Mark Painter

For the American judge, see Mark P. Painter.

Mark Painter
File:MarkPainter.jpg
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 146th district
In office January 1, 2013 – January 6, 2015
Preceded by	Tom Quigley
Succeeded by	Tom Quigley
Personal details
Born	August 3, 1957
Political party	Democrat
Spouse(s)	Coleen
Children	4
Residence	Limerick Township, Pennsylvania
Alma mater	University of Pennsylvania
Religion	Lutheran
Website	[1] [official site]

Mark Painter (born August 3, 1957) was a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He represented the 146th District from 2013 until 2015. The district is located in Montgomery County, including Pottstown, Limerick Township, West Pottsgrove Township, Upper Pottsgrove Township, Lower Pottsgrove Township, Royersford and parts of New Hanover Township.

Early life

Mark Painter was born in Stowe, Pennsylvania and graduated from Pottsgrove High School in 1974. He then attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned degrees in electrical engineering and law, graduating in 1978.

After his two sons were diagnosed with autism, Painter became concerned with the lack of access to special education programs. Along with his wife, he helped organize parents of special needs children to help develop new programs for students with autism. This experience led Mark into the field of special education law, where he represented parents advocating for better services from their school districts.

From 1998 to 2012, Painter served almost four terms as tax collector for Limerick Township, until he was elected to the House. He attends St. James Lutheran Church in Limerick, where he has also taught Sunday School. He is a lifetime member of the Limerick Historical Society, and serves on the board of directors of the Royersford Free Public Library and Royersford Community Chest.

Political career

In 2010, Painter unsuccessfully ran for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 146th District against the incumbent Tom Quigley, by a margin of 56%-44%. In 2012, Painter again challenged Quigley, this time winning the seat 50.4%-49.7%. He is currently running for a second term in the 2014 elections.

While serving as a state representative, Painter has made property tax reform a priority. He was a co-sponsor of House Bill 76 to eliminate property taxes in Pennsylvania and replace them with increases in the income and sales taxes, and also voted in favor of that change. Painter has also introduced legislation to expand the property tax rebate program for seniors, including HB 2215 to allow families to deduct property taxes from their income for eligibility in the property tax rebate program, and HB 2214 to allow seniors to receive up to 15 percent of their paid property taxes back through the property tax rebate program.

He has also supported increased state funding for education as a means to lower local property taxes. Painter has introduced the Pennsylvania Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to prohibit workplace discrimination against pregnant women and women with newborn children and proposed two amendments that would add protections to the Landlord and Tenant Act for tenants who are victims of domestic violence. He has also supported increased state funding for education and opposed heavily relying on local property taxes.

Painter currently serves on the Agriculture & Rural Affairs, Human Services, Local Government, Commerce, and Policy committees.

Personal life

Painter lives in Limerick Township with his wife Coleen. They have two biological children and two foster children from Southeast Asia.