I may be a familiar face for many of you since I represented portions of Lawrence County as a
member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. For those who don’t know me, please allow
me to take a few minutes to introduce myself.
My name is Michele Brooks – I’m running for reelection to the Pennsylvania State Senate. The
state’s redistricting process, which occurs every 10 years, changed our district, providing me the
opportunity to return to Lawrence County to serve you as your state Senator. I look forward to
continuing to work with my colleague Senator Elder Vogel, whose district has shifted to the south.
All too often, elected officials share little of their background and experiences that ultimately
shape their views. I have been and will continue to be a different kind of Senator, which is why I
wanted to take this opportunity to share a little about who I am.
I was born at Greenville Hospital and raised in Mercer County. Blessed to be one of five
children, our home was always filled with hard work and activity. My father, Donald Valesky,
worked as a lineman for the local phone company and my mother, Barbara McIntyre Valesky,
worked at JC Penney and volunteered at the hospital. With two brothers and two sisters, we
created many fond memories growing up in our small community. After our chores, our summers
were filled with baseball and Hide-and-Go Seek; our winters with sled riding and ice skating.
There were no snowsuits or snow pants, just our frozen jeans that could stand up in a corner at the
end of the night. Those were fun days. I graduated with honors from Jamestown Area High School
and married my sweetheart, Guy Brooks. We valued our way of life and our community, so we
chose to remain in northwestern Pennsylvania and raise our children, Brandin and Taylor, here.
Whether I was serving as president of the PTO and United Way, or volunteering for the American
Cancer Society, I followed my parent’s example of volunteering, being active in our community
and helping others. That is the model for how I serve you in Harrisburg – actively involved locally,
and working hard for you, our families and our communities.
As a strong voice for northwestern Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, I am committed to protecting
our traditional values and heritage. Working together, we will continue building a strong future
for our children and communities. My promise to you is that I will continue to work hard, be
accessible and remain dedicated to ensuring our area is not forgotten in Harrisburg. With that, I
am asking for your vote on November 8 for State Senate.
Thank you,
Michele Brooks