Please visit my Web site at rephickernell.com.

Born, raised and educated within the boundaries of the 98th Legislative District, Dave Hickernell is a product of the communities that he represents and serves. He is committed to standing up for the conservative views and values deeply held by the residents of those communities.

The Marietta native and lifelong Lancaster Countian is in his third term as a legislator in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, but his history with the House dates back to the early 1980s. He joined the staff of the House Republican Caucus as a legislative assistant after graduating from Elizabethtown College. Over the next 17 years, Hickernell worked in key staff positions for the caucus, including director of the House Policy Committee, executive director for the Majority Whip’s Office and, ultimately, executive assistant to the Majority Appropriations Chairman.

During Hickernell’s first term as a legislator, he saw three of his bills become law. The first piece of legislation he introduced ultimately became Act 5 of 2003, which lowered from 18 to 16 the age at which an individual can obtain a falconry permit in Pennsylvania.

Act 11 of 2003 amended the Township State Highway Law to add 2.5 miles of Colebrook Road in East Donegal Township to the state highway system.

Act 164 of 2004 updated and further defined the certification, sale and distribution of plant seed in Pennsylvania. Essentially, this law aims to ensure that seed packages contain exactly what is on the label, that the seed contained inside is reasonably free of weeds and inert matter, and that the seed will germinate at the germination rate listed on the label.

For the third consecutive legislative session, Hickernell has been appointed as a deputy whip by House Republican Whip David Argall. Deputy whips have a variety of responsibilities on the House floor, such as assisting in member head counts or helping promote certain tough issues that face the Republican Caucus. They also keep Argall informed of problems that members may have or issues that might have an effect on the legislative agenda and on the caucus as a whole.

Prior to his election to the House, Hickernell served as Lancaster County’s Clerk of Courts from January 2000 to November 2002. During his tenure in the Clerk of Courts Office, he instituted several positive reforms that made criminal court records more accessible and open to the public. Foremost among his accomplishments was resolving a long-standing problem with the disbursement of fines, which freed up $2.4 million to be put to work for taxpayers.

Hickernell has been active in his community both politically and civically. He was elected to the Republican Committee of Lancaster County as a committeeman in 1990, serving in that capacity through 1994 and again from 1996 to the present. Hickernell served as area chairman of the Elizabethtown Republican Committee from 1992 to 1994 and again from 1998 to 2000.

Hickernell is a member of the Elizabethtown Rotary Club, and he and his family are members of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Elizabethtown, where he has served in various leadership positions, including president of the church council.

A 1977 graduate of Donegal High School, Hickernell resides in West Donegal Township with his wife, Karen, and daughter, Jessica.