Donna Reese

Reese, 61, of Millcreek, is a retired businesswoman and a former school director.

She was president and owner of General Exterminating for 25 years and formerly owned the Cookie Mug & Creations.

Bizzarro, Reese Pennsylvania elections

She was president and owner of General Exterminating for 25 years and formerly owned the Cookie Mug & Creations.

Reese attended Penn State Behrend and served on the Millcreek Township School Board from 2014 to March 2018.

She unsuccessfully ran for Millcreek Township supervisor in 2011.

Hello, and thank you for being here.
I’m Donna Reese, a retired small business owner, mom, and proud grandmother running to represent you in Harrisburg. I firmly believe that elected officials are STILL public servants and should act accordingly.

Donna Reese for PA General Assembly – District 3

Donna Reese is from Millcreek. She attended Penn State Behrend and is a mother and grandmother.

Bizzarro, Reese to contend for 3rd Dist. state House seat in November

Reese, 61, of Millcreek, is a retired businesswoman and a former school director.

She was president and owner of General Exterminating for 25 years and formerly owned the Cookie Mug & Creations.

Reese attended Penn State Behrend and served on the Millcreek Township School Board from 2014 to March 2018.

What changes, if any, would you support to enable better access, ensure security, and support the processes of our elections?
I worked as the Election Integrity Director for Erie County in 2024. There were countless problems with mail-in ballots. The ballots were not received by many that had since went to their winter homes in Florida as well as kids all across the country attending colleges out of Erie. It was an actual fiasco.

Voter Guide: Pennsylvania State Representative District 3

Donna Reese is a retired businesswoman. She was president and owner of General Exterminating for 25 years and formerly owned the Cookie Mug & Creations. She also worked as Election Integrity Director for Erie County.

Pennsylvania State Representative District 3 - VOTE411.org

Donna Reese is a retired businesswoman. She was president and owner of an exterminating business for 25 years and formerly owned a cookie business. She has also worked as Election Integrity Director for Erie County.

Reese attended Penn State Behrend and served on the Millcreek Township School Board from 2014 to March 2018.

She unsuccessfully ran for Millcreek Township supervisor in 2011.

Donna served on the Millcreek Township School Board from 2014 to March 2018. She unsuccessfully ran for Millcreek Township supervisor in 2011.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

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?
There have been years where the State budget has been delayed months forcing some organizations to take loans just to make payroll. I served on the school board during one of those budget delays and it causes many problems. I also like zero-base budgeting where you start at zero each year and don't automatically fund programs without providing reconciliation of how funds had been used and justification for any new spending. We need to hold people accountable on how they spend the money. This will reduce waste if evaluated annually. Cut costs before adding any new ones just as we do in our own homes and businesses.

Property taxes are one of those concerns. Relief cannot simply be something candidates talk about during election season. Homeowners, especially seniors and people living on fixed incomes, need relief from rising property taxes. During my time on the Millcreek School Board, I often talked about the difference between “wants” and “needs.” Government should operate the same way households and businesses do: meet the needs first, scrutinize the wants, and explain where taxpayers’ money is going.

Reese runs on business experience, conservative priorities | Opinion - AOL

The same scrutiny should apply to state spending. I want agencies and lawmakers to identify duplicate services, review large contracts, use competitive bidding when appropriate, and measure whether programs are producing the results taxpayers were promised. I also support examining Pennsylvania’s gasoline tax and whether it can be reduced while still meeting transportation obligations.

7️⃣ SHOULD PENNSYLVANIA’S GAS TAX BE REPEALED?

My answer: YES.

While the gas tax was originally enacted under a Republican governor, Democrat governors and a Democrat-controlled House have also failed to address the issue for years.

Current House Republicans have proposed a temporary gas tax holiday beginning June 1 to help families struggling with rising costs. I believe Pennsylvanians deserve relief.

PA Voter Guide Q&A | Donna Reese for PA

5️⃣ SHOULD PENNSYLVANIA INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE?

My answer: CAREFULLY AND RESPONSIBLY.

Minimum wage should have seen gradual increases over time. However, forcing an immediate jump from $7.25 to $15 while small businesses are already struggling could seriously harm mom-and-pop employers.

Many employers have already voluntarily raised wages since COVID to attract workers back into the workforce.

I also strongly encourage students who are not college-bound to take advantage of technical education and trade programs that can lead to higher-paying careers immediately after graduation.

9️⃣ SHOULD INCREASES IN STATE GOVERNMENT SPENDING BE LIMITED TO THE RATE OF INFLATION PLUS POPULATION GROWTH?

