I’m Rick Telesz, a lifelong resident of Lawrence County and a proud owner of Telesz Farms. I am running as a Democrat for the 8th District House of Representatives, covering Butler and Lawrence Counties, with a steadfast commitment to putting families first and strengthening our community from the ground up.

Rick Telesz for State Representative

Party: Democratic Party
Place of residence:  Volant, Lawrence County
Education: Wilmington Area Public High School; three years at Penn State University
Current occupation: Retired dairy farmer, current grain farmer

Pa. State House 8th District election: Bernstine v. Telesz | 90.5 WESA

Rick Telesz is a lifelong resident of Lawrence County. He attended Wilmington Area Public High School and spent three years at Penn State University. Rick lives in Volant, Lawrence County.

Rick Telesz — Donate via ActBlue

Rick currently works as a grain farmer and previously worked as a dairy farmer.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

There have been a number of legislative proposals that would increase revenue for the state, including marijuana legalization, a tax on digital advertisements, and the legalization/taxation of “skill games.” Which, if any, of these do you favor, and why?
I support legalizing and taxing marijuana, with the revenue dedicated to public schools. I also support taxing skill games, provided the revenue is used for meaningful property tax relief. Any legalization or taxation of skill games should include strong consumer protections, clear regulation, and enforcement to prevent misuse. I would evaluate a tax on digital advertising carefully to ensure it does not disproportionately burden small businesses.

Overall, new revenue should have a clearly defined purpose and directly benefit Pennsylvania families and communities.

What is the biggest LOCAL concern your district has that hasn't been met by action in Harrisburg, and what would you do about it if elected?
Our district’s biggest local concern is affordability, especially because wages have not kept pace with rising costs. The recently passed [by the House] minimum-wage increase is a good start, but it needs to go further. If elected, I would fight for wages tied to the cost of living, stronger support for working families, and policies that reduce the costs of housing, childcare, and healthcare. Working people should be able to afford a decent life without having to work multiple jobs just to get by.

Supports taxing skill games for property-tax relief, with consumer protections, clear regulation, and enforcement against misuse.

Supports a higher minimum wage and tying wages to the cost of living.

Plans to evaluate a digital-advertising tax for its potential effect on small businesses.

- Supports taxing skill games for property-tax relief, with consumer protections, clear regulation, and enforcement against misuse.
- Supports a higher minimum wage and tying wages to the cost of living.
- Plans to evaluate a digital-advertising tax for its potential effect on small businesses.

Economy

Control of state government has been divided for years. Assuming your party doesn’t win a “trifecta” by winning both chambers of the legislature and the governor’s office, what’s an important piece of legislation you could see working with the other party to pass? Conversely, if your party does win a trifecta, what should its top legislative priority be?
If government remains divided, I would work with both parties to pass bipartisan affordability legislation, including a fairer minimum wage, expanded access to quality, affordable health care, meaningful property tax relief, and investments to address healthcare deserts. We should also pursue education funding reform that reduces Pennsylvania’s reliance on local property taxes.

Control of state government has been divided for years. Assuming your party doesn’t win a “trifecta” by winning both chambers of the legislature and the governor’s office, what’s an important piece of legislation you could see working with the other party to pass? Conversely, if your party does win a trifecta, what should its top legislative priority be?
If government remains divided, I would work with both parties to pass bipartisan affordability legislation, including a fairer minimum wage, expanded access to quality, affordable health care, meaningful property tax relief, and investments to address healthcare deserts. We should also pursue education funding reform that reduces Pennsylvania’s reliance on local property taxes.

If Democrats win a trifecta, my top priorities would be enacting a constitutional, sustainable school funding system and expanding affordable healthcare access, especially in underserved communities. I would also support a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United to restore transparency and ensure working families, not wealthy donors or corporations, have an equal voice.

Plans to pursue bipartisan legislation expanding affordable health care and investing in areas with limited health care access.

- Plans to pursue bipartisan legislation expanding affordable health care and investing in areas with limited health care access.

