John Leshko
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
John Leshko (Republican Party) ran for election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to represent District 123. He lost in the Republican primary on June 2, 2020.
Leshko completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Leshko was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He earned his B.S. in crime, law and justice from Pennsylvania State University in 2002. His professional experience includes working as a project manager for Liberty Procurement, a division of the Bed Bath and Beyond Corporation since 2006.[1]
Organizations
As of his 2020 campaign, Leshko was affiliated with the following organizations:[1]
- National Rifle Association
- Boy Scouts of America-Eagle Scout
- Holy Cross Church-New Philadelphia, PA
Elections
2020
See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 123
Tim Twardzik defeated Peter Symons Jr. in the general election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 123 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Tim Twardzik (R) | 62.6 | 15,090 |
| Peter Symons Jr. (D) | 37.4 | 9,004 | ||
| Total votes: 24,094 | |||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 123
Peter Symons Jr. advanced from the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 123 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Peter Symons Jr. | 100.0 | 4,495 | |
| Total votes: 4,495 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 123
Tim Twardzik defeated John Leshko in the Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 123 on June 2, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Tim Twardzik | 64.0 | 3,612 |
 | John Leshko | 36.0 | 2,028 | |
| Total votes: 5,640 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
John Leshko completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Leshko's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
John is a proud Eagle Scout from Troop 151 (now the New Birth of Freedom Council) of Millersburg, Pennsylvania. He is a 1997 graduate of Minersville Area High School and a 2002 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Crime, Law & Justice.
After graduation, John made it a point to come back to the county he loved where he found a successful and rewarding career in retail management. John currently works for Forutne 500 Company Liberty Procurement, a division of the Bed Bath and Beyond Corporation as a project manager.
John and his wife Amanda to settled in the town of Middleport, Pennsylvania, where they currently reside their four beautiful children, Avery, Johnny, Cameron, and Reese.
John and his family are proud and active members of Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in New Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is also still actively involved with the Scouting movement. Both of his sons, Johnny and Cameron, are members of Pack 600 of Llewellyn.
John's disposition to serve others led to his tenure as the Mayor of Middleport. He served his community starting in 2011, when he filled a vacated seat and again after winning the 2013 and 2017 general elections. As mayor, he was extremely proud to work with a borough council who valued the youth of the community and and as a result brought an official police force to an under-served community.- Combating Blight. Most of the communities in north eastern Pennsylvania have problems with blight. The 123rd district it is at epidemic levels with buildings collapsing in many of our communities. This will continue to have a negative impact on home values and communities until we implement a strategic plan to course correct. The current plan and funding is not working and we net more blighted property each year.
- Public education should be of huge concern for all of us. The youth of today will be the leaders of tomorrow. They will be the teachers, doctors, and construction workers who we will rely on to make our lives better. Pennsylvania is ranked 30 in public education, yet we are in the top 10 in spending. We need to address inequality in public education and ensure we are giving the future access to the tools to be successful. We need an equitable funding model that we all contribute to and we need to eliminate property taxes.
- Fiscal responsibility is non-existent in Harrisburg, in fact it's potentially a foreign language. "Cost over runs", "budget shortfalls", or "revenue gaps" are all excuses for not doing the job of balancing and following a budget. We need to hold elected officials and bureaucrats alike responsible for managing the money we give them. As long as we allow the government, executives, legislatures, and employees to continue to over spend they will continue to raise taxes and look for more money from the tax payer. We need to implement the Tax Payer Protection Act. We need to demand a balanced budget and we need to shrink the size of the government top to bottom.
As a father of 4 children, who currently/will attend public school, the public education system is a high priority! We absolutely need property tax reform and we need it now. But more importantly, we need to make sure education funding is equitable across ALL of our schools. Not just the school districts with the strongest tax base, but ALL of them.
Dr. Ben Carson. I look up to and would like to follow him because I believe that long-term success is the result of the effort you put in. Equal Opportunity does not correlate with equal outcome. We all have the opportunity to be great, it's how hard we are willing to work for it.
To represent their elector and not themselves. The outcomes that result from a representative's actions should be positive and noticeable to the citizens they represent.
An education system that is top in the nation. Providing all citizens with the opportunity to receive a current and in-demand education. One that will position them for long-term success in life.
