Former Middleport mayor running for 123rd District
PHOTO COURTESY / JOHN LESHKO - John Leshko
By Kaylee Lindenmuth | [email protected]
MIDDLEPORT – A Middleport man, the former mayor of that borough, is running for for the seat in the state house which represents most of northern Schuylkill County, including Shenandoah.
John Leshko, 40, of Middleport, is seeking the Republican nomination to become state representative in the 123rd Legislative District, which covers the majority of the Sentinel’s coverage area, including Shenandoah, Ashland, Mahanoy City, Girardville, Gilberton, Frackville, Delano Township, West Mahanoy Township, Butler Township, and Gordon.
According to a media release sent to the Sentinel Sunday night, Leshko served as mayor of Middleport for most of the 2010s, being appointed to the seat in 2011 and then winning the 2013 and 2017 general elections.
“As mayor, he was proud to work with a council who values the youth of the community and brought police service to an under-served community,” the media release says.
Leshko, a 1997 graduate of Minersville Area and a 2002 graduate of Penn State, “made it a point to come back to Schuylkill County, where he found a successful and rewarding career in retail management,” the release adds. He serves as a project manager for a Fortune 500 company, the release says.
“As a champion of change in his professional position, Leshko has successfully created a new brand for his employer,” the release says.
Speaking of his campaign platform, Leshko says in the release, “If you believe your voice matters, as much as I do, then make the choice to vote for change. Not for a politician, but for a taxpayer, a parent, a concerned citizen. It’s time we agree that local politics is not about parties, it’s not about how much money you have, or who your friends are. It’s about the future, jobs, and taxes that aren’t coming back from Harrisburg. It’s about drug addiction, under-serviced demographics, and frankly, human decency.”
Leshko is the son of Linda Leshko, of Millersburg, Dauphin County, and the late John C. Leshko of Minersville. He currently resides in Middleport with his wife Amanda and four children, Avery, Johnny, Cameron, and Reese. He is a member of the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in New Philadelphia.
Leshko is the second candidate to throw their hat in the ring for the 123rd District seat, which will be vacated next election when current representative, democrat Neal Goodman, of Mahanoy City, retires. Former Mrs. T’s executive Tim Twardzik, of Englewood, announced Thursday that he would seek the Republican nomination as well.
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