TAMAQUA - State Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, fought off a challenge from New Ringgold Borough Council President Larry Padora in Tuesday's primary election.
Knowles received 4,440 votes to Padora's 3,373 votes, which included 29 of 29 precincts in Schuylkill County and 14 of 14 precincts in Berks County.
"I'm very excited and happy," Knowles told his supporters at the Tamaqau Train Station. "It was a decisive victory and it was a hard-fought campaign. The voters had an opportunity to make their choice and I've very grateful for their votes and support."
Even though there is still the General Election ahead, there were no declared candidates on the Democratic primary ballot.
"There are going to be exciting times in the General Assembly and I'm looking forward to being a part of it," he said. "We're doing our best to represent the constituents of the 124th in Harrisburg."
Padora, spending the evening with supporters at Roman Delight restaurant in Orwigsburg, said he was proud of the campaign he ran and warned Knowles to stick to his word when he returns to the General Assembly.
"We elevated the argument in the campaign on the important issues," Padora said. "Jerry spoke of conservative values, came out about no pensions and putting the people first. We're expecting him to remember those positions."
Padora said he spent $13,000 to Knowles spending $70,000 in the campaign, with Padora stating that most of it was his own money.
"I am proud of my campaign and my supporters," Padora said. "It was a positive campaign and I stuck to my principles."
As for what he expects from Knowles, Padora said, "He spoke conservatively during the campaign, and we're going to hold Jerry's feet to the fire so that he keeps the promises that he made or the people should hold him accountable."
As for his future, Padora said, "I'm not going anywhere and will be active in the Republican party. This was my first legislative race and I'm only 38."
The 124th saw the only primary challenge in the three state districts in Schuylkill County, with Rep. Neal P. Goodman, D-123, and Mike Tobash, D-125, running unopposed in their respective races. Candidate Vicki Harman also ran unopposed in the 125th District in the Democratic primary.
Knowles is completing his first full-term as representative in Harrisburg. He was elected in a special election in 2009 to fill the vacancy left by then-state Rep. Argall, who had been elected in a special election to the state Senate to fill the vacancy left in the 29th Senatorial District after the death of Sen. James J. Rhoades. Knowles won re-election in 2010.
