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Senator David Argall

Senator David Argall represents the 29th District (including all of Schuylkill County and parts of Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton Counties).

Senator Argall's top legislative priorities are promoting job growth, reducing the property tax burden on homeowners and revitalizing our downtowns and older industrial areas. He led the successful fight in 2010 to pass a new law to repair or demolish blighted properties. The new anti-blight law has been hailed as "a significant step forward for Pennsylvania" by the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania and newspapers across the state. Senator Argall was also instrumental in the creation of earlier "Main Street" and "Elm Street" efforts to help revitalize downtown areas and promote job growth.

Senator Argall has been a leading advocate for real property tax reform and cutting the costs of state government. In 2010, he chaired the Senate's bipartisan Government Management and Cost Study Commission, which unanimously recommended more than $400 million in savings to the taxpayer. Senator Argall has also played an active role in conservation initiatives, locally as a volunteer Scout leader and across the state as the author of the Waste Tire Recycling Act, which has been deemed "an extraordinary environmental victory." Senator Argall's legislation has helped to effectively clean up more than 33 million waste tires, or 93 percent of waste tire piles, throughout the state.

Senator Argall earned a bachelor's degree from Lycoming College and a master's degree at Penn State's Harrisburg campus. In 2006, Senator Argall earned his Ph.D. in public administration from Penn State. His doctoral dissertation reviewed the benefits and drawbacks of Pennsylvania's tax-free "Keystone Opportunity Zones" for economic development. As time permits, Dr. Argall serves as a part-time public policy instructor at Penn State.

Senator Argall serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee and as a member of the Senate Appropriations, Aging and Youth, Community, Economic and Recreational Development and Inter-Governmental Operations Committees. He serves on the Local and School Property Tax Relief Caucus and is also a member of the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee. Senator Argall serves as a member of the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania Advisory Board.

Senator Argall lives in Rush Township with his wife, Beth, and two very active terriers. Their children, AJ and Elise, are pursuing college degrees in neuroscience and international relations.