Finances
- While leading the largest Republican controlled county in PA, with a population of 550,000, Josh has sought to make it a model for good government and freedom. Under Josh’s leadership, Lancaster County has been referred to as the Florida of PA!
- While in office Josh has never raised taxes and Lancaster County government has not raised taxes in a decade. Instead, Josh and team have made government more effective and efficient.
- Lancaster County has the 3rd lowest tax rate of the 67 counties in PA and the lowest of any large county.
- Under Josh’s leadership Lancaster County went from having very little in cash reserves to the largest of amount of savings in its history.
- Lancaster County now has the lowest level of debt that it has had in 20 years.
- Under Josh’s leadership County government has received multiple bond ratings upgrades.
Fighting Crime
- Lancaster County has the 3rd lowest crime rate in PA and the lowest of any large county.
- Josh is a former prosecutor who has worked side by side with police to lock up dangerous criminals and protect the community.
- Skilled in the courtroom, for 15 years Josh has taught Trial Advocacy at the Penn State Dickinson School of Law as an adjunct instructor
- Josh is an expert in every facet of the Pennsylvania criminal Justice system, having served as a prosecutor fighting crime, Clerk of Courts reforming and improving the logistics of the court system, Chair of the Lancaster County Prison Board making the prison more effective, Chair of the Lancaster County Criminal Justice Advisory Board ensuring all criminal justice agencies are collaborating.
- As chairman of the Lancaster County Prison Board since 2016 Josh has lead efforts to reduce recidivism, make the prison safer, and is now leading the effort to replace the 1850s era prison with a modern facility that will protect our community for decades to come.
- Since 2017, Josh has served as co-chair of Lancaster County Joining Forces, the countywide anti-opioid overdose coalition that has made significant progress in making our community safer.
- Josh is the only commissioner in county history to be both endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police – who represent the cops on the street – and given an award by them for his work to support law enforcement.
- It was Josh’s questions about transparency and where drug forfeiture money was going that ultimately lead to media coverage and a corruption investigation which resulted in the discovery of $150,000 missing from the County Drug Task Force. Josh had received fierce opposition to his questions, including from some law enforcement officials - who later apologized, but he never backed down or gave an inch in his efforts to ensure transparency and good government.
Preserving What We Have
- Lancaster County is the #1 County in the nation for Farmland preservation. Josh has worked hard to ensure the long-term viability of farming, which is especially important in today’s environment of supply chain problems.
- Under Josh’s leadership, Lancaster County has made some of the biggest investments in history in forest and clean water preservation in history.
- Josh believes in being a good steward of the taxpayers’ infrastructure - Lancaster County is on track to have replaced or repaired all of its structurally deficient bridges by 2023.
Fighting For Freedom And Our Values
- Josh led Lancaster County’s reopening in May 2020 in defiance of Wolf’s unconstitutional lockdowns. Lancaster County never backed down or gave an inch despite threats and name calling by Wolf.
- While Wolf was hiding in his basement, Josh led regular news conferences and was a voice for freedom in the local, state, and national media. In contrast to Wolf, Lancaster County chose a course to successfully addressed COVID and the economy while also protecting citizens’ Constitutional rights. Lancaster County’s economic recovery plan was a model for other counties.
- Josh continues to hold the line and fight back against those who wish to turn us into a socialist country.
- Josh has been a leader in the pro-life movement in Lancaster County, opposing Planned Parenthood and supporting those who fight for innocent life.
- Josh has regularly fought back against the liberal media and called them out when misrepresenting the truth.
Understanding Leadership is About Being Part of a Team
- Josh has worked on Republican campaigns from local to presidential for many years. He worked hard with the Trump team – visiting the Trump White House four times, meeting the President and his team, having his op-ed shared by the White House social media, and collaborating with the White House staff/policy team.
- As Chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Caucus of County Commissioners, he has worked with Commissioners across PA, was an elected Delegate for the Republican National Convention, and helped lead rallies for our statewide candidates.
Securing Our Elections
- Josh has fought continuously to secure our elections. He opposed Act 77-2019 (the mail in ballot law) since conception and warned about its dangers even prior to the 2020 election.
- Josh fought against the Wolf abuses and illegal Department of State guidance, such as “vote curing.” He has been sued repeatedly by organizations like the ACLU to try to force him to lessen election security, but he has never backed down.
