Jerry Knowles
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP sources|date=November 2013}}
{{BLP primary sources|date=November 2020}}
}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image =
| name = Jerry Knowles
| caption =
| state_house = Pennsylvania
| district = 124th
| term_start = May 19, 2009
| term_end = November 30, 2022
| predecessor = Dave Argall
| successor = Jamie Barton
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|7|30}}
| birth_place = Coaldale, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| alma_mater =
| occupation =
| spouse = Lorraine
| children =
| residence = Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| religion =
| website =
}}
Jerome P. Knowles (born July 30, 1948) is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 124th legislative district.{{Cite web|title=Jerry P. Knowles|url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=1193&body=H|access-date=2020-11-06|website=Pennsylvania General Assembly|language=en}}
Knowles was first elected in a special election in May 2009 to fill the vacancy left by Dave Argall, who was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate to succeed the late Senator James J. Rhoades. He defeated his Democratic opponent, Bill Mackey, with more than 70% of the vote.
Career
Prior to his election to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, Knowles served as councilman and mayor of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania and later a Schuylkill County commissioner.
Knowles sat on the Judiciary and Local Government committees.{{Cite web|title=Representative Jerry Knowles|url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/House_bio.cfm?id=1193|access-date=2022-01-27|website=The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.|language=English}} He announced in February 2022 that he would not seek re-election. He was succeeded by businessman Jamie Barton.
=Political positions=
Knowles opposes legalizing adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania, calling it a "dangerous and illegal drug". He also opposes lessening the criminal penalties of cannabis possession.{{cite web|last=Knowles|first=Jerry|date=2019-09-26|title=Wolf's Call to Legalize Marijuana is Wrong, Says Knowles|url=http://www.repknowles.com/News/14823/Press-Releases/Wolf’s-Call-to-Legalize-Marijuana-is-Wrong,-Says-Knowles|access-date=2020-11-05|website=PA State Rep. Jerry Knowles}} In addition, he introduced a bill that would eliminate state funding to municipalities that support or operate safe injection sites for drug users.{{Cite web|title=Bill Information - House Bill 2054; Regular Session 2019-2020|url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2019&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=2054|access-date=2020-11-06|website=Pennsylvania General Assembly|language=en}}
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Knowles put out a statement advocating for his constituents to stay vigilant{{cite web |last1=Heffley |title=Carbon County Moving to 'Yellow' Phase, But Residents Must Remain Vigilant, Say Heffley, Yudichak, Knowles |url=http://www.repknowles.com/News/17386/Press-Releases/Carbon-County-Moving-to-%E2%80%98Yellow%E2%80%99-Phase,-But-Residents-Must-Remain-Vigilant,-Say-Heffley,-Yudichak,-Knowles}} he voted to end the Governor's emergency stay-at-home order{{Cite web|title=House Roll Calls - 2019 RCS# 1406|url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/RC/Public/rc_view_action2.cfm?sess_yr=2019&sess_ind=0&rc_body=H&rc_nbr=1406|access-date=2020-11-06|website=Pennsylvania General Assembly|language=en}} and pushed for the governor to ease restrictions on his county.{{cite web|last1=Knowles|first1=Jerry|date=2020-05-13|title=Schuylkill County Delegation Issues Statement On Remaining 'Red'|url=http://www.repknowles.com/News/17352/Latest-News/Schuylkill-County-Delegation-Issues-Statement-On-Remaining-%E2%80%98Red%E2%80%99-|access-date=2020-11-05|website=repknowles.com}} As public schools began to consider reopening for in-person classes, Knowles began soliciting co-sponsors for legislation that would roll back mandatory mask wearing in schools for young children, which he believed was an impractical mandate and a decision that should be made by individuals and schools.{{Cite web|date=2020-07-10|title=HB2814 Sponsorship Memorandum|url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20190&cosponId=32098|access-date=2020-11-06|website=Pennsylvania General Assembly.|language=en}}
In March 2020, Knowles yelled at one of two openly gay lawmakers in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, calling him a "little girl" as he was speaking on the floor wearing a rainbow mask.{{Cite web|last=Browning|first=Bil|date=2020-05-29|title=Out lawmaker called a "little girl" by Republican as he gave a speech on the House floor|url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2020/05/lawmaker-called-little-girl-republican-gave-speech-house-floor/|access-date=2020-11-06|website=LGBTQ Nation}} In 2018, he signed onto a letter asking to eliminate LGBTQ+ inclusive birth certificates. The letter asked that Pennsylvania resume issuing birth certificates with the parents listed under a "mother/father" section, instead of the current "parent/parent" section.
Campaigns
Knowles did not face a Democratic challenger in a general election. In the 2020 election, Knowles was challenged by Taylor Picone, an officer of the U.S. Army National Guard. Knoweles defeated Picone significantly, receiving 72.5% of the vote.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?id=1193 Official website] at Pennsylvania House of Representatives
{{Pennsylvania House of Representatives}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knowles, Jerry}}
Category:Mayors of places in Pennsylvania
Category:People from Tamaqua, Pennsylvania
Category:Republican Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly