Mike Folmer
{{Short description|American politician (born 1956)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Citizen Folmer.jpg
| name = Mike Folmer
| caption = undated photo, before March 2010
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|1|2|mf=y}}
| birth_place =Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| residence =Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| state = Pennsylvania
| state_senate = Pennsylvania
| district = 48th
| term_start = January 2, 2007
| term_end = September 18, 2019
| predecessor = David Brightbill
| successor = Dave Arnold
| party = Republican
| otherparty = Democratic (until sometime between 1988 and 2005)
| spouse = Sheila Folmer
| module = {{Infobox criminal
| imprisoned = Released on probation in 2021
| criminal status = Probation
| conviction = Child pornography possession and criminal communication
| apprehended = 2020
| conviction_penalty = 1–2 years in prison, 8 years probation, 15 years on state sex offender registry
}}
}}
Michael Folmer (born January 2, 1956) is an American politician and confessed sex offender. He represented the 48th district in the Pennsylvania State Senate, which includes all of Lebanon County and portions of Dauphin and York Counties, from 2007 to 2019. He is a member of the Republican Party.
In September 2019 he was arrested on child pornography charges and resigned his State Senate seat. In July 2020, Folmer was sentenced to one to two years in county jail.{{cn|date=March 2024}}
Personal life
Folmer was born and raised in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Lebanon Senior High School in 1974, he attended Grace College (in Indiana) where he majored in History and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1978. He returned to the Lebanon Valley where he worked in financial consulting and sales management.{{cite web |last1=Folmer |first1=Mike |title=Bio – Senator Mike Folmer |url=https://www.senatorfolmer.com/bio/ |website=senatorfolmer.com |access-date=September 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140318082542/https://www.senatorfolmer.com/bio/ |archive-date=March 18, 2014}}{{cite news |first=Nora|last=Shelly|title=Who is Mike Folmer? Pa. state senator arrested on child pornography charges, resigns seat |url=https://www.ldnews.com/story/news/politics/2019/09/18/mike-folmer-background-state-senator-life-career-child-pornography-arrest-lebanon-county-pa/2362700001/ |access-date=September 21, 2019 |newspaper=Lebanon Daily News |publisher=Gannett|location=Lebanon, Pennsylvania|date=September 18, 2019}} In the 1990s and early 2000s, Folmer worked in the produce industry, including his related family-owned business.
Early political career
In 1986, Folmer was elected to Lebanon City Council as a Democrat and served a single two-year term.
Folmer became a Republican sometime after his tenure on the city council. In 2005, Folmer and other local concerned citizens organized the Constitutional Organization Of Lebanon (COOL).
Pennsylvania senate
=2006 Election=
In 2006, Folmer, who was known through his campaign as "Citizen Mike", was one of several challengers whose campaigns were sparked by the state's 2005 legislative pay raise. Folmer's district was represented by 25-year incumbent Chip Brightbill, the Senate majority leader. Brightbill, along with Senate President pro tempore Robert Jubelirer took much of the criticism for the pay raise and were among the primary targets of activists seeking to vote out legislators who supported it.{{cite news |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06137/690781-179.stm |first1=Tracie |last1=Mauriello |first2=Tom |last2=Barnes |title=Republican Leaders Fall |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |publisher=Block Communications|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|date=May 17, 2006}}
His campaign's largest contributor was Bob Guzzardi,{{cite news |last=Pidgeon |first=Dave |title=Brightbill criticizes primary foe's poll |newspaper=Intelligencer Journal |publisher=Lancaster Newspapers Inc|location=Lancaster, Pennsylvania |date=March 14, 2006 |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-9275026.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102070645/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-9275026.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 2, 2012 }} however most of his funding came from small donations of individuals within his district.
