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State Representative, 7th District

Vote for
1
Term
2 years
Candidates
2
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state representative votes on Pennsylvania laws and the state budget in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Entirely in Mercer County: the cities of Farrell, Hermitage and Sharon; Greene, Hempfield, Lackawannock, Pymatuning, Shenango, South Pymatuning and West Salem townships; and Clark, Greenville, Jamestown, Sharpsville, West Middlesex and Wheatland boroughs.

Christopher A. Crumby-Ford

Democratic

Sharon, Mercer County

The gist

  • Supports expanding Clean Slate and expungement laws for nonviolent offenders who stay crime-free.
  • Supports 'Fair Chance' hiring rules that delay criminal background questions in the hiring process.
  • Proposes tax incentives for employers who hire reentry program graduates, and a district reentry partnership.
  • Calls for reviewing occupational licensing laws that bar people with unrelated past offenses from careers.
  • Praised the bipartisan 2026-27 state budget and pledges to push for transparent, careful spending.
  • Supports organized labor and campaigns on good-paying jobs, fair wages and safe workplaces.
  • Says he would press state labor officials over missed paychecks for Sharon Regional hospital workers.
More about Christopher
View sources (4)
  1. Supports expanding Clean Slate and expungement laws for nonviolent offenders who stay crime-free.

    Second Chances Shouldn't Be a Lifetime Sentence (campaign Facebook post)

    Candidate social media · Christopher A. Ford for State Representative District 7 · Jul 14, 2026 · Post of July 14, 2026, 'I will advocate for' list · facebook.com

    “so more nonviolent offenders who have remained crime-free can clear eligible records and compete fairly for employment”
  2. Supports 'Fair Chance' hiring rules that delay criminal background questions in the hiring process.

    Second Chances Shouldn't Be a Lifetime Sentence (campaign Facebook post)

    Candidate social media · Christopher A. Ford for State Representative District 7 · Jul 14, 2026 · facebook.com

    “delaying criminal background questions until later in the hiring process so applicants are first evaluated on their skills and qualifications”
  3. Proposes tax incentives for employers who hire reentry program graduates, and a district reentry partnership.

    Second Chances Shouldn't Be a Lifetime Sentence (campaign Facebook post)

    Candidate social media · Christopher A. Ford for State Representative District 7 · Jul 14, 2026 · facebook.com

    “Providing tax incentives for businesses that hire qualified individuals who have successfully completed reentry programs and remained crime-free. … Creating a District 7 Reentry Partnership, bringing together employers, unions, community colleges, workforce development agencies, and nonprofits”
  4. Calls for reviewing occupational licensing laws that bar people with unrelated past offenses from careers.

    Second Chances Shouldn't Be a Lifetime Sentence (campaign Facebook post)

    Candidate social media · Christopher A. Ford for State Representative District 7 · Jul 14, 2026 · facebook.com

    “review occupational licensing laws that permanently block people from entering certain careers when their past offense has no connection to the job”
  5. Praised the bipartisan 2026-27 state budget and pledges to push for transparent, careful spending.

    Statement on passage of the 2026-27 state budget (campaign Facebook post)

    Candidate social media · Christopher A. Ford for State Representative District 7 · Jul 13, 2026 · facebook.com

    “This bipartisan budget includes significant investments in public education, career and technical education, workforce development, public safety, mental health … ensure every tax dollar is spent wisely, transparently, and in ways that improve the lives of the people in Mercer County”
  6. Supports organized labor and campaigns on good-paying jobs, fair wages and safe workplaces.

    Happy Labor Day, District 7! (campaign Facebook post)

    Candidate social media · Christopher A. Ford for State Representative District 7 · Sep 7, 2026 · facebook.com

    “As a proud supporter of organized labor, I believe when workers are strong, families are strong, and communities are strong. … fighting for good-paying jobs, fair wages, safe workplaces, strong schools, affordable living”
  7. Says he would press state labor officials over missed paychecks for Sharon Regional hospital workers.

    Statement on missed paychecks for Sharon Regional employees (campaign Facebook post)

    Candidate social media · Christopher A. Ford for State Representative District 7 · Sep 12, 2026 · facebook.com

    “If I were serving in Harrisburg, I would be contacting the Pennsylvania Department of Labor”
Photo of Parke Wentling
Parke WentlingOfficial portrait — Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Parke Wentling

RepublicanIncumbent

State representative · Greenville, Mercer County

The gist

  • Names creating good-paying, family-sustaining jobs as his top legislative priority.In office
  • Advocates reducing the tax burden on working families and seniors.In office
  • Supports responsible stewardship of natural resources and preserving family farms.In office
  • Urged Penn State to keep its Shenango campus open, citing its role for students and local jobs.In office
  • Sponsored a bill (HB 2448) to exempt bicycles, e-bikes and helmets from sales tax during May.In office
  • Sponsored a bill (HB 714) letting siblings separated in custody cases petition for visitation.In office
  • Sponsored a bill (HB 1784) letting licensing boards penalize frivolous or bad-faith complaints against licensees.In office
  • Sponsored a bill (HB 2204) letting retired doctors keep performing workers' compensation impairment exams.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Parke
View sources (6)
  1. Names creating good-paying, family-sustaining jobs as his top legislative priority.

    About Parke | PA State Rep. Parke Wentling

    Government record · PA House Republican Caucus · repwentling.com

    “His top priority as a legislator is to enact policies that support the creation of good-paying, family-sustaining jobs.”
  2. Advocates reducing the tax burden on working families and seniors.

    About Parke | PA State Rep. Parke Wentling

    Government record · PA House Republican Caucus · repwentling.com

    “he strongly advocates reducing the tax burden on working families and seniors”
  3. Supports responsible stewardship of natural resources and preserving family farms.

    About Parke | PA State Rep. Parke Wentling

    Government record · PA House Republican Caucus · repwentling.com

    “responsible stewardship of Pennsylvania's natural resources and preserving family farms”
  4. Urged Penn State to keep its Shenango campus open, citing its role for students and local jobs.

    Wentling Releases Statement on Penn State Announcement Regarding Possible Satellite Campus Closures

    Public statement · Office of Rep. Parke Wentling · Feb 26, 2025 · repwentling.com

    “As a former student of the Penn State Shenango campus, I implore President Neeli Bendapudi to keep it open. … Penn State Shenango is also a key employer for multiple families across the 7th Legislative District”
  5. Sponsored a bill (HB 2448) to exempt bicycles, e-bikes and helmets from sales tax during May.

    Co-Sponsorship Memo: National Bike Month Sales Tax Holiday (HB 2448)

    Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Mar 25, 2026 · palegis.us

    “make Bicycles, E-Bikes, Helmets and other bicycle parts exempt from the state sales tax for the duration of the month of May”
  6. Sponsored a bill (HB 714) letting siblings separated in custody cases petition for visitation.

    Co-Sponsorship Memo: Sibling Visitation Rights (HB 714)

    Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Feb 21, 2025 · palegis.us

    “I am reintroducing legislation that will establish visitation rights for siblings under Pennsylvania's Child Custody statute.”
  7. Sponsored a bill (HB 1784) letting licensing boards penalize frivolous or bad-faith complaints against licensees.

    Co-Sponsorship Memo: Frivolous Complaints Against Licensed Practitioners (HB 1784)

    Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Jul 14, 2025 · palegis.us

    “impose a penalty on individuals who file complaints that are deemed frivolous, groundless, or made in bad faith against licensed professionals”
  8. Sponsored a bill (HB 2204) letting retired doctors keep performing workers' compensation impairment exams.

    Co-Sponsorship Memo: Ensuring the Availability of Physicians to Perform IREs in Workers' Compensation Claims (HB 2204)

    Government record · Pennsylvania House of Representatives · Jan 16, 2026 · palegis.us

    “My legislation will remove a requirement that physicians performing IREs maintain an active clinical practice for at least 20 hours per week.”

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