Jennifer Mann

Jennifer L. Mann is the current State Representative from the 132nd Legislative District in Pennsylvania. A Democrat, Mann has served as State Representative since 1998. The 132nd is entirely within the Center City and West End districts of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Personal history

A lifelong Allentown resident, Mann graduated from William Allen High School in 1987. She then graduated from Lehigh University with a B.A. in Economics and Government in 1991. [http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/House_bio.cfm?id=77]

Before entering politics, Mann owned and operated a small business that sold pagers and wireless devices.

Political career

In 1998, Mann ran for the House of Representatives, seeking the seat that was being vacated by Charlie Dent when Dent ran for the State Senate. Mann first defeated Emma Tropiano in a primary before beating Allentown City Councilman and former Lehigh County Executive David Bausch in the general election. Mann became the first Democrat to represent the 132nd since Jack Pressman in 1990. [http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/House_bio.cfm?id=77]

Mann has twice competed in elections for a different position. In 2005, she ran for the Pennsylvania State Senate in a special election, seeking to fill the vacancy created by Charlie Dent's election to Congress. Mann lost that race to then State Representative Pat Browne. In 2008, Mann sought the Democratic nomination for State Treasurer. She lost that race to Democrat Robert McCord. [http://lehighcounty.org/voter/elect.cfm?doc=elect_home.htm]

Legislative career

Mann holds numerous leadership positions within the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She serves as the Vice Chair of the Finance Committee, as well as on the Consumer Affairs, Environmental Resources & Energy, Insurance and Transportation Committees. [http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/House_bio.cfm?id=77] She also serves as the Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives. In the absence of Speaker [Dennis O'Brien] , Mann presides over the House of Representatives.

Mann's legislative efforts include writing legislation to criminalize the viewing of child pornography, improve school safety, and require more information about sexual offenders to be listed on the Megan’s Law Web site. She also sponsored legislation that protects the rights of mourners at funerals, has co-sponsored legislation to prevent gang violence, and has strongly supported the creation of a single-sales factor in Pennsylvania. Representative Mann has led efforts to increase children’s safety by writing legislation to criminalize the viewing of child pornography, improve school safety, and require more information about sexual offenders to be listed on the Megan’s Law Web site. [http://pahouse.com/mann/bio.asp]

In addition, she had a key role in enacting the law that protects the rights of mourners at funerals, has co-sponsored legislation to prevent gang violence, and has strongly supported the creation of a single-sales factor to make Pennsylvania more business-friendly. Lastly, she is a top advocate for increased public school funding and a more equitable distribution across school districts.] Lastly, she is an advocate for increased public school funding and a more equitable distribution across school districts. Mann was a sponsor of HB1067, a bill funding education programs across Pennsylvania. This bill was signed into law by Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell. [http://pahouse.com/PR/132070908.asp]

In Allentown, Mann is on the board of the Arthritis Foundation of the Lehigh Valley; Allentown Art Museum Board of Associates; Muhlenberg College Board of Associates; Cedar Crest College Board of Associates; the Education 2010 Board; Board of Directors for the Presbyterian Housing and Services Corporation and the Honorary Board of Junior Achievement of the Lehigh Valley. She serves as a government liaison for the Program for Women and Families, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence. [http://pahouse.com/mann/bio.asp]

Mann is a member of the Democratic Leadership Council Leadership Team, serving as the chairwoman of the DLC’s State Legislative Advisory Board (SLAB). She was also named to the DLC’s 100 to Watch list in 2000. She received the 2004 Athena Award from the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Women’s Council. Mann was also awarded the 2004 Woman of Distinction Award from the Girl Scout’s Great Valley Council, and was honored as the Pennsylvania Federation of Democratic Women’s 2005 Outstanding Elected Democratic Woman. [http://pahouse.com/mann/bio.asp]

References

External links

* [http://www.jennifermann.com Campaign Website]
* [http://www.pahouse.com/mann Legislative Website]