On election day, Folmer overcame Brightbill's 20–1 fundraising advantage{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/18/us/18repubs.html?_r=1&oref=slogin |first=Jason |last=DeParle |title=G.O.P. Conservatives Topple Veteran State Lawmakers in Pennsylvania |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York City|date=May 18, 2006}} of $1 million to $50,000 and won with over 63% of the vote.{{cite web |url=http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=20&OfficeID=12 |title=May 2006 Primary Results, Pennsylvania Department of State |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080626065506/http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=20&OfficeID=12 |archive-date=26 June 2008 }} Folmer went on to defeat Democrat John Liss in the general election with over 63% of the vote.{{cite web |url=http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=24&OfficeID=12 |title=November 2006 General Election, Pennsylvania Department of State |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529013727/http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=24&OfficeID=12 |archive-date=May 29, 2008}}
=2010 election=
In the 2010 election, Folmer was challenged by Democrat Jo Ellen Litz, one of Lebanon County's three County Commissioners. He was re-elected with over 72% of the vote.
In 2013, Folmer became the majority chair for the Pennsylvania Senate committee on education.{{cite web |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Mike_Folmer |title=Mike Folmer profile |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=November 19, 2016 }}
=2014 election=
Folmer was unopposed and won the 2014 primary and general elections with 2,359 and 12,919 votes, respectively.{{cite web |url=http://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/ENR_New/Home/CountyResults?countyName=York&ElectionID=41&ElectionType=P&IsActive=0 |title=2014 General Primary Official Returns |date=May 20, 2014 |access-date=November 19, 2016 |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of State }}{{cite web |url=http://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/ENR_New/General/CountyResults?countyName=York&ElectionID=41&ElectionType=G&IsActive=0 |title=2014 General Election Official Returns |date=November 4, 2014 |access-date=November 19, 2016 |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of State }}
In 2015, Folmer became the majority chair of the Pennsylvania Senate's State Government committee. He co-sponsored Senate Bill 3, to legalize medical marijuana in the state, which was signed into law in April 2016.{{cite news |url=https://www.tribdem.com/news/governor-signs-medical-marijuana-bill/article_754fbfc2-051c-11e6-b2a5-870e09522e84.html |title=Governor signs medical marijuana bill |date=April 18, 2016 |newspaper=The Tribune-Democrat |agency=Associated Press |access-date=July 30, 2020 }}
=2018 election=
Folmer was unopposed in the 2018 primary election, with 4,121 votes, and defeated Democrat Lois K. Herr in November's general election.{{cite web |url=https://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/Home/CountyResults?countyName=York&ElectionID=undefined&ElectionType=P&IsActive=undefined |title=2018 General Primary Returns |date=May 15, 2018 |access-date=May 19, 2018 |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of State }}
Arrest, resignation, and aftermath
On September 17, 2019, Folmer was arrested and charged with possession of child pornography, and criminal use of a communication facility. Police traced a sexually explicit image of an underage girl to Folmer's computer; Folmer had uploaded it to his Tumblr blog in December 2017. Two more such images were found on his cell phone.{{cite news |first1=Bobby |last1=Allyn |first2=Paolo |last2=Zialcita |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/09/18/761894162/pennsylvania-state-senator-arrested-on-charges-of-possessing-child-porn |title=Pennsylvania State Senator Resigns After Arrest on Child Porn Charges |website=NPR |date=September 18, 2019 |access-date=September 19, 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Couloumbis |first1=Angela |title=Pa. state senator from Lebanon County charged with possession of child pornography |url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania-senator-arrested-mike-folmer-child-pornography-possession-20190918.html |access-date=September 18, 2019 |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |publisher=The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC|location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|date=September 17, 2019}}{{cite press release|url=https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/taking-action/press-releases/ag-shapiro-charges-pa-state-senator-for-possession-of-child-pornography/
|title=AG Shapiro Charges PA State Senator for Possession of Child Pornography
|date=September 17, 2019
|website=attorneygeneral.gov
|publisher=Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
|access-date=September 17, 2019}} He was released on $25,000 bail.{{cite news |url=https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/09/former-pa-sen-folmers-hearing-on-child-porn-charges-postponed.html |title=Former Pa. Sen. Folmer's hearing on child porn charges postponed |newspaper=The Patriot-News |publisher=Gannett|location=Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|date=September 26, 2019 |first=Steve |last=Marroni |access-date=December 14, 2019 }}
