Election 2022: Meet State Rep. Joe Ciresi

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — With the November general election just around the corner, Patch is profiling some of the candidates whose names will appear at the ballot box.

Below, we introduce you to State Rep. Joe Ciresi, a Democrat representing the 146th Legislative District, which covers parts of Montgomery County.

Ciresi is facing Republican challenger Tom Neafcy.

Patch sent a candidate questionnaire to Ciresi and below are his responses.

Name: Joe Ciresi

Age: 52

Town Of Residence: Limerick

What Communities Does Your District Cover?
Limerick, Lower Pottsgrove, Pottstown, Royersford, West Pottsgrove

Party Affiliation (If Applicable): Democratic

Family: My wife’s name is Pam and we have an adult son, Danny. We also have a dog
named Dusty and a cat named Phil.

Education: University of Miami, Bachelor's Degree in Music

Occupation: State Representative

How Long Have You Held Public Office? If You Are A Political Newcomer, What
Made You Decide To Get Involved In Politics?
I served on the Spring-Ford School Board for 12 years and have served in the
Pennsylvania House of Representatives for 4 years.

How Long Have You Lived In Pennsylvania? How Long Have You Lived In The
District You Either Represent, Or Are Seeking To Represent?
I've lived in Pennsylvania for 22 years and have lived in district for 21 years. I love the
sense of community that exists in the 146th district.

What Are Some of The Top Issues Facing Your District?
Our communities are amazing places to work and live. To make sure they continue to
thrive and grow, we need to expand economic opportunity and make sure that we support
our police and emergency services to keep our communities safe.

Restoring passenger train service from Philadelphia and Reading to the western part of
Montgomery County is at the top of that list. The restoration of regional commuter rail
helps to increase property values, creates jobs, and increases economic activity, while
reducing pollution.

From Day 1, we got to work — advocating for the restoration of regional rail and reaching
out to potential partners. Thanks to the efforts of many leaders, across three counties, this
project is about to leave the station.

I’m encouraged by the formation of the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority and the
hiring of a director. The Authority will lobby Washington D.C. to fund this project. This
represents a stronger commitment than we’ve ever seen in the past. There is reason for
true optimism.

Modern transportation networks are just one component of a thriving Pennsylvania
economy.

As vice chairman of the House Commerce Committee and as a member of the Tourism
and Recreational Development Committee, I am always looking for creative ways to
promote our unique towns. A recent example of these partnerships is Royersford
Borough’s announcement of a mixed-use development for the riverfront property.
Working with the borough and state officials, I helped secure a $1 million grant for the
restoration of the trestle bridge connecting Spring City to Royersford. Private investment
often follows public investment.

I will also continue working with the local Chambers of Commerce to look for ways to
strengthen our local economy and bring good jobs to the district.

My campaign earned the endorsement of the Montgomery County Fraternal Order of
Police, Lodge 14. The recently enacted Pennsylvania budget contains the following
expenditures for public safety:

• $135 million to support local law enforcement, including training, equipment, and
personnel (new grant program)
• $105 million for violence intervention and prevention programs (new grant program)
• $95 million for school safety and security grants
• $50 million for gun violence investigation and prosecution support (new grant program)
• Funding for 200 new State Police troopers.

Additionally, I co-sponsored a series of bills that would:

• Create a Safe Communities Grant Program, helping communities install lighting and
security cameras around schools, playgrounds, and community centers.
• Strengthen laws against stalking by closing a loophole to clarify a victim doesn’t need to
be aware of the stalking for it to be a crime. This bill also prohibits the use of tracking
devices (AirTags, etc) for stalking purposes.
• Strengthen penalties against sexual extortion, repeat DUI, illegally setting body-gripping
traps, and aggravated assault against public transport employees and code enforcement
officials.
• Create crimes for theft of mail, theft of insurance checks, and throwing, tossing, or
spitting bodily fluids on law enforcement officials.

I will continue to work to make sure we have funded and well-trained police, firefighters
and EMTs.

What In Your Background Qualifies You For The Elected Position?
In addition to being a two-term incumbent with a knowledgeable staff serving this district,
I worked for more than a decade as the Director of Sales and Promotions at the Kimmel
Center for the Performing Arts, a world-class arts center in Philadelphia. In that role, I
interfaced with Fortune 500 companies executing multi-million-dollar productions and
building corporate partnerships.

Additionally, I'm proud of my record serving as a school board member for Spring-Ford.
While reducing debt by over $125 million, we moved Spring-Ford Area School District
into the top 2% of Pennsylvania’s 500 public school districts. During my tenure, the
district expanded the high school’s Advanced Placement program and implemented the
nation’s first-of-its-kind Hybrid Learning Center. In 2012, Spring-Ford received the
National Blue Ribbon Award — the first in district history.

Do You Believe Adhering To Party Doctrine Or Serving Constituents Is More
Important?
People come first. Always. Serving my constituents is my top priority.
We have proudly provided breakfasts to veterans, hosted senior health expos, public
shredding events, informational town halls on subjects ranging from the spotted lanternfly
to preventing senior scams, and e-recycling events. Since winning this seat, I have helped secure over $30 million in grants for the 146th District.

Are You Willing To Work Across The Political Aisle To Get Things Accomplished?

Yes. Good ideas come from both sides of the aisle. If my colleagues have an idea that
will work for my district, I will support it. I’m very proud to have been part of the bi-partisan budget passed in 2022 that brought a record $7.5 million dollars to our local schools. This was a huge win for the students of the 146th . Investment in education helps to create the educated workforce we need to attract business that pay a family-sustaining wage.

Is There Anything Else You Would Like Folks To Know About You?
I encourage everyone to exercise their right to vote. This is what makes democracy possible. You can find sample ballots, polling locations, and deadlines for mail-in ballots on Montgomery County Voter Services website. Whether you vote in-person or through the mail, Vote! It has been an honor to work as your State Representative in the 146th District since winning election in November 2018. I hope I’ve earned your support for another term. I'll continue to work across the aisle in Harrisburg to deliver funding for our public schools, economic opportunities for all, and the protection of a woman’s right to choose.