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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Democratic state Rep. Gerald Mullery narrowly defeated Republican Justin Behrens on Tuesday to win his fifth term in the state House of Representatives, representing the 119th Legislative District.</p><p>According to unofficial results, Mullery garnered 10,220 votes, or about 52.5 percent, to 9,191 tallies for Behrens. The challenger, 40, is from Wright Township.</p><p>&#8220;This was an extremely difficult race,&#8221; said Mullery, 48, of Newport Township. &#8220;I&#8217;m very happy that the people of the 119th District had their voices heard, as opposed to Harrisburg special interests that spent almost $300,000 to try to buy this seat.&#8221;</p><p>Mullery said he will return to work Wednesday with the same focus he has always had &#8212; on the issues most important to his constituents.</p><p>&#8220;I will work to bring good-paying, family-sustaining jobs to our region,&#8221; Mullery said. &#8220;And I will work to restore funding to make our educational system the best it can be. And I will continue to fight for affordable health care, to protect the environment and for HB-76, which would eliminate school property taxes.&#8221;</p><p>Mullery said the 119th District has seen reclaimed mine-scarred land in Hanover Township and Nanticoke be developed, attracting employers such as Chewy.com, Adidas, and Patagonia to name a few. The companies have brought with them thousands of jobs.</p><p>&#8220;On the education front, we have helped restore $1 billion in funding cuts from the Corbett administration, $663 million increase in basic education, $90 million in special education, $115 million in early childhood education, and $30 million in career and technical education,&#8221; Mullery said. &#8220;I&#8217;ve always worked to make certain our local and state law enforcement officers have the tools and resources they need to keep our neighborhoods safe.&#8221;</p><p>Mullery said he has fought for lower taxes on multiple fronts. He is a prime sponsor of the bill to eliminate school property taxes.</p><p>&#8220;This is the most important issue facing residents in the 119th Legislative District,&#8221; Mullery said. &#8220;This is an issue I hear about on a daily basis. House Bill 76 is one of the few bills my constituents know by number and have an excellent understanding of.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Mullery </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_Gerald-Mullery-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Mullery </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>119th Legislative District</strong></p><p>Includes: Dennison Township, Foster Township, Freeland, Hanover Township (Ward 06), Hazle Township (Districts 02, 03, 04, 05), Jeddo, Larksville, Nanticoke, Newport Township, Nuangola, Plymouth, Plymouth Township, Rice Township, Slocum Township, Sugar Notch, Warrior Run, West Hazleton, White Haven, Wright Township.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Mullery claims narrow win in Pa. House race