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. In between NFL camps, he attained his teaching credentials from the State of Pennsylvania as a secondary social studies teacher. He worked as a teacher, football and basketball coach, attendance officer, and special needs student advocate. He also spent two seasons coaching NCAA Division I 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 when they were aged two, five, and six. He's quite proud of this formative role he chose, and views it as a blessing to have played this role in their 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 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. Rick is a man of great energy who will work hard for the residents of the 199th District.
Rick describes himself as a moderate Democrat. 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 decrease gun violence and accidental deaths.
Rick knows that a thriving public education system is a bedrock for an enduring and strong American democracy. He will work diligently for appropriate and full funding of our schools, and will support a bipartisan efforts to reform the funding and accountability of charter and cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania. He wants to combat disinformation and fear-mongering in our schools districts. He is against banning books, attacking educators, and misrepresenting factual American history.
Rick believes strongly in reproductive freedom and that difficult matters of reproductive health and well-being should be left up to a woman, her family, and her doctor.
Rick believes that all people should be able to say and be who they are. He will strive for understanding, civility, and unity. In short, he wants to build a stronger, kinder, more productive Pennsylvania here in the 199th District.