Healthcare

Supporters of private schools have urged the state to expand a tax break that allows businesses to deduct contributions they make to those schools. Critics say private schools should provide more details about tuition costs and the family income of students that benefit from such support. Where do you fall on these questions, and on how the state should fund grade-school education generally?
We need a fairer way to fund grade-school education. Reliance on property taxes burdens retirees and homeowners when property values rise faster than incomes. Pennsylvania should increase and equalize the state’s share of basic education funding so opportunities do not depend on local property wealth. Any tax-credit program must protect public school funding and require transparency about tuition, finances, and aggregated student and family income data while safeguarding privacy.

The goal is high-quality public schools, relief for homeowners and renters, and a stable, progressive, constitutionally fair system.

Supports legalizing and taxing marijuana, with revenue dedicated to public schools.

Supports increasing and equalizing the state share of basic education funding so opportunities do not depend on local property wealth.

Supports requiring tax-credit programs to protect public-school funding and disclose financial and aggregated information about student income while safeguarding privacy.

- Supports legalizing and taxing marijuana, with revenue dedicated to public schools.
- Supports increasing and equalizing the state share of basic education funding so opportunities do not depend on local property wealth.
- Supports requiring tax-credit programs to protect public-school funding and disclose financial and aggregated information about student income while safeguarding privacy.

Education

The growth of data centers has attracted controversy across the state, yet lawmakers have so far struggled to devise legislation to address it. Are there legislative measures you support to address data center concerns, such as local or statewide construction moratoriums or efforts to require more transparency/limit resource use by the centers?
Data centers cannot be allowed to grow without meaningful regulation. While they may bring investment and some jobs, lawmakers must address their impact on employment, energy use, water consumption, electricity costs, and local infrastructure. I support requiring transparency about projected resource use, environmental effects, tax incentives, and infrastructure costs.

Data centers cannot be allowed to grow without meaningful regulation. While they may bring investment and some jobs, lawmakers must address their impact on employment, energy use, water consumption, electricity costs, and local infrastructure. I support requiring transparency about projected resource use, environmental effects, tax incentives, and infrastructure costs.

Communities should have a meaningful voice, including the ability to impose temporary moratoriums when necessary. Data centers should also pay their fair share, meet strong environmental standards, and provide local hiring and workforce development commitments. Innovation should not come at the expense of residents, workers, or the environment.

Supports regulating data centers through disclosures about resource use, environmental standards, local authority to impose temporary moratoriums, financial obligations, and local hiring commitments.

- Supports regulating data centers through disclosures about resource use, environmental standards, local authority to impose temporary moratoriums, financial obligations, and local hiring commitments.

Energy & the Environment

Telesz said he opposes automated license plate readers, considering them a privacy concern.

“We don’t need them, period,” he said. “Why do they need to track your movement 24/7?”

Candidates for 8th state House District elections weigh in on key issues – Butler Eagle

Opposes automated license plate readers because of privacy concerns.

- Opposes automated license plate readers because of privacy concerns.

Public Safety

Motivated by the events of the 2020 Election and the Capitol riot, I stand firmly against any attack on our voting rights. I prioritize honesty and integrity and make decisions based on what’s truly best for Lawrence and Butler Counties—not politics.

Harrisburg, PA – U.S. Term Limits (USTL), the leader in the national, non-partisan movement to limit terms for elected officials, is gathering support from state lawmakers across the nation. Its mission is to get 34 states to apply for an amendment proposal convention specific to term limits on Congress. 2026 Pennsylvania state house candidate, Rick Telesz (district 8), has committed support for term limits on Congress by signing the term limits convention pledge. Previously, Representative Aaron Bernstine signed the pledge.

The U.S. Term Limits pledge is provided to candidates and members of state legislatures. It reads, “I pledge that, as a member of the state legislature, I will cosponsor, vote for, and defend the resolution applying for an Article V convention for the sole purpose of enacting term limits on Congress.”

Rick Telesz Pledges to Support Congressional Term Limits

If Democrats win a trifecta, my top priorities would be enacting a constitutional, sustainable school funding system and expanding affordable healthcare access, especially in underserved communities. I would also support a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United to restore transparency and ensure working families, not wealthy donors or corporations, have an equal voice.

