Jerry Birmelin is a former Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....

.

He is a 1967 graduate of Lake Ariel High School. He earned a degree in education from University of Scranton

University of Scranton

The University of Scranton is a private, co-educational Catholic and Jesuit university, located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in the northeast region of the state. The school was founded in 1888 by Most Rev. William O'Hara, the first Bishop of Scranton, as St. Thomas College. It was elevated to a...

 in 1973.

He was first elected to represent the 139th legislative district

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 139

The 139th Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is made up of parts of Monroe County, Pennsylvania, Pike County, Pennsylvania, and Wayne County, Pennsylvania...

 in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....

 in 1984. During his career, Birmelin was known for his Pro-life

Pro-life

Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...

 stand on abortion

Abortion

Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...

 and for his opposition to Same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....

. He retired prior to the 2006 elections

Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2006

The 2006 Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 7, 2006, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on May 16, 2006. Members elected in 2006 were inaugurated on January 2, 2007...

.

Birmelin voted in favor of the controversial legislative pay raise

2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy

In the early morning hours of July 7, 2005, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed pay increases for state lawmakers, judges, and top executive-branch officials. The vote took place at 2 a.m. without public review or commentary and Governor Ed Rendell signed the bill into law...

, passed in the middle of the night without debate or public comment, inspiring several candidates to challenge him in the 2006 election

Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2006

The 2006 Elections for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives were held on November 7, 2006, with all districts being contested. Necessary primary elections were held on May 16, 2006. Members elected in 2006 were inaugurated on January 2, 2007...

. Several of these candidates were affiliated with PACleanSweep, a state-wide effort to defeat any legislators voting for the pay raise. On January 26, 2006, Birmelin joined 26 of his colleagues and announced that he would not seek re-election. Pike County treasurer

Pike County, Pennsylvania

-National protected areas:* Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area * Middle Delaware National Scenic River * Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River -Demographics:...

, Michael Peifer

Michael Peifer

Michael T. "Mike" Peifer is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 139th legislative district. He was first elected in 2006....

 went on to win the Republican nomination and won the election.

Following retirement from the House, Birmelin began his own political consulting firm, Birmelin Consulting, and assisted Chris Hackett in his 2008 campaign

United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2008

The 2008 congressional elections in Pennsylvania was held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state of Pennsylvania in the United States House of Representatives. Pennsylvania has 19 seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census...

 for Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district

Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district

Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district is located primarily in the northeast corner of the state. The district was one of the 12 original districts created prior to the 4th Congress. It is currently represented by Republican Tom Marino, who defeated Democratic incumbent Chris Carney during the...

 against Chris Carney

Chris Carney

Christopher P. "Chris" Carney is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2007 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party and was a prominent member of the conservative Blue Dog Coalition....

.

External links

• Pennsylvania House of Representatives - Jerry Birmelin (Republican) official PA House profile (archived)