Representative Bob Freeman

Robert L. Freeman is a Democratic Representative from Pennsylvania who represents House District 136, serving Northampton County. Born in Easton, PA on March 9, 1956, Freeman is the son of the late Joyce Styers Freeman and the late Jacob B. Freeman. He resides in Easton and is married to Terri Arshan Freeman, with two stepchildren.

Education

Freeman graduated from Easton Area High School in 1975. He earned his bachelor's degree in history and political science from Moravian College, graduating magna cum laude in 1978. He later obtained his master's degree in history from Lehigh University in 1984.

Political Experience

Freeman was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1982 and served six consecutive two-year terms. He left office following an unsuccessful bid for the State Senate in 1994. From 1995 to 1998, he worked in the Senate Democratic Policy Committee as executive director and later as Democratic executive director of the Senate Local Government Committee.

Freeman returned to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1998 and has been re-elected continuously since then. During his first tenure in the House, he served as chairman of the House Select Committee on Land Use and Growth Management , which focused on improving growth management and reducing sprawl. He was instrumental in revising the Municipalities Planning Code in 2000.

One of his notable legislative achievements is authoring the Elm Street Program, designed to revitalize older residential neighborhoods. This legislation was signed into law in February 2004. Currently, Freeman serves as chairman of the House Local Government Committee and has served on multiple committees including Labor Relations, Environmental Resources and Energy, and State Government.