"Turn Off the News" by Lucas Nelson
No. Since the formation of our government, the power has always resided in the people. The earliest representatives maintained careers outside of government. The purpose of our representatives is to be a reflection of those they serve.
A shrinking population which will equal a shrinking tax base. Pennsylvania has positioned itself to be one of the worst for economic growth. As a result, it's driving our citizens out of state for work and a more favorable tax environment.
Yes. While knocking on doors in the district, I encountered a gracious family who was willing to talk to me about jobs, education and blight. They lived in a home, 2nd in a row of 6. The first home, which attached to theirs, was abandoned, dilapidated, and the definition of blight. The father told me that they are low class people and conversations about taxes, term limits, and fiscal responsibility didn't resonate with them. I was shocked to hear anyone refer to themselves as low class. Class can not be defined by one's zip code, occupation, or bank account balance. Class is defined by how we treat each other. The circumstances this family finds themselves in as homeowners, living in a home that regretfully is attached to an abandoned piece of property is very common in our district. This interaction only exemplifies the need for a long term, strategic approach at abating blight in northeastern PA.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
Current members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Joanna McClinton
Majority Leader:Kerry Benninghoff
Minority Leader:Jesse Topper
Representatives
District 1
Patrick Harkins (D)
District 2
Robert Merski (D)
District 3
Ryan Bizzarro (D)
District 4
Jake Banta (R)
District 5
Eric Weaknecht (R)
District 6
Bradley Roae (R)
District 7
Parke Wentling (R)
District 8
Aaron Bernstine (R)
District 9
Marla Brown (R)
District 10
Amen Brown (D)
District 11
Marci Mustello (R)
District 12
District 13
John Lawrence (R)
District 14
Roman Kozak (R)
District 15
Joshua Kail (R)
District 16
Robert Matzie (D)
District 17
Tim Bonner (R)
District 18
K.C. Tomlinson (R)
District 19
Aerion Abney (D)
District 20
Emily Kinkead (D)
District 21
Lindsay Powell (D)
District 22
Joshua Siegel (D)
District 23
Dan Frankel (D)
District 24
La'Tasha Mayes (D)
District 25
Brandon Markosek (D)
District 26
Paul Friel (D)
District 27
Daniel Deasy (D)
District 28
Jeremy Shaffer (R)
District 29
Tim Brennan (D)
District 30
Arvind Venkat (D)
District 31
Perry Warren (D)
District 32
Joe McAndrew (D)
District 33
Mandy Steele (D)
District 34
District 35
Dan Goughnour (D)
District 36
Jessica Benham (D)
District 37
Mindy Fee (R)
District 38
John Inglis (D)
District 39
Andrew Kuzma (R)
District 40
Natalie Mihalek (R)
District 41
Brett Miller (R)
District 42
Dan Miller (D)
District 43
Keith Greiner (R)
District 44
Valerie Gaydos (R)
District 45
Anita Kulik (D)
District 46
Jason Ortitay (R)
District 47
Joe D'Orsie (R)
District 48
Timothy O'Neal (R)
District 49
District 50
Bud Cook (R)
District 51
District 52
Ryan Warner (R)
District 53
Steven Malagari (D)
District 54
Greg Scott (D)
District 55
Jill Cooper (R)
District 56
Brian Rasel (R)
District 57
Eric Nelson (R)
District 58
Eric Davanzo (R)
District 59
Leslie Rossi (R)
District 60
Abby Major (R)
District 61
Liz Hanbidge (D)
District 62
James Struzzi (R)
District 63
Josh Bashline (R)
District 64
R. James (R)
District 65
Kathy Rapp (R)
District 66
Brian Smith (R)
District 67
Martin Causer (R)
District 68
Clint Owlett (R)
District 69
Carl Metzgar (R)
District 70
Matthew Bradford (D)
District 71
Jim Rigby (R)
District 72
Frank Burns (D)
District 73
Dallas Kephart (R)
District 74
Dan Williams (D)
District 75
Mike Armanini (R)
