Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

NEWPORT TWP. — Gerald Mullery won a fourth term in the state House of Representatives Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Justin Behrens.

According to unofficial results, Mullery, 46, of Newport Township, received 10,747 votes to 7,015 votes for Behrens, a U.S. Army veteran and director of a social work forensic team.

Mullery gave a victory speech at 9:45 p.m. to supporters gathered at Uncle Bucks BBQ in Plymouth.

“I’m humbled by folks placing faith in me,” Mullery said to a Times Leader reporter after his speech. “I’m going to work my tail off to keep up my end of the bargain.”

Mullery – whose legislative district includes Glen Lyon, named the most distressed area in the commonwealth by Economic Innovation Group, a Washington, D.C. think tank, as well as Plymouth Township, which recently exited Act 47 “distressed” status – stated during his campaign he wants to try to “repair and restore our region.”

Wright Township resident Behrens, 38, spent days going through neighborhoods in his quest to beat Mullery. He spent Election Day at the polls, talking to voters.

“People said they remembered me from door-knocking,” said Behrens, who awaited the election returns at The Other Side in Freeland. “I’m humbled by people who have come out to vote for me.”

No matter the final results of the election, Behrens said, he hopes Pennsylvania will move “in the right direction.”

Mullery said he intends during the next two years to continue focusing on the “key issues that I’ve been focusing on the past six years,” including property tax reform, bringing jobs to his district, and correctly funding public education.

The victor said he wants to keep job-placing projects moving forward in his district and favors lowering Pennsylvania’s corporate income tax rate, which is 9.9 percent.

During his time in the House, Mullery has broken party ranks several times, most notably this year to help pass the state budget. “I could not ignore what I felt were worthwhile gains,” he said about crossing party lines during the budget impasse.

The Democrat noted it was a winning day for the Mullerys. Two of his daughters play field hockey for Holy Redeemer High School in Wilkes-Barre, and the team won the first round of the state playoffs in Hershey. “It’s a successful day,” he said.

When former representative John Yudichak, a Democrat from Plymouth Township, decided to run for state Senate in 2010, Mullery successfully vied for the seat against Republican Rick Arnold, now a Rice Township supervisor, and Libertarian Brian Bergman. Mullery defeated Arnold a second time in 2012, and in a lopsided primary victory in 2014 he beat Tony Bonomo to go onto the general election uncontested.

State Rep. Gerald Mullery, left, chats with longtime friend Dave Hornlein and his family at Uncle Bucks BBQ in Plymouth Tuesday night.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Mullery_1.jpg.optimal.jpgState Rep. Gerald Mullery, left, chats with longtime friend Dave Hornlein and his family at Uncle Bucks BBQ in Plymouth Tuesday night. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

State Rep. Gerald Mullery, right, gives an update on election returns in Plymouth Tuesday night.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Mullery_2.jpg.optimal.jpgState Rep. Gerald Mullery, right, gives an update on election returns in Plymouth Tuesday night. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

By Melanie Mizenko

[email protected]

Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko