Rep. Aaron Kaufer - 120th
Dear Commission Members and Chairman Nordenberg, I write in opposition to the proposed changes to Rep. Aaron Kaufer's 120th legislative district. I am an alumnus of the University of Pittsburgh and The Penn State Dickinson School of Law, having been a student at Pitt during Chancellor Nordenberg's tenure. I have known Rep. Kaufer since before his election as a state representative, and have worked with him professionally for several years in my capacity as a local municipal solicitor. My office is currently the municipal solicitor for Exeter Township and Forty Fort Borough, and the zoning/planning solicitor for Exeter Borough, Luzerne County. Importantly, in my capacity as municipal solicitor for Exeter Township, I have worked closely with Rep. Kaufer for the past year on one of the most important projects currently pending in our local area - the formation of a regional police department. The new regional department, which I anticipate will be formed following the passage of ordinances in January 2022, will create a new police department for Exeter Township, Exeter Borough, West Pittston Borough, Wyoming Borough, and West Wyoming Borough. Rep. Kaufer and his staff have been instrumental in the success of this very worthwhile project. The current proposal to redraw the 120th district and place representative Kaufer's residence in Kingston with Wilkes-Barre City is illogical, impractical, and candidly, reeks of politics. Rep. Kaufer's current 120th district provides for continuity between several communities as it relates to municipal services. Aside from the aforementioned new regional police department, many of the municipalities in Rep. Kaufer's district are also members of and participate in the shared services of the West Side Council of Governments (COG). Having the same state representative for many of these joint municipal initiatives, including the West Side COG and new regional police department is critical to their continued success. Thank you for your consideration.