Kauffman holds strong lead in state House race

CHAMBERSBURG - Incumbent Rep. Rob Kauffman held a strong lead in the 89th District state house race, garnering almost 70 percent of the vote within the first 2 1/2 hours of the polls closing.

Kauffman tallied 21,446 of the 29,609 votes. His lead throughout the evening had been between 65 and 70 percent to opponent Democrat Christine Tolbert's 20 to 35 percent.

Christine Tolbert runs for Rep. Kauffman's seat

Kauffman, a Deputy Republican Whip in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, was first elected to the House in 2004. He serves on the Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Consumer Affairs, Human Services, and Tourism and Recreational Development committees.

Tolbert, a retired teacher from Shippensburg, came into the election with a disadvantage since she was a political novice, a Democrat in a heavily Republican district, and an unknown who conducted mostly a door-to-door campaign throughout the district.

Tolbert's campaign was heavily weighted toward education issues and she early-on earned the endorsement of the Pennsylvania State Education Association on the basis of her stand for a more heavily state funded educational system.

Opponent: Rep. Kauffman eats on the taxpayers' dime

She had said early in the campaign that she was aware the campaign would be a challenge as a first time candidate. In recent weeks, she attacked Kauffman's acceptance of lunch per diems when he was in Harrisburg on House business, saying she would pack her lunch rather than spend taxpayers money on buying lunch in the Capitol cafeteria.

Kauffman defended his practice and called Tolbert’s lunchroom visit “a publicity stunt.”

His campaign was based on his record during his 12 years representing the 89th district in Harrisburg.

He said he has always worked to support "our Central Pennsylvania values" and his goal was to continue to do the job he has continued to be reelected to do over the years.

The 89th District includes the boroughs of Chambersburg, Shippensburg (west end) and Orrstown and the townships of Guilford, Greene, Lurgan and Southampton, Franklin County.