Amid bipartisan calls for him to step down, Folmer resigned from office the day after his arrest.{{cite news |url=https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/pa-state-senator-mike-folmer-charged-with-child-porn-possession/Content?oid=15873067 |date=September 18, 2019 |newspaper=Pittsburgh City Paper |publisher=Eagle Media Corp.|location=Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|title=Pa. state Senator Mike Folmer resigns following child porn possession charges |first=Ryan |last=Deto |access-date=September 18, 2019 }} A week later, Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman scheduled a special election for January 14, 2020, to determine Folmer's successor,{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mike-folmer-pa-state-senate-seat-date-set-for-special-election/ar-AAHPKom |title=Mike Folmer Pa. state Senate seat: Date set for special election |date=September 25, 2019 |first1=Andrew |last1=Kulp |first2=Nora |last2=Shelly |newspaper=Lebanon Daily News |via=MSN |publisher=Advance Publications|location=Lebanon, Pennsylvania|access-date=September 26, 2019 }} which was won by Republican Lebanon County District Attorney Dave Arnold.{{cite news |url=https://local21news.com/news/local/dave-arnold-wins-48th-senatorial-district-special-election |title=Dave Arnold wins 48th Senatorial District special election |date=January 14, 2020 |publisher=WHP |access-date=February 3, 2020 }}
Folmer waived his preliminary hearing in October 2019.{{cite news |url=https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/10/lawmaker-facing-child-porn-possession-charges-waives-hearing.html |title=Mike Folmer, former central Pa. lawmaker, waives hearing on child pornography charges |date=October 18, 2019 |agency=The Associated Press|newspaper=The Patriot-News |publisher=Advance Publications|location=Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|access-date=December 14, 2019 }} In late February 2020, he pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communications facility; a sentencing hearing was scheduled for late May.{{cite news |url=https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-folmar-guilty-plea-child-porn-20200227-57qrtcezejcehnqgm64m7wa6eu-story.html |title=Former Pennsylvania state Sen. Mike Folmer pleads guilty in child porn case |newspaper=The Morning Call |agency=Associated Press |date=February 27, 2020 |access-date=February 28, 2020 }} In July 2020, Folmer was sentenced to one to two years in county jail plus eight years on probation.{{cite news |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/former-lebanon-state-sen-mike-folmer-sentenced-to-1-2-years-on-child-porn-charges/ar-BB170Ixm |title=Former Lebanon state Sen. Mike Folmer sentenced to 1-2 years on child porn charges |via=MSN |date=July 22, 2020 |first=Nora |last=Shelly |newspaper=Lebanon Daily News |access-date=July 30, 2020 }} He was placed initially at Lebanon County prison.{{cite news |url=https://lebtown.com/2020/07/21/michael-folmer-former-state-senator-sentenced-to-just-less-than-two-years-on-child-porn-charges-avoids-state-prison/ |title=Michael Folmer, former state senator, sentenced to just less than two years on child porn charges, avoids state prison |date=July 21, 2020 |first=Chris |last=Coyle |website=LebTown |access-date=July 30, 2020 }}
Parole was approved in June 2021 and Folmer was released from prison in July 2021 to serve his probation and remain registered as a sex offender for 15 years.{{cite news |url=https://www.pennlive.com/crime/2021/07/former-pa-senator-mike-folmer-is-out-of-prison-but-must-still-register-as-a-sex-offender.html |title=Former Pa. Senator Mike Folmer is out of prison, but must keep registering as a sex offender |date=July 22, 2021 |newspaper=The Patriot-News |first=Matt |last=Miller |access-date=March 19, 2023 }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20190831045522/http://www.senatorfolmer.com/ State Senator Mike Folmer], archive of official PA Senate website
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20111004040526/http://www.citizenmike.com/ Mike Folmer – Citizen for State Senate], archive of campaign website
- {{C-SPAN|114235}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-pa-sen}}
{{succession box | before=David Brightbill | title= Member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 48th District | years=2007–2019 | after=Dave Arnold}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Folmer, Mike}}
Category:American people convicted of child pornography offenses
Category:Pennsylvania city council members
Category:Pennsylvania politicians convicted of crimes
Category:Pennsylvania Democrats
Category:Pennsylvania Republicans
Category:Pennsylvania state senators
Category:People from Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Category:Politicians from Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
Category:American politicians convicted of sex offences
Category:Prisoners and detainees of Pennsylvania
Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly