State of the County 2026
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State of the County Event Information
Thursday, September 17, 2026
8:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Westminster College
Witherspoon Rooms (Lakeview & Maple)
Located inside the McKelvey Campus Center.
319 S. Market St.
New Wilmington, PA 16172
State of the County Agenda
8:30 AM - Open Buffet & Registration
9:00 AM - Opening Remarks
9:30 AM - Lawrence County Commissioners
9:45 AM - State Elected Delegation
10:45 AM - Closing Remarks
11:00 AM - Conclusion
Speakers
Senator Elder Vogel
47th Senatorial District
Since 2009, Senator Elder Vogel, Jr. has represented the citizens of the 47th Senatorial District, which includes parts of Beaver, Butler, and Lawrence counties. In Harrisburg, he serves in various leadership roles which include being majority chairman of the Senate Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee as well as the vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senator Vogel is also a member of the Senate Banking & Insurance, Environmental Resources & Energy, Transportation, and Urban Affairs & Housing committees. Throughout his tenure, Senator Vogel has been the driving force behind several measures he introduced and have since been enacted into law. Among them: -Eliminating the statutory requirements for costly low Reid Vapor Pressure “Summer Gas” gasoline in seven southwestern Pennsylvania counties. -Extending the life of the First Industries Program, an initiative that focuses on saving and creating jobs in the Tourism and Agriculture sectors. -Eliminating the ability of the Department of Agriculture to cite non-profit community groups such as volunteer fire companies, churches, and school booster clubs for selling non-hazardous, home-baked food at fundraisers. -Giving school districts and school bus contractors the option to choose the most appropriate school buses based on their needs. For the last five legislative sessions, Senator Vogel has championed legislation to expand telemedicine in Pennsylvania in the effort to reduce costs and improve the level of care provided to patients, especially those living in areas currently underserved by “bricks and mortar” medical facilities. During the 2023-24 Session, his Senate Bill 739, which addressed this issue, received approval from the General Assembly and was signed into law in July 2024 as Act 42 of 2024. Additionally, he has been an advocate for legislation that would expand access to sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) across the state and ensure quality care for victims of sexual assault. Currently, his Senate Bill 414 was signed into law in Dec. 2023 as Act 59 of 2023. As a fierce advocate for the Pennsylvania’s agriculture industry and its importance to this commonwealth, Senator Vogel led the effort to enact Farming First legislation to support current farmers and ensure our agricultural heritage is handed down to future generations. He has also supported efforts to protect and bolster Pennsylvania’s horse racing industry and provide needed updates to the state Race Horse Industry Reform Act Furthermore, Senator Vogel introduced measures to alleviate the burden on motorists by exempting light passenger vehicles 10 years old or newer and alternative fuel vehicles from vehicle emissions inspections as well as eliminating outdated gasoline requirements making gasoline cheaper for western Pennsylvania motorists. Back in the district, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Lawrence County Community Action Partnership and is a member of the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce, the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce and the Butler County Chamber of Commerce; the National Rifle Association; the Beaver-Lawrence Farm Bureau; the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau; and the Big Knob Antique Tractor and Equipment Association. Recognizing his hard work and dedication, Senator Vogel has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association, the Future Farmers of America Honorary Degree, the Distinguished Service Award by Penn AG Industries and named a Guardian of Small Business by the National Federation of Independent Business for his work in the legislature. He has also received the PA Health Care Association Better Life Award, PA HIMSS Chapters Legislative Award, PA Housing Alliance Outstanding Legislator Award, and PA Rural Health Legislator of the Year Award. Prior to coming to the Senate, Senator Vogel was active in his community serving as president of the Beaver-Lawrence Farm Bureau, and up until his election served as a New Sewickley Township Supervisor. On the home front, Senator Vogel and his wife Sue continue to operate a family farm in New Sewickley Township which was established in 1873.