My answer: YES.

Pennsylvania is currently facing proposed budgets where spending exceeds revenue by billions of dollars. Government should operate responsibly just like families and businesses must.

You cannot continuously spend more than you take in without consequences. We need serious accountability, spending oversight, and stronger checks and balances.

Supports requiring agencies to justify all spending each year.

Supports relief from rising property taxes, particularly for seniors and people with fixed incomes.

Wants state agencies and lawmakers to identify duplicate services, review major contracts, and use competitive bidding when appropriate.

Supports repealing Pennsylvania's gas tax to provide residents relief from rising costs.

Supports gradual, responsible minimum-wage increases but opposes an immediate increase from $7.25 to $15.

Supports limiting state spending growth to inflation plus population growth.

- Supports requiring agencies to justify all spending each year.
- Supports relief from rising property taxes, particularly for seniors and people with fixed incomes.
- Wants state agencies and lawmakers to identify duplicate services, review major contracts, and use competitive bidding when appropriate.
- Supports repealing Pennsylvania's gas tax to provide residents relief from rising costs.
- Supports gradual, responsible minimum-wage increases but opposes an immediate increase from $7.25 to $15.
- Supports limiting state spending growth to inflation plus population growth.

Economy

The current law allows for elective abortion up to six months. I am not in favor of this.

1️⃣ SHOULD ELECTIVE ABORTIONS BE PAID FOR BY TAXPAYERS?

My answer: NO.

The key word is “elective.” Birth control is widely available, and we should be doing more to promote responsible family planning and preventing unwanted pregnancies in the first place rather than relying on abortion as a substitute for effective prevention.

8️⃣ SHOULD TAXPAYERS PAY FOR SURGICAL PROCEDURES, PUBERTY BLOCKERS, OR CROSS-SEX HORMONES FOR MINORS?

My answer: HARD NO.

The key word is “minors.” Children and teenagers are still developing emotionally and mentally. I have seen too many stories of young people later expressing regret after undergoing irreversible medical procedures.

Children should not make permanent life-altering medical decisions before adulthood.

Opposes Pennsylvania law allowing elective abortion up to six months.

Opposes taxpayer funding for elective abortions.

Opposes taxpayer funding for surgeries, puberty blockers, or cross-sex hormones for minors.

- Opposes Pennsylvania law allowing elective abortion up to six months.
- Opposes taxpayer funding for elective abortions.
- Opposes taxpayer funding for surgeries, puberty blockers, or cross-sex hormones for minors.

Healthcare

6️⃣ SHOULD PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOLS POST CURRICULUM ONLINE FOR PARENTS AND TAXPAYERS TO REVIEW?

My answer: YES.

As both a parent and former school board member, I believe curriculum transparency is extremely important. Parents and taxpayers deserve easy access to the educational materials being used in public schools.

🔟 SHOULD PENNSYLVANIA PARTICIPATE IN THE EDUCATIONAL CHOICE FOR CHILDREN ACT TAX CREDIT PROGRAM?

My answer: YES.

Children should not be limited educationally because of their zip code. As a former school board member, I support school choice because competition often drives improvement.

Parents should have options to pursue the best educational opportunities possible for their children.

3️⃣ SHOULD PUBLIC SCHOOLS ALLOW BIOLOGICAL MALES WHO IDENTIFY AS FEMALE TO COMPETE IN GIRLS SPORTS?

My answer: HARD NO.

As the mother of boys and grandmother of two granddaughters, I believe girls deserve fair competition. Biological differences matter in athletics. My granddaughters are petite but excellent athletes, and they should not be forced to compete against biological males.

I also believe parents should take mental health concerns seriously and ensure children receive proper support and counseling when struggling with identity issues.

FIGHTING FOR PARENTAL RIGHTS

The State should not have more rights over children than parents have. Currently there are debates and proposed legislation that would allow public schools to advance transgender and classroom instruction on gender identity without parental knowledge or permissions.

Some Issues | Donna Reese for PA

Supports requiring public schools to post curriculum online for parents and taxpayers.

Supports Pennsylvania participating in the Educational Choice for Children Act tax-credit program.

Opposes allowing transgender girls to compete in girls' public-school sports.

Opposes school instruction on gender identity without parents' knowledge or permission.

- Supports requiring public schools to post curriculum online for parents and taxpayers.
- Supports Pennsylvania participating in the Educational Choice for Children Act tax-credit program.
- Opposes allowing transgender girls to compete in girls' public-school sports.
- Opposes school instruction on gender identity without parents' knowledge or permission.

