White to Seek Fourth Term

filed nominating petitions in Harrisburg Monday and formally announced his intention to seek re-election in the 46th Legislative District, which he has represented since 2006.

“I ran for office because I had a passion to help real people,” White, D-, said. “I am probably more passionate than ever, and now I have some real experience to help me turn that energy into results. Even if my constituents may not always agree with the message, I believe they appreciate having a clear voice representing them in Harrisburg.”

This year, White was voted vice-chairman of the southwest delegation of the Democratic Caucus and appointed chairman of the judiciary subcommittee on family law. He also serves on the judiciary, labor and industry, consumer affairs and aging and older adult services committees.

White cites his work with local communities on Marcellus Shale natural gas development as a major accomplishment. In 2010, White joined leaders from 18 municipalities to address the needs of local communities in a positive and pro-active way, holding workshops and town hall meetings to find ways to promote the economic benefits of the natural gas industry while offering reasonable protections for the people of Pennsylvania.

“Our goal was to raise awareness and get people talking about the important
issues, and I believe we are doing exactly that,” White said. “Marcellus Shale is a once-in-a-generation economic opportunity, but with that opportunity comes great responsibility, and I am please to be working with so many dedicated people in a truly non-partisan way to ask the tough questions and be a voice for the people of our region.”

White has also worked on property tax reassessment reform, pushing for a statewide moratorium on court-ordered reassessments to prevent tax increases in places such as Washington and Allegheny counties. White is currently serving on a joint task force created by legislation he wrote in 2011 to address long-term reassessment reform in Harrisburg.

The original plan of the 2011 Legislative Redistricting Commission had the 46th legislative district shifted dramatically into Allegheny County—however, the recent order by the state Supreme Court that struck down the proposed redistricting as unconstitutional meant the lines of the district will likely remain unchanged through the 2012 election.

“The redistricting debacle has created massive amounts of confusion for constituents, which is a shame,” White said. “I didn’t want to leave so many people I have grown to know so well over the past five years, but I had basically no control over the situation. I just want to get this distraction over with and focus on governing.”

White is a noted defender of animal rights; his dogs, Abigail and Delano have become minor celebrities and have their own Facebook page dedicated to animal rights issues.

For more information, visit www.supportjesse.com or call 724-743-4444.