Senator Michele Brooks
50th Senatorial District
Sen. Michele Brooks has built a reputation as a compassionate supporter of children, senior citizens, veterans and those in need. She has also emerged as an outspoken, results-driven advocate for job growth, regulatory reform and a commonsense approach to budgeting. Brooks serves as chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and vice chair of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, as well as a member of the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, Communications and Technology, Institutional Sustainability and Innovation, Rules and Executive Nominations, and Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness committees for the 2025-26 legislative session. Brooks made history as the first woman elected to represent the area in the state House of Representatives and then again in the state Senate. Before her service in the Senate, she served eight years in the House of Representatives after gaining valuable experience as a Mercer County commissioner and a Jamestown Borough councilmember. Her work to expand and improve services for older citizens and children earned her a prestigious, statewide 50 Over 50 Award from City and State PA as one of the Keystone State’s most influential leaders. In 2018, she also earned a Capitol Caregiver Award from AARP, was awarded 2024 Guardian of Small Business, in addition to numerous “Friend of Business” Awards from the National Federation of Independent Business and a No Place Like Home Legislative Champion Award from the Pennsylvania Home Care Association. In 2022, she was honored as Legislator of the Year by the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs. Brooks has worked on a range of important state issues, including reducing regulations on farmers and businesses, phasing out the inheritance tax, lowering the Corporate Net Income Tax and promoting tax depreciation strategies to encourage investment. She has also focused on expanding fundraisers to benefit nonprofits, fire departments, veterans’ organizations and families facing tragedies. Additionally, Brooks created an HVAC grant program to improve air quality in long-term care facilities and protect patients, combated drug abuse and diversion, and maintained efforts to hold the line on sales, personal income, gas and other taxes. In her home area, Brooks has succeeded in reviving the McKeever Environmental Learning Center and Tuttle Point Campground, which are part of beloved childhood memories for many local families to keep them operating for generations to come. She also places a high priority on working personally with her constituents, helping them cut through red tape, celebrating their achievements, and ensuring that state programs and services fulfill their needs. She has worked hard to build coalitions and partnerships, achieving success through shared goals and an uncompromising work ethic.
Representative Marla Brown
9th Legislative District
“I want to give back to the community that shaped me” – Rep. Marla Brown Relying on more than 30 years of business experience in the private sector, Rep. Marla Brown was selected by the residents of the 9th Legislative District to represent them in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for a second term in 2025. She is committed to helping to grow the state’s economy, improving opportunities for employers and employees across the Commonwealth and expanding educational opportunities while respecting taxpayers. Marla will also focus on improving the openness of government, reducing the cost of health care, developing programs to keep our communities safe, prioritizing the upkeep of critical infrastructure and harnessing the potential of advanced energy economy for the benefit of residents and the future of our Commonwealth. Marla is dedicated to protecting our state and national constitutions and will advocate for state’s rights, Second Amendment and pro-life rights. She will also strive to enact policies and work with local government to support Pennsylvania’s energy economy. Marla opposes government engaging in social experiments in our schools and homes and believes that free markets make free people. Marla has been assigned to serve on the House Appropriations, Aging and Older Adult Services, Commerce, Health and State Government committees for the 2025-26 legislative session. Marla is committed to serving as a strong voice for the communities she represents in the state Legislature. Prior to being elected, Marla spent 15 years as an executive at UPS. She moved on to open a medical spa in Georgia and grew her business and brand from the ground up for nine years. She then took a position as chief executive officer with a nonprofit Catholic pro-life organization, the Pregnancy Aid Clinic, whose growth she tripled in only three years by adding locations and increasing funding for their mission. In 2018, after decades of success and rising to the top of her profession, Marla returned home to Lawrence County to be closer to family and help her community build back to its glory days. One of her main priorities is to keep our children and grandchildren from leaving the area by investing in the people and culture that make it so unique. At home, Marla is active with a range of pro-life causes, works as a fitness instructor at the local YMCA and volunteers much of her time in the community, especially with the elderly, the poor, and the sick. She is also a member of Holy Spirit Parish, where she holds a leadership position on the pastoral council. Marla resides in New Castle with her husband, Greg. She has three children, Ashlea, who is married to Taylor Doan; and sons, Zac and Ben. She also has a grandson, Henry Doan.
Representative Aaron Bernstine
8th Legislative District
Like many citizens raised in western Pennsylvania, Aaron Bernstine was instilled with the traditional values of hard work, personal integrity and community service. Elected to represent the 8th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2016, Aaron is committed to protecting those values in the state Capitol, while fighting to reduce government spending, reform Harrisburg, eliminate burdensome taxes and improve the climate for businesses. Prior to running for state representative, Aaron divided his professional time between his work for ADP in the field of human capital management, his small businesses, and the 107-acre farm where his family raises livestock. He brings his experience and understanding of small businesses and the challenges they face to Harrisburg as he fights to strengthen the state’s economy. Aaron holds a degree in business management from Penn State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh, where he serves as an adjunct professor. Aaron resides his family farm in New Beaver Borough with his wife, Ilia, and their son, Dierks.
