Name Pat Harkins | Spouse(s) Michelle Harkins | |
Children Matthew, Patrick, and Barbara Alma mater Mercyhurst CollegePenn State Erie | ||
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Patrick J. "Pat" Harkins (born December 22, 1963) is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for 1st District and was elected in 2006.
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- Joe melnick chris harkins pat harkins
- Washu engineer pat harkins get a bigger hammer
- Personal
- Political
- References
Washu engineer pat harkins get a bigger hammer
Personal
Harkins grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania. He attended Erie Tech Memorial High School. While in high school earning an electrical-electronics certification. At Mercyhurst College, he studied political science and business. After a year at Mercyhurst he transferred to Penn State Behrend where he studied political science and business. He worked as a driver for UPS for 25 years, while employed there he also became active in the local Teamsters Union, Teamsters LU 397. Civicly Harkins served as a board member on the Sacred Heart School Board for six years and served as board president for three of those six years. Harkins along with his wife Michelle founded the Reservoir Dogs neighborhood crime watch organization in their neighborhood. He also served as judge of elections in Erie County, Pennsylvania
Legislatively, Harkins was able to pass the Great Lakes Compact in 2008 in Pennsylvania after working in a bipartisan spirit with legislators from the Great Lakes States and legislators from the federal government. He has held positions on the Pennsylvania House Education, Veterans Affairs & Emergency preparedness, Liquor, Labor, Fish & Game, Urban Affairs, Children & Youth, Policy and Rules committees. During the 2014-2016 session Harkins was appointed co chair of the Vocational and Technical Education sub committee which traveled all over Pennsylvania acquiring input from parents, business owners and students in an effort to develop high end vocational and technical education to be enacted through bi partisan legislation. He is currently the minority chairman of the House Gaming Oversight Committee.
Political
Harkins was first elected in 2006. The district opened up when Rep. Linda Bebko-Jones retired following a challenge to the validity of her petition signatures. He won a three-way primary election over Democrats Michael Skrzypczak and Dennis Iaquinta and went on to defeat Republican Christine Pontoriero with 75% of the vote. In the primary of 2016 Harkins faced no opposition, in the general election on November 8th. 2016 Harkins won re election to his sixth term defeating William Edward Crotty by 76% to 22%. Harkins was sworn in for his sixth term on January 3, 2017.