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Tom Applebach

D
Quick Facts
Personal Details

Education

  • MPA, Public Administration, Kutztown University, 2017
  • BGS, Political Science, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1991

Professional Experience

  • MPA, Public Administration, Kutztown University, 2017
  • BGS, Political Science, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1991
  • Director, Lehigh County Office of Veterans Affairs, 2014-present
  • Former Civil Affairs Specialist, 358th Civil Affairs Brigade, Norristown, United States Army Reserve
  • Civil Affairs Lead Instructor, 98th Training Division, United States Army Reserves
  • Former Sewage Facilities Planner, DelVal Soil and Environmental Consultants, Incorporated
  • Former Correspondent, Doylestown Intelligencer
  • Former Zoning Officer, Milford Township, Bucks County
  • Former Correspondent, Morning Call
  • Former Reporter, Quakertown Free Press
  • Fomer Water Purification Specialist, Sellersville Armory, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
  • Former Weather Observer; Forecaster, United States Air Force
  • Former Civil Affairs Specialist, 350th Civil Affairs Brigade, Operation Iraqi Freedom, United States Army, 2004-2005

Political Experience

  • MPA, Public Administration, Kutztown University, 2017
  • BGS, Political Science, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1991
  • Director, Lehigh County Office of Veterans Affairs, 2014-present
  • Former Civil Affairs Specialist, 358th Civil Affairs Brigade, Norristown, United States Army Reserve
  • Civil Affairs Lead Instructor, 98th Training Division, United States Army Reserves
  • Former Sewage Facilities Planner, DelVal Soil and Environmental Consultants, Incorporated
  • Former Correspondent, Doylestown Intelligencer
  • Former Zoning Officer, Milford Township, Bucks County
  • Former Correspondent, Morning Call
  • Former Reporter, Quakertown Free Press
  • Fomer Water Purification Specialist, Sellersville Armory, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
  • Former Weather Observer; Forecaster, United States Air Force
  • Former Civil Affairs Specialist, 350th Civil Affairs Brigade, Operation Iraqi Freedom, United States Army, 2004-2005
  • Candidate, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 134, 2018

Religious, Civic, and other Memberships

  • MPA, Public Administration, Kutztown University, 2017
  • BGS, Political Science, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1991
  • Director, Lehigh County Office of Veterans Affairs, 2014-present
  • Former Civil Affairs Specialist, 358th Civil Affairs Brigade, Norristown, United States Army Reserve
  • Civil Affairs Lead Instructor, 98th Training Division, United States Army Reserves
  • Former Sewage Facilities Planner, DelVal Soil and Environmental Consultants, Incorporated
  • Former Correspondent, Doylestown Intelligencer
  • Former Zoning Officer, Milford Township, Bucks County
  • Former Correspondent, Morning Call
  • Former Reporter, Quakertown Free Press
  • Fomer Water Purification Specialist, Sellersville Armory, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
  • Former Weather Observer; Forecaster, United States Air Force
  • Former Civil Affairs Specialist, 350th Civil Affairs Brigade, Operation Iraqi Freedom, United States Army, 2004-2005
  • Candidate, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 134, 2018
  • Founder; Chair, Lehigh Valley Homeless Veteran Task Force, 2015-present
  • Member, Advisory Council on Veterans Services, Governor Wolf
  • Member, Lehigh County District Attorney’s Veteran Mentoring Program
  • Lifetime Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars

Other Info

— Awards:

  • 2017 Veteran Services Alumni Spirit Award from Kutztown University

Policy Positions

Pennsylvania State Legislative Election 2018 Political Courage Test

Abortion & Reproductive

1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice

2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes

3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Budget, Spending, & Tax

Budget Stabilization:

Indicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Pennsylvania's budget.

1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No

2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- No

3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No

4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Campaign Finance & Government Reform

1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes

2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- No

3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes

4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No

5. Do you support allowing early voting in Pennsylvania?
- Yes

6. Do you support reducing the size of the Pennsylvania General Assembly?
- No

7. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Crime & Public Safety

1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No

2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- Yes

3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- Yes

4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No

5. Should school safety meetings be made available to the public?
- No

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Economic

1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes

2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No

3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- Yes

4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes

5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No

6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Pennsylvania?
- Yes

7. Do you support increasing state funding for road repairs?
- Yes

8. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Education

1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Pennsylvania?
- Yes

2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- No

3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Pennsylvania high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- Yes

4. Do you support providing virtual charter school alternatives to all K-12 students?
- No

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Environment & Energy

1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes

2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes

3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Gun

1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes

2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes

3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- No

4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- Yes

5. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Health

1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes

2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Pennsylvania's health care programs?
- Yes

3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- No

4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- Yes

5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- Yes

6. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Social

1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Pennsylvania's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Pennsylvania's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes

3. Do you support greater efforts by Pennsylvania state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- Yes

4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer

Legislative Priorities

In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- 1. Reforming the school property tax system2. Protecting our public schools3. Ensuring access to health care for all