About Rick
Rick graduated from Kent State University with a B.A. Degree in Social work. Following graduation he had consecutive season tryouts with the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, and Cleveland Browns. Between NFL camps he attained teaching credentials from the state of Pennsylvania as a secondary social studies teacher, and spent a few years as a teacher, football and basketball coach, attendance officer, and special needs student advocate. He also spent two seasons coaching NCAA Division 1 college football at Kansas and Cincinnati. From there, Rick moved to the logistics industry where he rose to the position of terminal manager. He made a lateral move into the field of sales as an account executive where he spent the rest of his career as an AE and sales manager in the paper and LTL trucking industries for 30 years. Rick is a dedicated family man who, due to life developments, took on the role of primary caregiving, as a single dad for his three children ages two, five, and six through college. He's quite proud of this formative role he chose, and views it as a blessing to be able to play this role in them becoming responsible, contributing adults.
Rick, who is now retired, has chosen to become involved in politics and run for the PA State House in the 199th District for several reasons. He is worried about the polarization and fear-mongering that is gripping our country and State and the inability of Democrats and Republicans to find common ground on important policy matters. He believes that solving problems must occur at all levels of government including local, county, state, and national. He hopes that he can work toward bridging the gaps to solve Pennsylvania's problems.
His guiding principle is to put people over politics. Toward that end, he believes in transparency and will go to great lengths to clarify his positions on important matters and to be open-minded. Rick is a man of great energy who will work hard on the causes of which he and all Pennsylvanians believe. Although Rick is retired, he is not tired, and he won't quit working for the people of the 199th District.
Rick describes himself as a moderate Democrat on many matters. For example, he is a life long Pennsylvania sportsman who enjoys his vintage 300 Savage hunting rifle. However, he does see the need for tighter enforcement and better common sense gun laws to help lessen the amount of gun violence and accidental deaths happening in our society including the residents of the 199th District. Also, among the foremost important issue to Rick and the residents of the 199th District is public education funding. He will work diligently for appropriate and full funding of public education and will support a bipartisan efforts to reform funding and accountability of charter and cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania. Rick knows that a thriving public education system is a bedrock for an enduring and strong American democracy.
Other issues that Rick is adamant about are: the negative impact of spreading 'culture war' conspiracies and fear-mongering pushed from the national level down into our local school systems of Cumberland County. He believes we must stop the dissemination of misinformation which inhibits the positive functioning of our public education system. Banning books, attacking educators, mis-representation of factual American history including historical race relations is not serving our children's interests or the future strength of our American way of life. Also, Rick believes strongly about a woman's reproductive freedom and that difficult matters of reproductive health and well-being should be left up to her and her support systems alone.
In addition, he believes that all people should be able to say and be who they are based on their own individual beliefs, Civil rights, justice issues, and voting rights are guaranteed by our Constitution. Rick also wants certain legislators to stop grandstanding and pandering to those that choose to demean and divide people and to instead, increase our understanding, civility, and unity as a district, state, and nation. Through this we will build a stronger, kinder, more productive Pennsylvania here in the 199th District.