As a strong fiscal conservative bringing the ideals of the people of Mercer and Butler counties to the state Capitol, Rep. Dick Stevenson has served the 8th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2001.
During his tenure in office, he has successfully authored five bills into law. Act 50 of 2005 honors veterans of recent military conflicts and veterans of general service with a specialized vehicle license plate, while Act 189 of 2006 allows the sale of government documents to be exempt from the state’s sales tax and Act 70 of 2007 increases the fee on bad checks. Last year, Act 103 of 2008 improves the apprenticeship process in the real estate appraisal field, and most recently, Act 9 of 2009 allows a one-year extension for the sale of non-fire safe cigarettes to help retailers.
In addition, Stevenson has championed landmark legislation to spur economic growth by reducing business taxes, creating family-sustaining jobs in Pennsylvania and limiting the amount of borrowing by state government. He continues to support legislation limiting state mandates on local governments and creating meaningful tax reform. He is also working to see that laws governing agriculture are designed to preserve that industry, which is vital to the state economy.
In his fifth term in office, Stevenson is serving on the Appropriations, Judiciary and Professional Licensure committees in the 2009-10 legislative session. He is also the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Education within the House Appropriations Committee. This session, Stevenson is also co-chairing the House Republican Policy Committee’s Infrastructure Task Force. This task force is studying various transportation issues, including roads and bridges, rail and airport infrastructure, water and sewer infrastructure, and energy infrastructure, as well as job growth and economic development.
In 2007, he was selected to serve as Director of Public Affairs on the Leadership Team of the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) where he exchanges ideas on the principles of limited government and free-market economics among policymakers, business leaders and the general public.
Prior to running for the General Assembly, Stevenson served as chairman of the Mercer County Commissioners from 1996 to 1999 and brought a business-like approach to Mercer County government. He also served as a member of the Grove City Borough Council from 1985 to 1993 and served as its president from 1988 to 1993.
Stevenson, a Certified General Appraiser, was the owner of Stevenson and Company, a real estate appraising firm, for more than 20 years. He is past president and director of the Greater Mercer County Board of Realtors, and served on the Board of Directors and as past state vice president of the Council of Pennsylvania Real Estate Appraisers. In addition, Stevenson has a long history of public service with many community organizations.
The Mercer County lawmaker served with distinction in the United States Air Force from 1968 to 1972. He was an Air Crew member in Korea and served as a Korean Language Specialist with the USAF Security Service.
Stevenson received a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Francis College in New York and a Master of Business Administration from Suffolk University in Massachusetts.
He and his wife, Sue, have two children, Sarah Hatfield and Emily Vallozzi, and three grandchildren.
The 8th Legislative District includes Brady, Center, Cherry, Clay, Concord, Fairview, Franklin, Jackson, Lancaster, Marion, Mercer, Muddy Creek and Worth townships, and Fairview, Harmony, Harrisville, Karns City, Petrolia, Portersville, Prospect, West Liberty, West Sunbury and Zelienople boroughs in Butler County, and Findley, Liberty, Pine, Springfield and Wolf Creek townships, and Grove City and Mercer boroughs in Mercer County.