As released by the Mike Regan for Senate Committee

CARROLL TOWNSHIP, PA (August 27) – State Representative Mike Regan officially announced today that he will be a candidate for State Senate District 31 in 2016. He is honored to have respected community leaders Wayne Pecht of Cumberland County and Frank Sourbeer of York County serving as Co-Chairs of his committee.

Regan has always dedicated his career to public service, and protecting families and taxpayers. He served our country and Commonwealth as the U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and as Deputy Inspector General of Pennsylvania, and is now serving residents in Cumberland and York counties as State Representative.

“I grew up in Cumberland County, graduated from Cedar Cliff High School, and started my own family in Camp Hill,” Regan said. “It was there that I learned the principles and values that have guided my entire life. I am committed to being a strong leader in the Senate and will continue to focus on the priorities of working families, retirees, and all of the citizens of Cumberland and York counties.”

Regan is a proven fiscal conservative who believes in the importance of family, and service to country and community. Regan has held the line on taxes and has only voted for balanced budgets that protected taxpayers. He is a member of the Speaker’s Task Force on Pension Reform and has focused on protecting current workers while creating a 401(k) - like retirement system for all new hires that is more in line with the private sector.

“The pension issue has impacted every level of government across Pennsylvania and our country,” Regan said. “I take my task force responsibilities very seriously, and understand that we need to have the courage to fix this issue for our generation and the next.”

Elected to the House of Representatives in 2012, Regan represents portions of Cumberland and York counties in the House, where he has led on reform and has worked to protect taxpayers and our families. His legislation to increase penalties for luring a child was signed into law last session. Regan also authored legislation, which has passed the House, to deny welfare benefits to persons convicted of drug distribution crimes and non-compliant Megan’s Law registrants. His bills are designed to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in the welfare system so that help is provided to those citizens most in need.

From an early age, Regan wanted to be in law enforcement. He went on to serve as a member of the United States Marshals Service within the U.S. Department of Justice. He started his career as a Deputy U.S. Marshal, where he was known for his integrity, intelligence, and attention to detail – qualities that have served him well in the State House.

In 2002, Regan was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the United States Senate to be the U.S. Marshal for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. During his tenure, his office increased felony fugitive arrests by 300% and received the highest audit program review score of any of the 94 districts across the country. This review focused on all aspects of operations, including financial, management, and investigative practices. In 2012, Regan was awarded the U.S. Marshals Distinguished Service Medal for his dedicated service to our country.

“When I was growing up, I had a passion for law enforcement,” Regan said. “To this day, my mom remembers me talking about wanting to be a police officer. Serving as the U.S. Marshal allowed me the opportunity to protect families, fight to defend the Constitution, and help reduce the presence of drugs and violence in our communities. I take those experiences to Harrisburg every day while I continue fighting for the families I represent in Cumberland and York counties in the legislature.”

In 2011, Regan became the Deputy Inspector General of Pennsylvania. There, his mission was to prevent, investigate, and eradicate waste, fraud, and abuse in state agencies and the Department of Public Welfare. During his service, he saw firsthand how government can and needs to become more efficient and effective with our tax dollars.

“At the heart of protecting taxpayers is ensuring fiscal discipline at every level of government and reforming how business is done in Harrisburg,” Regan said. “I have never taken per diems, held the line on taxes, and am helping bring greater openness and transparency to government so that we know how our hard-earned money is being spent. In the Senate, I’ll continue the fight to reform state government and protect our tax dollars.”

Regan was raised in Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County, and graduated from Cedar Cliff High School, where he was recently inducted into their Hall of Fame for public service. He and his wife, Fran, are raising their four children, Shea, Brooke, Ty, and Chase, in Carroll Township. Over the years, Regan has always found time to share countless hours with his children and other children in the region as a wrestling, football and soccer coach.