## Rooted in Our Community

Born in East Stroudsburg and raised in Pike County, earned her Bachelor's from East Stroudsburg University, and a resident of Monroe County for more than 20 years, Danica has dedicated her career to hospitality, small business, and community service.

Danica Hartenfels for State Representative

Danica’s first job after high school was with PennDOT in Pike County as a flagger and office assistant while working her way through college. She graduated from East Stroudsburg University in 1997 with a degree in Hospitality Management and has called Monroe County home since 2004, raising her family in Smithfield Township.

Meet Danica | Danica for State Representative

Beyond her professional and civic achievements, Danica is most proud of her family. Danica's children attended ESASD. Danica is also the proud mom of a daughter who is a dual-sport athlete at Kean University in Union, NJ. Her son proudly works for the 911 Control Center in Monroe County, and his wife works for Middle Smithfield Township.

Danica is known not only for her business leadership but also for her dedication to community service. She serves with:

* Meals on Wheels
* Family Promise (Board Director)
* Labor of Love Basketball League

Danica Hartenfels was born in East Stroudsburg and raised in Pike County. She earned a bachelor's degree in hospitality management from East Stroudsburg University. She has a daughter and serves on the board of Family Promise.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

### Working Families First

Support childcare, fair wages, and family success.

### Support for Small Businesses

Cut red tape and create opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

What are your thoughts on the state budget process? What changes, if any, would you support so that the budget is enacted in a timely manner?
Pennsylvania’s budget process should be more transparent, more disciplined, and completed on time. The June 30 deadline exists for a reason, and families, schools, counties, and local governments should not be left waiting while Harrisburg negotiates behind closed doors.

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Pennsylvania’s budget process should be more transparent, more disciplined, and completed on time. The June 30 deadline exists for a reason, and families, schools, counties, and local governments should not be left waiting while Harrisburg negotiates behind closed doors.

I would support earlier bipartisan budget talks, firmer public deadlines, and a more open process so major spending decisions are reviewed well before the final days. We need responsible budgeting that protects taxpayers, funds core priorities, and brings more predictability to communities that depend on state support.

Supports childcare, fair wages, and family success.

Calls for reducing regulations and creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

Supports earlier bipartisan budget negotiations, public deadlines, and greater transparency in major state spending decisions.

- Supports childcare, fair wages, and family success.
- Calls for reducing regulations and creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
- Supports earlier bipartisan budget negotiations, public deadlines, and greater transparency in major state spending decisions.

Economy

As of October 16, 2026, Danica Hartenfels’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Healthcare

Putting Students and the Community First At the East Stroudsburg Area School District Feasibility Study Town Hall, Danica spoke as a community member focused on what matters most: fiscal responsibility and putting students first. She shared the importance of thoughtful decision-making that balances responsible use of taxpayer dollars while ensuring students remain the top priority. Danica believes strong schools and smart planning are essential to building a better future and strengthening our community.

News | Danica Hartenfels for State Representative

Believes school planning should prioritize students while responsibly using taxpayer dollars.

- Believes school planning should prioritize students while responsibly using taxpayer dollars.

Education

Should the state legislature enact laws concerning the impacts on water, energy, or land use from the development and operation of data centers? Would state regulation of data center development and operation interfere with the authority of municipalities to establish ordinances under the MPC (Municipal Planning Code)?
Yes, I would support statewide standards for all data centers, especially where water use, electric demand, noise studies, emergency planning, and major land impacts are involved. Proper studies must occur.

I believe the state should issue a curative amendment to properly set a true standard to aid our local municipalities. Pennsylvania’s MPC already gives municipalities authority to adopt zoning and land development ordinances, and even current proposals on data centers focus on model local ordinances and community-impact mitigation, never wiping out local control.

I would oppose a one-size-fits-all law that preempts municipalities from addressing local traffic, setbacks, noise, buffering, and compatibility with surrounding land uses.

Supports statewide data-center standards addressing water use, electricity demand, noise, emergency planning, and major land impacts.

Opposes statewide data-center rules that override municipal authority over local land-use impacts.

- Supports statewide data-center standards addressing water use, electricity demand, noise, emergency planning, and major land impacts.
- Opposes statewide data-center rules that override municipal authority over local land-use impacts.

Energy & the Environment

### Safe, Strong Communities

Protect neighborhoods and back local law enforcement.

The most pressing issues facing residents of the 189th District are affordability, infrastructure, and public safety. Families are feeling the strain of higher everyday costs, while many communities are also dealing with traffic, road concerns, and the need for reliable emergency services.

I believe these challenges should be addressed with practical, commonsense solutions, not partisan politics. That means supporting responsible economic growth, investing in roads and public safety, cutting unnecessary red tape, and making sure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.

Supports investing in public safety and backing local law enforcement.

- Supports investing in public safety and backing local law enforcement.

Public Safety

What changes, if any, would you support to enable better access, ensure security, and support the processes of our elections?
I support an election system that is accessible, secure, and trusted by the public. That means making it easier for eligible voters to cast a ballot through clear voter information, reliable polling locations, and strong support for seniors, military members, and people with disabilities.

I support an election system that is accessible, secure, and trusted by the public. That means making it easier for eligible voters to cast a ballot through clear voter information, reliable polling locations, and strong support for seniors, military members, and people with disabilities. At the same time, we should continue to strengthen chain-of-custody procedures, improve training for election workers, maintain accurate voter rolls, and ensure consistent oversight and transparency in ballot handling and counting. The goal should be simple: protect the integrity of our elections while making sure every eligible voter can participate with confidence.

At the same time, we should continue to strengthen chain-of-custody procedures, improve training for election workers, maintain accurate voter rolls, and ensure consistent oversight and transparency in ballot handling and counting. The goal should be simple: protect the integrity of our elections while making sure every eligible voter can participate with confidence. I also believe that proper ID must be shown at elections. This will help ensure confidence

Supports voter access through clear information, reliable polling locations, and assistance for seniors, military members, and people with disabilities.

Supports stronger ballot-tracking procedures, election-worker training, accurate voter rolls, and transparent ballot handling and counting.

Supports requiring voters to show identification at elections.

- Supports voter access through clear information, reliable polling locations, and assistance for seniors, military members, and people with disabilities.
- Supports stronger ballot-tracking procedures, election-worker training, accurate voter rolls, and transparent ballot handling and counting.
- Supports requiring voters to show identification at elections.

Voting & Elections

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Danica Hartenfels

- Calls for reducing regulations and creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
- Supports earlier bipartisan budget negotiations, public deadlines, and greater transparency in major state spending decisions.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

Tarah Probst

- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws, including introducing tax bills. 
- State representatives and their staff respond to constituent concerns and questions through emails, phone calls, and website announcements. 
- State representatives oversee the executive branch and can vote to overrule a veto by the Governor.  
- They are elected to two-year terms and have a salary of $106,000, with a 1-3% annual increase

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives