Lisa Kerle, a constituent services specialist in Rep. Donna Oberlander’s office, has announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination in the 63rd Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

She hopes to replace Oberlander (R-Armstrong/Clarion) in the chamber, after the six-term legislator announced last month that she did not intend to run for re-election in the fall.

The native of New Bethlehem believes her constituent service experience and the many relationships she has forged both at the state and local level will give her leverage to start serving the residents of the district in Harrisburg.

“As someone who was born and raised in the district, I have the pulse of the constituents and know that they need a strong voice in Harrisburg,” Kerle said in a statement. “Northwest Pennsylvania – particularly Clarion and Armstrong Counties – are at a crossroads. We need to attract new businesses to the area to expand our local tax base, provide quality family sustaining jobs to keep and retain our local workforce, and most importantly, we need to help keep tax dollars out of Harrisburg and instead keep them in the taxpayer pockets.”

A supporter of the pro-life movement and the Second Amendment, Kerle also serves as President of New Bethlehem Borough Council and also currently as President of the New Bethlehem Water Authority.

“Pennsylvanians want to get to work, and businesses want to start new projects but often are stymied by government red tape, permit requirements, and our tax structure,” Kerle noted.

“Making changes in those areas and really prioritizing our manufacturing sector, we can help move Pennsylvania forward.”

She resides in New Bethlehem and has two children: Jennifer, 24, and Tanner, 22.

The 63rd Legislative District includes all of Clarion County and parts of Armstrong County, including Parker City, the townships of Boggs, Bradys Bend, Cowanshannock, Hovey, Kittanning, Madison, Mahoning, Perry, Pine, Plumcreek, Rayburn, Redbank, Sugarcreek, Valley, Washington, Wayne and West Franklin, and the boroughs of Atwood, Dayton, Elderton, Kittanning, Rural Valley, South Bethlehem and Worthington.