John Zugarek
John Zugarek (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Pennsylvania State Senate to represent District 29. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Zugarek completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
John Zugarek was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Crestwood High School. He attended Lehigh University, earned a bachelor's degree from Wilkes University, and a graduate degree from East Stroudsburg University. His career experience includes working as an instructor of History at Northampton Community College, Luzerne County Community College, and Marywood University. He has been affiliated with the White Haven Lions Club and Action Together NEPA.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Pennsylvania State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 29
Incumbent David Argall defeated John Zugarek and Timothy Henning in the general election for Pennsylvania State Senate District 29 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | David Argall (R) | 75.2 | 68,067 |
 | John Zugarek (D)  | 21.6 | 19,564 | |
 | Timothy Henning (L) | 3.2 | 2,926 | |
| Total votes: 90,557 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Eddie Wenrich (L)
- Eddie Wenrich (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 29
John Zugarek advanced from the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 29 on April 23, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Zugarek | 98.9 | 11,898 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.1 | 131 | ||
| Total votes: 12,029 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 29
Incumbent David Argall advanced from the Republican primary for Pennsylvania State Senate District 29 on April 23, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | David Argall | 99.0 | 22,220 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 1.0 | 230 | ||
| Total votes: 22,450 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Zugarek in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
John Zugarek completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Zugarek's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
I have spent the vast majority of my life in Northeastern Pennsylvania, growing up in Mountain Top and graduating from Crestwood High School. Among the first in my family to attend college, I attended Luzerne County Community College before transferring to Wilkes University, where I graduated with a history degree. I then earned my master’s degree in History from East Stroudsburg University before attending Lehigh University. Always enthusiastic about sharing knowledge, I work as an instructor of History at Northampton Community College, Luzerne County Community College, and Marywood University. Helping others has always been one of my core values, which I believe is reflected in my role as an educator, my favorite historical figures, and my volunteer and community work. I give back to my community as a member of the White Haven Borough Council, co-chair of the Stop the I-80 Tolling Task Force, and as President of the White Haven Lions Club.
I have been married to my wife Denise for nearly 14 years, and we are devoted to our dog, Wookie. I am an avid fan of baseball, football, and music and am a supporter of local sports teams, including the SWB RailRiders and the WBS Penguins.
- Over the past five years, I have seen the struggles of local communities in providing essential services, including emergency services, amid rising costs and a shortage of volunteers. We need to ensure essential services are sustainable in our small communities.
- As an educator, I am extremely concerned about the recent court ruling deeming the current education funding system unconstitutional. Funding for education has been a long running issue in the state. It’s time that we step up and make sure that we adequately fund our schools, but also use this as an opportunity to help reduce or eliminate property taxes. I believe that zip code should not determine success, and that our public school system needs to work for all students. I believe that a variety of funding sources could be used to help fund our schools in a more equitable way and take the pressure of overtaxed property owners, especially seniors.
- My commitment to addressing pressing issues is underscored by a belief in people-powered politics. While recognizing the influence of money in the current political climate, I firmly assert that the power of genuine conversations and listening to constituents’ concerns can make a significant impact. I believe in a politics that prioritizes the voices and votes of citizens over financial resources.
I have seen many good departments close their doors due to the rapidly increasing costs of emergency services. This strain on neighboring departments to pick up the slack often leads to a domino effect of closings. PA’s legislature is one of our country's most expensive, least productive legislatures. We need to work across the aisle to provide basic services, fully fund our schools, and improve our infrastructure to provide safe communities in which people can grow and succeed. To begin, the grant process often favors high-income communities and needs reforming by rotating awards based on need. We need to guarantee access to local healthcare for all communities because in many emergencies every minute counts.
I look up to historical figures like Teddy Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. They were both greater leaders that had a moral compass, something we could use today.
Understanding and compassion, I believe these are things we need today. We need to think of where someone else is coming from and not just about ourselves.
The first big event that I can remember was the Challenger Disaster in 1986. I was 7, and I remember watching it in school because of the teacher in space aboard. I will never forget the explosion and my teacher shutting the TV off immediately and not wanting to talk about what happened.
The first job I had was when I was 12, I put the flag up in the morning and took it down at night at the Veterans Honor Roll across the street from my house. I had this job for about 5 years until I was replaced by a light. I also pumped gas from the time I was 16 through college.
I believe the ideal relationship between the governor and legislature is one of respect. Our system is one of shared power, and both sides need to respect the role of the other for us to move forward in the best interests of the citizens of our commonwealth.
Pennsylvania faces many challenges, including adequate education funding, assistance to emergency services, and infrastructure. The greatest of all challenges will be working together to solve these issues. We can do it, and we can improve our commonwealth for generations to come.
I think I t’s important to have the experience and understanding of how government works and how to collaborate with others to solve problems in your community while being responsible for managing a budget and making it work for everyone. Governance is more than just rhetoric; it’s about results.
It is absolutely vital to build respectful relationships with fellow legislators. Anyone that goes into public service is an ally in improving the quality of our communities. We may disagree on how, but if we agree on the goal, we can achieve a solution.
I have the utmost respect for legislatures who focus more on getting the job done and less on seeking the limelight or the celebrity of the office. They let their policies and accomplishments speak for them, not their soundbites or tweets.
There is nothing more humbling than being elected to serve the public. This is something I’m very proud to have achieved several times and would love to continue to do into the future.
Recently, I have listened to women share their stories about reproductive difficulties. For many, this is deeply personal and difficult to share. Many voice their concerns about what rights woman will have in the future.
I believe that at times we need to be cautious of a governor overstepping their bounds, but I’m well aware of the fact that legislatures tend to move very slowly and in an emergency this may be counter to the needs of those affected.
Rural areas are having a harder and harder time providing fire, police, and EMS services. I would like to change the system of awarding grant funding to one that rotates awards based on equipment lifespans instead of requiring grants to be written and submitted. We all deserve to live in safe communities and we should prioritize these basic government services.
Education and Local Government would be at the top of my list due to my extensive experience in these areas. I would also love to serve on the Agricultural & Rural Affairs and Community, Economic, & Recreational Development committees.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
|
Candidate Pennsylvania State Senate District 29 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 25, 2024
