Kevin Deely is challenging state Rep. Justin Simmons to represent Pennsylvania's 131st District in the state House of Representatives.
View full sizeFormer Easton Area School District union president Kevin Deely says he's running for a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.Kevin Deely, who teaches English at Easton Area High School, said he is running as a Democrat to oust state Rep. Justin Simmons, a first-term Republican, to represent Pennsylvania's 131st District.
Deely said Simmons has failed in his efforts to create jobs in the region, support tax reform and maintain government transparency.
Simmons, however, called Deely beholden to teachers and accused him of “living in a fantasy world.”
State Rep. Justin SimmonsDeely said he thinks he's been a strong advocate of standing up for the "little guy."
"There are lots of people that don't like me, that think I'm in it for my own benefit, (and) that's not true," Deely said. "For me, it's about trying to give the smaller guy a voice."
Simmons criticized Deely for refusing to make concessions as the Easton Area teachers union head regarding teacher pay increases.
“He was ranting and raving against the Easton Area School Board for 12.7 percent pay increases for teachers,” Simmons said. The average Easton Area teacher earned a 12.57 percent raise over the three years after the teachers contract was approved in December 2007
Deely declined to seek re-election to the union presidency last year. He said he had the union’s support, but said at the time that criticism from the district and the public had taken a toll on him.
“If he thought he took too much heat from the public as a teachers union representative, what does he think he’ll do as a state representative?” Simmons asked.
Deely said he’s running because he wants to change the culture of government in Harrisburg and criticized Simmons for being absent for key votes. He accused Simmons of focusing on corporate interests and big business instead of the needs of small business owners and entrepreneurs.
"We need a representative that lobbies for good jobs, not a big business' profit margin," Deely said. "We need help for small business owners who live and work in our community so that the Lehigh Valley can become the entrepreneur hub it is meant to be."
Simmons said he broke ranks with his party to extend unemployment benefits and refused to raise taxes because it would be bad for small businesses.
“I don’t know what the heck he’s talking about,” Simmons said. “I think Kevin lives in a fantasy world.”
Under legislative reapportionment approved last year, the 131st District includes Lower Milford, Salisbury, Upper Milford and Upper Saucon townships and Coopersburg and Emmaus in Lehigh County; Upper Hanover Township and East Greenville, Pennsburg and Red Hill in Montgomery County; and Lower Saucon Township in Northampton County.