Chambersburg’s Shannon Michael Jackson is the Democratic nominee challenging Republican Rep. Rob Kauffman for Pennsylvania’s 89th Legislative District. The district includes Chambersburg Borough and Greene, Hamilton and Guilford townships.
Jackson has worked in Chambersburg for more than 30 years and has been at WellSpan Health since 2001, developing software to help healthcare professionals with finances and services.
He has a master’s degree in military history and a bachelor’s in physics. In recent years, he became a certified tourism ambassador for Franklin County, sharing his love of history while promoting business growth.
Kauffman is running for re-election after being first elected to Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives in 2004. He graduated from Greencastle-Antrim High School and attended the American University School of Public Affairs in Washington.
An active community member, Kauffman is affiliated with the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, the Greene Township Lions Club and the Franklin County Farm Bureau, among others. He currently resides in Scotland, Pennsylvania, with his wife.
Jackson focuses on affordability, quality of life
In his campaign, Jackson focuses on affordability and quality of life in rural areas, inexpensive healthcare, senior protections, quality public education and supporting economic growth in the area.
To help improve quality of life, he supports raising the state minimum wage from $7.25 to $14.50 per hour. He also supports income tax relief and childcare subsidies for working families.
Jackson pledges to prevent further losses in Franklin County healthcare services and offer incentives to providers to fill existing gaps. To help low-wage earners facing higher insurance premiums, he aims to expand the Pennie Program, a state-based health marketplace.
Jackson is also a strong advocate for Franklin County’s agricultural sector and local farmers. He aims to stop farmland loss to warehouse development, keep data centers from encroaching on the area and support land restoration.
“My core principles are shaped by rural life in Franklin County and a simple belief: government should work for the people who live here, not make life harder or more expensive,” a statement on Jackson’s campaign site read.
He would also like to invest in small businesses to support economic growth in Franklin County. This includes providing resources for small businesses looking to start up in the area and helping existing local businesses grow.
“I care deeply about Chambersburg and the people of our region. As your state representative, I will listen, be honest, and work with others to get things done.”
Kauffman supports local projects, conservative values
Recently, Kauffman helped secure more than $1.6 million in grant funding for local infrastructure projects and equipment purchases. Chambersburg Borough received the largest grant, totaling $400,000.
“I will always advocate for funding for our community centers, fire companies and emergency management projects. I admire and love working with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, as they bring the community together to meet housing needs,” Kauffman said in a press release.
Kauffman also serves as Republican chairman of the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee, which oversees regulations, develops amendments and votes on legal, civil and criminal-related legislation.
He also recently introduced a bill to separate state law from federal law in response to changes to the National Firearms Act. The act originally required firearm registration and other requirements to support federal tax collection, but the tax has been reduced to $0, prompting many to question the legality of the requirements.
“Law-abiding residents should not face potential criminal liability under Pennsylvania law because of uncertainty surrounding federal requirements that may no longer be enforceable against them,” he said in a memo.
Kauffman has been recognized for upholding conservative values while representing Franklin County. He strongly believes in protecting public safety and imposing tough penalties in felony murder cases.
- Rob Kauffman Government site: repkauffman.com
- Shannon Jackson Campaign site: jacksonforpa.com
