Eric Weaknecht

Eric Weaknecht
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 5th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 7, 2025
Preceded by	Barry Jozwiak
Sheriff of Berks County
In office January 7, 2008[1] – December 2, 2024[2]
Preceded by	Barry Jozwiak[3]
Succeeded by	Mandy Miller (acting)[4]
Personal details
Born	c. 1965 Berks County, Pennsylvania, U.S.[5]
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	Kutztown Area High School[6]

Eric J. Weaknecht[6] (born c. 1965)[3] is an American politician and former law enforcement officer who is the current representative for the 5th district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. A Republican, he assumed office in 2025. Weaknecht was previously the sheriff of Berks County, Pennsylvania, from 2008 to 2024.

Law enforcement career

Weaknecht began working as a deputy sheriff with the Sheriff's Office of Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 1984.[7] In 1996, Weaknecht was promoted to assistant chief deputy in charge of the court division. Three years later, Weaknecht became chief deputy sheriff.[1] He was elected sheriff in 2007 and was reelected four times.[7] In June 2012, Governor Tom Corbett appointed Weaknecht to the Deputy Sheriffs' Education and Training Board.[1] Governor Tom Wolf would reappoint Weaknecht to an addition two terms.[3] A month after his original appointment to the board, Weaknecht was elected secretary-treasurer of the Pennsylvania Sheriffs’ Association.[1]

Weaknecht was one of 70 American sheriffs who joined Protect America Now, a group founded by Pinal County, Arizona Sheriff Mark Lamb to push for "election integrity" following President Donald Trump's false claims of massive voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Concerns about election integrity led Weaknecht to station armed officers at ballot drop boxes during the 2020 and 2022 election.[8]

Political career

After Pennsylvania state representatives Barry Jozwiak retired in 2024, Weaknecht was elected to represent the 5th district after defeating Democratic candidate Heather Hanna in the general election.[7]

Political positions

Weaknecht opposes sanctuary city policies and red flag laws. [9] He believes Pennsylvania has enough gun laws and should focus on enforcement rather than making new laws.[10]

Electoral history

2007 Berks County sheriff election[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Eric Weaknecht	33,948	51.07
	Democratic	Mike Garipoli	32,512	48.91
	Write-in		16	0.02
Total votes			66,476	100.00

2011 Berks County sheriff election[12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Eric Weaknecht (incumbent)	34,233	65.42
	Democratic	Daniel Billings	18,077	34.55
	Write-in		15	0.03
Total votes			52,325	100.00

2015 Berks County sheriff election[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Eric Weaknecht (incumbent)	37,167	65.05
	Democratic	Lester Klock	19,954	34.93
	Write-in		12	0.02
Total votes			57,133	100.00

2019 Berks County sheriff election[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Eric Weaknecht (incumbent)	45,515	60.24
	Democratic	Bart Ganster	30,004	39.71
	Write-in		39	0.05
Total votes			75,558	100.00

2023 Berks County sheriff election[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic/Republican	Eric Weaknecht (incumbent)	72,918	99.23
	Write-in		564	0.77
Total votes			73,482	100.00

2024 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 5[16]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Eric Weaknecht	23,664	66.66
	Democratic	Heather Hanna	11,801	33.24
	Write-in		36	0.10
Total votes			35,501	100.00

References

1. "Sheriff Eric Weaknecht Bio" (PDF). Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
2. Shuey, Karen (December 3, 2024). "Longtime Berks law enforcement official sworn in as sheriff". The Mercury. Reading Eagle. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
3. Shuey, Karen (January 30, 2024). "Berks County sheriff running for state house seat in the 5th District". Reading Eagle. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
4. "Deputy to fill remainder of sheriff's term following Weaknecht's win of 5th District seat". WFMZ-TV. November 6, 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
5. "Eric Weaknecht". Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
6. "Representative Eric J. Weaknecht". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
7. Cole, John (December 16, 2024). "Agriculture/Pa. Farms Government & Politics State Rep.-elect Eric Weaknecht wants to help small businesses and the agriculture community". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
8. Ortega, Bob; Chapman, Isabelle; Devine, Curt (November 3, 2022). "Law enforcement ratchets up presence in voting process as some sheriffs push election conspiracy theories". CNN. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
9. Mekeel, David (September 23, 2021). "Berks County row office candidates make pitch for election". The Mercury. Reading Eagle. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
10. Rearden, Caitlin (November 8, 2024). "Sheriff Eric Weaknecht preparing for new role as state lawmaker". WFMZ-TV. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
11. "Muncipal Election November 6, 2007 Official Election Results Offices" (PDF). Berks County, Pennsylvania. p. 2. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
12. "NOVEMBER 8, 2011 MUNICIPAL RESULTS GRAND TOTALS CERTIFIED Offices" (PDF). Berks County, Pennsylvania. p. 2. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
13. "CERTIFIED GRAND TOTALS NOVEMBER 3, 2015 MUNICIPAL ELECTION" (PDF). Berks County, Pennsylvania. p. 3. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
14. "Summary Results Report 2019 MUNICIPAL November 5, 2019 Berks County" (PDF). Berks County, Pennsylvania. December 30, 2019. p. 4. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
15. "Summary Results Report 2023 Municipal Election November 7, 2023 Berks County" (PDF). Berks County, Pennsylvania. December 7, 2023. p. 4. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
16. "Summary Results Report 2024 General Election November 5, 2024 Berks County" (PDF). Berks County, Pennsylvania. November 22, 2024. p. 5. Retrieved 3 January 2025.