Pledges to cosponsor, vote for, and defend an Article V convention resolution on congressional term limits.

Supports a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, which he says would restore transparency and equal political voice.

- Opposes attacks on voting rights.
- Pledges to cosponsor, vote for, and defend an Article V convention resolution on congressional term limits.
- Supports a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, which he says would restore transparency and equal political voice.

Voting & Elections

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Rick Telesz

- Supports a higher minimum wage and tying wages to the cost of living.
- Plans to evaluate a digital-advertising tax for its potential effect on small businesses.

- Supports a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, which he says would restore transparency and equal political voice.

Party: Democratic Party
Place of residence:  Volant, Lawrence County

Education: Wilmington Area Public High School; three years at Penn State University

Current occupation: Retired dairy farmer, current grain farmer

Rick Telesz attended Wilmington Area Public High School and Penn State University for three years. He lives in Volant, Lawrence County.

Our district’s biggest local concern is affordability, especially because wages have not kept pace with rising costs. The recently passed [by the House] minimum-wage increase is a good start, but it needs to go further. If elected, I would fight for wages tied to the cost of living, stronger support for working families, and policies that reduce the costs of housing, childcare, and healthcare. Working people should be able to afford a decent life without having to work multiple jobs just to get by.

Our district’s biggest local concern is affordability, especially because wages have not kept pace with rising costs. The recently passed [by the House] minimum-wage increase is a good start, but it needs to go further. If elected, I would fight for wages tied to the cost of living, stronger support for working families, and policies that reduce the costs of housing, childcare, and healthcare.

Supports taxing and regulating skill games, with revenue used for property-tax relief and consumer protections.

Advocates for wages tied to the cost of living and policies reducing housing, child care, and health care costs.

- Advocates for wages tied to the cost of living and policies reducing housing, child care, and health care costs.

Control of state government has been divided for years. Assuming your party doesn’t win a “trifecta” by winning both chambers of the legislature and the governor’s office, what’s an important piece of legislation you could see working with the other party to pass? Conversely, if your party does win a trifecta, what should its top legislative priority be?

If government remains divided, I would work with both parties to pass bipartisan affordability legislation, including a fairer minimum wage, expanded access to quality, affordable health care, meaningful property tax relief, and investments to address healthcare deserts. We should also pursue education funding reform that reduces Pennsylvania’s reliance on local property taxes.

There have been a number of legislative proposals that would increase revenue for the state, including marijuana legalization, a tax on digital advertisements, and the legalization/taxation of “skill games.” Which, if any, of these do you favor, and why?

I support legalizing and taxing marijuana, with the revenue dedicated to public schools. I also support taxing skill games, provided the revenue is used for meaningful property tax relief.

Plans to pursue bipartisan legislation expanding access to quality, affordable health care and investing in efforts to address areas with limited access to health care.

- Plans to pursue bipartisan legislation expanding access to quality, affordable health care and investing in efforts to address areas with limited access to health care.
- Supports legalizing and taxing marijuana, with revenue dedicated to public schools.

We need a fairer way to fund grade-school education. Reliance on property taxes burdens retirees and homeowners when property values rise faster than incomes. Pennsylvania should increase and equalize the state’s share of basic education funding so opportunities do not depend on local property wealth. Any tax-credit program must protect public school funding and require transparency about tuition, finances, and aggregated student and family income data while safeguarding privacy.

Supports requiring tax-credit programs to protect public-school funding and disclose tuition and financial information, as well as aggregated student and family income data, while protecting privacy.

- Supports increasing and equalizing the state share of basic education funding so opportunities do not depend on local property wealth.
- Supports requiring tax-credit programs to protect public-school funding and disclose tuition and financial information, as well as aggregated student and family income data, while protecting privacy.

Supports transparency, environmental standards, local hiring commitments, and giving communities authority to temporarily pause data-center development.

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

Pledges to cosponsor, vote for, and defend an Article V convention resolution to enact congressional term limits.

Supports a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United to restore campaign-finance transparency and equal political voice.

- Supports a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United to restore campaign-finance transparency and equal political voice.

Edward Krutsch

Buket Urgen

Aaron Bernstine

- 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