The Gist
State Representative, 123rd District
Photo of John Deatrich
John DeatrichCampaign photo — Schuylkill County Democrats (schuylkilldems.com)

John Deatrich

Candidate for State Representative, 123rd District

Democratic

Background

Occupation
Career and technical education teacher (Berks Career and Technology Center)
Lives in
Palo Alto, Schuylkill County
Campaign website
deatrichforstaterep.com

Mayor of Palo Alto Borough, where he has held elected office for about two decades, previously as finance committee chair and council president. A career and technical education teacher since 2002, now at Berks Career and Technology Center, he has served as president and chief negotiator of his local PSEA union.

Report

Photo: Campaign photo — Schuylkill County Democrats (schuylkilldems.com)

Documented positions

Public safety

Housing

Economy & jobs

  • Calls for a proactive approach to data centers, weighing their pros and cons for the area.

    Issues | John Deatrich

    Campaign website · Committee to Elect John Deatrich · Data Centers · deatrichforstaterep.com

    “If elected, John's priorities will include being proactive not reactive to data centers.”
    John Deatrich Announces Candidacy for 123rd District State House Seat

    News coverage · Skook News · Feb 4, 2026 · Policy Priorities · skooknews.com

    “his priorities would include addressing the impact of data centers”
    Report

Roads & infrastructure

  • Supports road-repair funding that reflects added commercial truck traffic from new warehouses.

    Issues | John Deatrich

    Campaign website · Committee to Elect John Deatrich · Infrastructure Repair · deatrichforstaterep.com

    “Allocated funding for road repair does not reflect additional commercial traffic since the construction of warehouses in this district.”
    Report

Environment & parks

  • Backed opponents of continued truck hauling of leachate from the BRADS landfill near St. Clair.

    At a September 2026 DEP hearing on the landfill's request to keep trucking leachate to a sewage treatment plant, Deatrich, as Palo Alto mayor, spoke in support of the opponents.

    Trucking leachate from BRADS landfill too much to bear, St. Clair resident charges

    News coverage · Republican & Herald (via Yahoo News) · Sep 16, 2026 · yahoo.com

    “Palo Alto Mayor John Deatrich lent his support to opponents of the BRADS petition.”
    Report

Health & human services

  • Proposes child care aid for working parents above the poverty line, tied to hours worked.

    His campaign calls for before- and after-school child care assistance for working parents who earn above the poverty line, with more hours worked earning more child care credit and assistance.

    Issues | John Deatrich

    Campaign website · Committee to Elect John Deatrich · Child Care Reform · deatrichforstaterep.com

    “day care assistance for working parents earning a wage above the poverty line. More hours worked earns more childcare credit and assistance.”
    Report

Other issues in this race

Other candidates in this race addressed these topics. We found no documented position from John Deatrich on them.

  • Taxes & budgetNo documented position found.
  • Government & transparencyNo documented position found.

All sources (8)

Positions are summarized from the sources listed and are not inferred from party affiliation. Items marked “Provided by” were published by the candidate's verified campaign or party office under our campaign content standards. See something wrong? Use the Report link beside it, or contact us.