Melanie Brewer
District Director for Representative Mike Kelly
Her passion for politics, passed on from her father, took her to serve in several roles on the local, state and national levels. She has managed campaigns, raised funds, consulted and attended every pot luck dinner from here to oblivion supporting her candidate. These candidates have included local township supervisors, city mayors, local judges, state senators, and US Congressmen. Melanie’s love of politics was surpassed by her love of her family when she decided to stay local as opposed to pursuing opportunities in Washington D.C. She then accepted an opportunity to manage senior and student housing communities for a local development company, where she was responsible for the leasing and marketing, as well as over-seeing daily operations for over 1500 apartments. It was here that she fell in love with real estate and the opportunity to assist and advocate for people buying and selling their homes. Melanie became a licensed agent and Realtor in 2012, and has helped over 200 families find or sell their home. In 2018, still loving real estate, she wanted a change in her “day job” and accepted a position with a home health care company, where she managed over 125 employees, and together, they provided nursing care to over 100 children in the Erie County area. Currently, Melanie owns and operates her own political consulting firm and continues to help Erie families buy or sell their homes, businesses or vacant land. In 2021, Melanie and her business partner, John Beuchert, launched two new companies. Away Together, which assists travelers in breaking the communication barrier and Spikesology, a platform to help engage those with a dementia diagnosis to increase independence. In her downtime, she enjoys brainstorming business ideas, serving on local boards, and traveling. Professionally, Melanie most enjoys seeing a project all the way through to its end goal.
Chairman Dan Vogler
Lawrence County Commissioner
A native of Wampum, Pennsylvania, just a stone's throw from New Castle, Vogler's roots in Lawrence County run deep. After graduating from Mohawk High School in 1977, his passion for government, history, and politics steered him towards Westminster College, drawn by its intimate class sizes and close proximity to home. Immersing himself in the academic environment at Westminster, Vogler pursued a degree in Political Science while exploring a diverse array of subjects, from mathematics and astronomy to psychology. Inspired by a spectrum of political perspectives offered by his professors, he honed his understanding of governance and public policy. After college, Vogler started his career in public service, working alongside two State Senators before being tapped by Wayne Cole, President of Pennsylvania Power Company, to serve as a lobbyist in Harrisburg. Vogler's dedication to his community led him to assume roles as a former Neshannock Township Supervisor and eventually as a Lawrence County Commissioner since 2004, where he continues to advocate for the interests of his fellow residents.
Chris Sainato
Lawrence County Commissioner
Born on May 8, 1959, in New Castle, PA, Chris Sainato has dedicated his life to public service. He began his academic journey at Mahoning School in the New Castle School District for grades 1 through 4, then continued at Union Area School District from grades 5 through 12, graduating in 1977. Chris pursued higher education at Youngstown State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a focus on Comprehensive Social Studies in 1982. Shortly thereafter, he taught in the Shenango Area School District. His career in public service began as a Congressional Aide to Congressman Joe Kolter from 1983 to 1993. In 1994, Chris was elected as a Pennsylvania State Representative, serving until 2022. During his tenure, he was appointed Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee from 2012 to 2022. In November 2023, Chris Sainato was elected as one of the Lawrence County Commissioners, continuing his commitment to serving the community and enhancing the quality of life for its residents.
Dan Kennedy
Lawrence County Commissioner
Dan Kennedy, a graduate of Neshannock High School, has been a resident of Wilmington Township for nearly 38 years. With a strong commitment to community service, Dan previously served as a Wilmington Township supervisor and the township’s director of public works. In addition to his township roles, Dan has been actively involved in various community organizations. He served on the board of directors for the New Wilmington Area Business Association and is a past chairman of the Marti Park Recreation Board. Together with his wife, Debbie Marti Kennedy, Dan has played a crucial role in obtaining grants and raising funds for Marti Park, significantly enhancing recreational opportunities for local citizens. Their efforts include the creation of a playground designed for children with disabilities, ensuring inclusive play for all.
Alex Helper
Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the PA Chamber
Alex Halper serves as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the PA Chamber and oversees public policy development, advocacy and outreach, as well as the organization’s political efforts. Halper serves on the Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Advisory Board, Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children Board of Directors, Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council, the Governing Board of the Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau, the Pennsylvania Association for Chamber Professionals Board and the Pennsylvania Association for Government Relations Board and was appointed to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Transition Advisory Committee. He regularly speaks to local chambers of commerce, trade associations and employers across the Commonwealth about key legislative issues impacting business and Pennsylvania’s overall political landscape. Alex Halper joined the PA Chamber’s Government Affairs team in 2011. He previously served as a legislative assistant in Washington, D.C. to former U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter where he worked on numerous areas of public policy, including transportation and infrastructure, homeland security and appropriations. Originally from Allentown, Halper graduated from the George Washington University in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He lives in Lower Paxton Township with his wife, two children, and their dog, Kelce.