Politics & Government

Farry Launches Re-election Campaign in Redrawn District

State Rep. Frank Farry will be campaigning in his redrawn 142nd district that now includes Upper Southampton.

State Representative Frank Farry made clear that he will face head-on one of the biggest issues for his 2014 re-election by launching the campaign in a meeting room at the Upper Southampton township building Wednesday evening.

If he wins in November, Farry will add the township to his representation of the 142nd district when the redrawn maps take effect in 2015. This will be the last year that Upper Southampton is split between representatives Bernie O'Neill and Scott Petri.

"There's a a lot of confusion out there about the new districts," said Farry. "I spent last year's election day at the Upper Southampton polls, making sure people knew who I am."

The reconfigured 142nd district will include Langhorne Borough, Langhorne Manor, a portion of Middletown, and Lower and Upper Southampton townships. Hulmeville and Penndel will be added to the 141st district, currently represented by Tina Davis.

Farry was joined at his campaign announcement by Bucks County Commissioner Charles Martin and Petri, each touting Farry's record as an assistant township manager for Middletown and his 23 years of service with the Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company, with 14 years as the chief.

"Frank has been in the trenches," said Petri. "he knows how to make constituents happy, and he's not afraid to make tough decisions. He will be great for both Southamptons." 

Farry, a Neshaminy High School graduate, first took office in the 142nd in 2008. He credited his career trajectory to the sacrifices his mother made as a single parent. She braved the icy roads to watch her son's announcement Wednesday night.

"She made tremendous sacrifices to put me in a position to be successful," said Farry.

As voters get to know him, Farry hopes they see his legislative record as a positive, highlighting four issues in particular.

Farry played a key role in having Route 1 in Bucks County dedicated as the Detective Christopher Jones Memorial Highway, named after the Middletown police officer who was struck and killed on duty by a drunk driver on Route 1 in January 2009. 

Farry says he is also continuing his push to have insurance companies recognize cancer as a job related illness for volunteer firefighters, a fight that he hopes will result in strong coverage for emergency responders.

He also co-sponsored recently signed legislation that will allow counties that operate their own crime labs to receive fee payments from convicted criminals. Farry said that will take some of the burden off of Bucks County taxpayers. Another recently enacted law crafted in the state senate is nearly identical to a bill proposed by Farry that requires carbon monoxide detectors in multi-family dwellings.

"If you do what's right for the people, the people will do right for you," said Farry. "When you come to me with a problem, I will do my best to find a legislative solution."


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