Preceded by Sara G. Steelman Party Republican Party Spouse Heather Reed | Name Dave Reed Political party Republican | |
 | ||
Born March 6, 1978 (age 46)
Blairsville, Pennsylvania ( 1978-03-06 ) Alma mater Indiana University of Pennsylvania Education Indiana University of Pennsylvania Residence Indiana, Pennsylvania, United States | ||
Dave L. Reed (born March 6, 1978) is a Republican member, and Majority Leader, of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He represents the 62nd District, made up of parts of Indiana County. In November 2014, Reed was elected House Majority Leader and assumed those duties on December 1. He was sworn into his seventh term on January 6, 2015.
Contents
Early life
Reed was born in Blairsville, Pennsylvania, and is a sixth-generation Indiana County resident. He attended and graduated from Homer-Center High School, where he excelled in football and baseball. After high school, Reed attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania, receiving a bachelor's degree in mathematics/economics. He later earned a master's degree in government administration from the University of Pennsylvania. Reed completed an internship in the Governor's Policy Office for Community and Economic Development in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He also coordinated special projects for the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce and worked as a director of a business-development group for Blairsville, Pennsylvania.
Campaign for House
In 2002, the 24-year-old Reed challenged Representative Sara Steelman for the 62nd legislative district, winning an upset. Both candidates made improving the local economic climate part of their platforms. Reed was inspired to challenge Steelman after seeing fellow 20-something Jeff Coleman defeat another long-term Democrat in the adjacent 60th legislative district. As a challenger, Reed followed the campaign blueprint established in 2000 by when young Jeff Coleman defeated Tim Pesci in nearby Armstrong County. Coleman personally assisted Reed in his campaign, from recruiting campaign help to advising him on his campaign statements.
The political news site PoliticsPA named Reed's campaign website the "sixth best website" in Pennsylvania during the election season. During the campaign, Steelman "erupted" on the district's airwaves with taxpayer-funded "public service announcements" for the first time in a decade. His website was praised by PoliticsPA as being among the best in that election cycle. With the 57-43 victory, Reed became the youngest member of the House. Coleman had previously held that distinction.
In 2003, the political website PoliticsPA named him to "The Best of the Freshman Class" list, saying that "What he lacks in practical experience, Reed more than makes up for with hard work."
Personal life
Reed is married to the former Heather Camp, whom he met during his first election campaign. They have a son and two daughters, and reside in White Township, Pennsylvania.