Education

I also believe Pennsylvania must take a serious look at energy policy. Families and businesses are dealing with high utility costs. My approach would be to encourage responsible development of Pennsylvania’s energy resources while maintaining safety and environmental standards. I believe energy production can be part of a broader strategy to create jobs, strengthen the tax base, attract investment, and give young people more reasons to build their futures here.

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)?
Data centers are going to be a necessity in the future. While they will provide jobs, we cannot jeopardize the current living situations of people already established in the community. We need to have laws overseeing it, but not to the point that local jurisdictions have no say. We cannot risk of using too much water in areas that water is in unlimited supply. Pennsylvania needs to be very cautious in where Data Centers are placed, and that would require laws to be in place before this happens.

Supports developing Pennsylvania energy resources while maintaining safety and environmental standards.

Supports state oversight of data-center impacts while preserving local authority over siting decisions.

- Supports developing Pennsylvania energy resources while maintaining safety and environmental standards.
- Supports state oversight of data-center impacts while preserving local authority over siting decisions.

Energy & the Environment

Public safety matters to me, too. I believe sentences should mean something, especially for serious violent crimes. I do not support expanding parole eligibility simply to reduce prison populations when someone has been sentenced to life without parole for murder.

4️⃣ SHOULD MARIJUANA BE LEGALIZED FOR COMMERCIAL RECREATIONAL USE?

My answer: NO.

At one point I was open-minded about legalization, but after seeing data from states where it has been implemented — especially increased impaired driving incidents — I no longer support recreational commercialization.

Opposes expanding parole eligibility to reduce prison populations for people sentenced to life without parole for murder.

Opposes legalizing marijuana for commercial recreational use.

- Opposes expanding parole eligibility to reduce prison populations for people sentenced to life without parole for murder.
- Opposes legalizing marijuana for commercial recreational use.

Public Safety

What changes, if any, would you support to enable better access, ensure security, and support the processes of our elections?
I worked as the Election Integrity Director for Erie County in 2024. There were countless problems with mail-in ballots. The ballots were not received by many that had since went to their winter homes in Florida as well as kids all across the country attending colleges out of Erie. It was an actual fiasco. I also had reports of people putting them into ballot boxes at the courthouse, yet they were never registered as received. I was witness to one voter who received two ballots in the mail. The envelope were both in his name, but when he opened them, one ballot belonged to another voter. We need to go back to one day voting, ID, on paper ballots with exceptions for disabled, military, college and those with winter homes out of state.

2️⃣ SHOULD ALL VOTERS BE REQUIRED TO SHOW IDENTIFICATION BEFORE VOTING?

My answer: ABSOLUTELY.

Identification is required for nearly everything in life today. Voting should not be exempt. Voter ID laws help strengthen election integrity and increase confidence in our elections for everyone.

Hold myself and fellow elected officials accountable to the taxpayers. Will propose that for every day the budget goes past the deadline without being balanced and passed, that paychecks are discontinued until it passes, with no back pay.
Will propose term limits. Public service should not be a career.

I believe we can disagree without being disagreeable—and that real progress happens when we work together.

Wants one-day paper-ballot voting with identification, with exceptions for disabled, military, college, and out-of-state winter-home voters.

Supports requiring all voters to show identification before voting.

Plans to propose term limits for elected officials.

Plans to stop legislators' pay during state budget delays, without back pay.

- Wants one-day paper-ballot voting with identification, with exceptions for disabled, military, college, and out-of-state winter-home voters.
- Supports requiring all voters to show identification before voting.
- Plans to propose term limits for elected officials.
- Plans to stop legislators' pay during state budget delays, without back pay.

Voting & Elections

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Donna Reese

- Supports repealing Pennsylvania's gas tax to provide residents relief from rising costs.
- Supports gradual, responsible minimum-wage increases but opposes an immediate increase from $7.25 to $15.
- Supports limiting state spending growth to inflation plus population growth.

- Opposes taxpayer funding for elective abortions.
- Opposes taxpayer funding for surgeries, puberty blockers, or cross-sex hormones for minors.

- Opposes legalizing marijuana for commercial recreational use.

- Supports requiring all voters to show identification before voting.
- Plans to propose term limits for elected officials.
- Plans to stop legislators' pay during state budget delays, without back pay.

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- 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. 
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- They are elected to two-year terms and have a salary of $106,000, with a 1-3% annual increase

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