results are certified.To vote in this election, you must register by May 4, 2026. All registered voters in this district, regardless of party, may vote in this election. If you are registered as a Democrat or a Republican, you will also be able to vote in the party primaries that day. If you are not registered as a Democrat or Republican, only this special elections will appear on your ballot.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.Salary: $113,591Vote for ONE.
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Ron Ruman
(Dem)
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George Margetas
(Rep)
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
York
Occupation
Retired
Education
BA in Speech Communications, Broadcast Option, Pennsylvania State University
Qualifications
Current W. Manchester Twp. Supervisor; previous W. Man. Twp. planning commissioner; York Co. planning commissioner
The cost of living. I would reduce property taxes by changing the local earned income tax to a personal income tax, using the extra revenue to require a dollar-for-dollar reduction in residential school and municipal property taxes; make data centers pay for the electricity they use; end excessive funding of cyber charter schools to hold down property taxes; increase support for technical schools, providing a lower cost way to good jobs our economy needs; reform the Penn State Board of Trustees to focus on serving students, families and communities, to provide lower cost college educations for thousands of PA students, rather than closing campuses to force students to higher cost options.
Open primaries to independent and third party voters; add early in-person voting; add secure drop boxes for mail ballots; allow pre-canvassing of mail ballots; enact voter ID, providing easily accessible IDs for any voter not having one, to add a layer of security and help dispel the myth our elections are not safe and secure. I also support a citizens commission to re-draw legislative and Congressional districts, to end gerrymandering.
Set enforceable deadlines by withholding pay for legislators, the governor and lt. governor, which would not be made up after a budget passes, if the budget is not passed on time. Also, end operation of all non-essential state services immediately at midnight June 30th. There are no consequences now for late budgets. There should be interim deadlines, such as adopting the amount to be spent by June 15th when the final revenue figures are available. The Legislature should be in session for eight hours daily beginning July 1st until a budget is passed.
I favor requiring data centers to pay for the electricity they use, rather than foisting that cost onto residents and businesses. I support Gov. Shapiro's plan to enact strict environmental regulations for the operation of data centers. This could include water use, however, local water authorities now have the ability to limit data center water draws, so unless this proves inadequate, water regulation should stay local. Land development should stay with municipalities. As a township supervisor, I am the elected official closest to the residents affected and closest to living with the impact myself. I support the MPC leaving land use and development with municipalities.
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