District 76
District 77
Scott Conklin (D)
District 78
Jesse Topper (R)
District 79
Louis Schmitt (R)
District 80
Scott Barger (R)
District 81
Richard Irvin (R)
District 82
Paul Takac (D)
District 83
Jamie Flick (R)
District 84
Joe Hamm (R)
District 85
David Rowe (R)
District 86
Perry Stambaugh (R)
District 87
Thomas Kutz (R)
District 88
Sheryl Delozier (R)
District 89
Rob Kauffman (R)
District 90
Chad Reichard (R)
District 91
Dan Moul (R)
District 92
Marc Anderson (R)
District 93
Mike Jones (R)
District 94
Wendy Fink (R)
District 95
Carol Hill-Evans (D)
District 96
Nikki Rivera (D)
District 97
Steven Mentzer (R)
District 98
Tom Jones (R)
District 99
David Zimmerman (R)
District 100
Bryan Cutler (R)
District 101
John Schlegel (R)
District 102
Russell Diamond (R)
District 103
Nate Davidson (D)
District 104
Dave Madsen (D)
District 105
Justin Fleming (D)
District 106
Thomas Mehaffie (R)
District 107
Joanne Stehr (R)
District 108
Michael Stender (R)
District 109
Robert Leadbeter (R)
District 110
Tina Pickett (R)
District 111
Jonathan Fritz (R)
District 112
Kyle Mullins (D)
District 113
Kyle Donahue (D)
District 114
District 115
Maureen Madden (D)
District 116
Dane Watro (R)
District 117
Jamie Walsh (R)
District 118
James Haddock (D)
District 119
Alec Ryncavage (R)
District 120
Brenda Pugh (R)
District 121
Eddie Pashinski (D)
District 122
Doyle Heffley (R)
District 123
Tim Twardzik (R)
District 124
Jamie Barton (R)
District 125
Joe Kerwin (R)
District 126
Jacklyn Rusnock (D)
District 127
Manuel Guzman (D)
District 128
Mark Gillen (R)
District 129
District 130
David Maloney (R)
District 131
Milou Mackenzie (R)
District 132
District 133
Jeanne McNeill (D)
District 134
Peter Schweyer (D)
District 135
Steve Samuelson (D)
District 136
Robert Freeman (D)
District 137
Joe Emrick (R)
District 138
Ann Flood (R)
District 139
Jeff Olsommer (R)
District 140
Jim Prokopiak (D)
District 141
Tina Davis (D)
District 142
Joseph Hogan (R)
District 143
Shelby Labs (R)
District 144
Brian Munroe (D)
District 145
Craig Staats (R)
District 146
Joseph Ciresi (D)
District 147
Donna Scheuren (R)
District 148
Mary Daley (D)
District 149
Tim Briggs (D)
District 150
Joseph Webster (D)
District 151
Melissa Cerrato (D)
District 152
Nancy Guenst (D)
District 153
Ben Sanchez (D)
District 154
Napoleon Nelson (D)
District 155
District 156
District 157
District 158
Christina Sappey (D)
District 159
Carol Kazeem (D)
District 160
Craig Williams (R)
District 161
Leanne Krueger (D)
District 162
David Delloso (D)
District 163
Heather Boyd (D)
District 164
Gina Curry (D)
District 165
Jennifer O'Mara (D)
District 166
Gregory Vitali (D)
District 167
Kristine Howard (D)
District 168
Lisa Borowski (D)
District 169
Kate Klunk (R)
District 170
Martina White (R)
District 171
District 172
Sean Dougherty (D)
District 173
District 174
Ed Neilson (D)
District 175
Mary Isaacson (D)
District 176
Jack Rader (R)
District 177
District 178
Kristin Marcell (R)
District 179
Jason Dawkins (D)
District 180
Jose Giral (D)
District 181
Malcolm Kenyatta (D)
District 182
Benjamin Waxman (D)
District 183
Zachary Mako (R)
District 184
District 185
Regina Young (D)
District 186
Jordan Harris (D)
District 187
Gary Day (R)
District 188
Rick Krajewski (D)
District 189
Tarah Probst (D)
District 190
Roni Green (D)
District 191
Joanna McClinton (D)
District 192
Morgan Cephas (D)
District 193
Torren Ecker (R)
District 194
Tarik Khan (D)
District 195
Keith Harris (D)
District 196
Seth Grove (R)
District 197
Danilo Burgos (D)
District 198
Darisha Parker (D)
District 199
Barbara Gleim (R)
District 200
Christopher Rabb (D)
District 201
Andre Carroll (D)
District 202
Jared Solomon (D)
District 203
Anthony Bellmon (D)
Democratic Party (102)
Republican Party (101)
