2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Robert E Smith Jr.

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Buket Urgen

Biographical Information
COUNTY
Lehigh
OCCUPATION
I currently serve as a Program Specialist for New Vitae Wellness and Recovery, where I provide care for individuals with brain injuries and intellectual disabilities.

Pennsylvania Voter Guide | Robert E. Smith Jr.

Robert E. Smith Jr. currently works as a program specialist for New Vitae Wellness and Recovery.

Pennsylvania State Representative District 22 - VOTE411.org

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Allentown City Council, 1998-2001

Allentown school Director, 2003-2019

Alternate Delegate National Convention, 2024-

Delegate, 2012-

Delegate National convention, 2008-

Alternate Delegate National Convention, 2004-

iVoterGuide Candidate Profile | Robert E. Smith Jr.

Robert served as an Allentown school director from 2003 to 2019. He previously served on Allentown City Council from 1998 to 2001.

Robert E. Smith Jr. - iVoterGuide

I support the expansion of gambling in my state.

Disagree

We have enough legal gambling, I would like to study how the money is helping people in our state before expanding existing laws.

Advocates lowering property taxes without raising sales or income taxes by increasing revenue from skill games and recreational cannabis.

What do you see as the most pressing issues facing residents of your district, and how would you address them?
Inflation and the rising cost of living are top concerns. Seniors are struggling to remain in their homes as the costs for food, medicine, and utilities outpace fixed incomes. I advocate for lowering property taxes without raising sales or income taxes by increasing state revenue through skill games and recreational cannabis.

Supports raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour.

ECONOMY

What is your position on the minimum wage?

i would support increasing minimum wage,has not gone up in 16 years.

Minimum Wage. Supports raising wage to $15 per hour.

HD-22: Tiburcio, Smith Compete for Open Allentown House Seat

Calls for using gas-tax revenue to fund public transit and directing more transit funding to Allentown than Philadelphia.

Public Transit. State should be using money from gas tax to fund public transit. Will fight to give Philadelphia less for public transit and Allentown more.

Opposes expanding legal gambling until the benefits of existing gambling revenue for Pennsylvanians are studied.

- Opposes expanding legal gambling until the benefits of existing gambling revenue for Pennsylvanians are studied.

Economy

RIGHT TO LIFE

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Strongly Agree

A lot of the tax payers are not for abortion and they shouldn't be compelled to financially support for these type of organizations.

Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

to save life of the mother.

Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.

Strongly Agree

HEALTHCARE

What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.

I would choose B option.I like to have as many options for people to choose whats best for their own economic situation. I like people to be able to pick and choose all available options and not forced to pick just one or have none at all.

The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.

Strongly Disagree

i do not think we need more government eyes on our personal health or business.

Opposes taxpayer funding for abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood.

Supports allowing elective abortion only to save the mother's life and legal protection for human life from conception until natural death.

Supports a government-funded health insurance option alongside private health insurance options.

Opposes a government database of people with ongoing medical conditions to assess treatment costs.

- Opposes taxpayer funding for abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood.
- Supports allowing elective abortion only to save the mother's life and legal protection for human life from conception until natural death.
- Supports a government-funded health insurance option alongside private health insurance options.
- Opposes a government database of people with ongoing medical conditions to assess treatment costs.

Healthcare

EDUCATION

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Strongly Agree

VALUES

Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.

Strongly Agree

Education. Supports school choice legislation, but called for the state to reinstate a policy that reimburses public schools for charter school tuition, a practice that was ended in 2011. Wants state to end overly rigid curriculum requirements.

Calls for reinstating state reimbursement to public schools for charter-school tuition.

Wants the state to end overly rigid curriculum requirements.

Supports banning transgender students from competing in sports leagues matching their gender identity.

Women’s Sports. Support bill to ban transgender students from competing in sports leagues that match their gender identity.

Supports eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving education control to states and communities.

Supports parents' right to direct their children's health and educational well-being.

- Supports eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving education control to states and communities.
- Supports parents' right to direct their children's health and educational well-being.

Education

We must also balance economic development with quality of life. Our neighborhoods are currently struggling with traffic and noise resulting from massive warehouse and data center expansions. I support zoning that protects open space and ensures that developers, rather than taxpayers, fund infrastructure upgrades for projects such as the Allentown State property.

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)?
Effective regulation requires a balance between economic development goals and protecting the local quality of life, including environmental impacts on water and air. Municipalities need to adopt well-reasoned and legally sound ordinances that align with both the MPC and the specific needs of their community.

Effective regulation requires a balance between economic development goals and protecting the local quality of life, including environmental impacts on water and air. Municipalities need to adopt well-reasoned and legally sound ordinances that align with both the MPC and the specific needs of their community.

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.

Strongly Disagree

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

Nuclear energy is the most efficient way to dealing with growing energy demands.

Supports zoning that protects open space and requires developers to fund infrastructure upgrades for their projects.

Calls for municipal data-center ordinances that balance development with impacts on water, air, and local quality of life.

Disagrees with the view that human-caused climate change is a global threat requiring urgent political action.

Said nuclear energy is the most efficient way to meet growing electricity demand.

- Supports zoning that protects open space and requires developers to fund infrastructure upgrades for their projects.
- Calls for municipal data-center ordinances that balance development with impacts on water, air, and local quality of life.
- Disagrees with the view that human-caused climate change is a global threat requiring urgent political action.
- Said nuclear energy is the most efficient way to meet growing electricity demand.

Energy & the Environment

CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.

Strongly Agree

2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

There are enough current laws on the books to protect public safety.I am a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment.

Supports government action to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.

Opposes additional gun-ownership restrictions, saying current laws sufficiently protect public safety.

- Supports government action to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
- Opposes additional gun-ownership restrictions, saying current laws sufficiently protect public safety.

Public Safety

ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

Need photo identification to drive car,same for voting.

My primary goals for the district are to: a) Enable the public to actively engage with their government. b) Ensure the safety and security of all residents. c) Support elected officials in performing their core duties effectively rather than constantly reacting to chaotic situations. To achieve this, I plan to implement regularly scheduled town halls, consistent office hours, and both in-person and virtual listening sessions. Additionally, I will establish clear timelines for responses to ensure accountability and open communication.

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?
The budget process should begin earlier and not be delayed for political purposes. I support implementing a firm deadline, similar to the law requiring school districts to have budgets in by July 1. If there is any delay, legislators should be required to remain in session until a budget is in place. Furthermore, legislative pay should be suspended until a budget is passed. Implementing these measures would ensure a much more efficient and timely process.

Opposes attempts to nationalize election administration.

Election Integrity. Does not support attempts to nationalize elections.

Supports requiring photo identification to vote.

Plans to hold regular town halls, office hours, and in-person and virtual listening sessions.

Supports a state budget deadline requiring legislators to remain in session and suspending their pay until a budget passes.

- Supports requiring photo identification to vote.
- Plans to hold regular town halls, office hours, and in-person and virtual listening sessions.
- Supports a state budget deadline requiring legislators to remain in session and suspending their pay until a budget passes.

Voting & Elections

Ce-Ce Gerlach

- 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