A Pocono Voter's Guide to Your Elected Officials

STROUDSBURG, PA – Quick: Who’s your state representative? Your state senator? Your congressman?

If you drew a blank, you’re not alone. Studies show most Americans can’t name the people who represent them in government—the very officials who vote on your taxes, your schools, your roads, and your rights.

A Johns Hopkins University survey found that fewer than 20 percent of Americans can name their state legislators. A separate study by Haven Insights revealed that only 37 percent of Americans can name their U.S. representative—and barely half know which party that person belongs to.

In Monroe County, where local issues like data center zoning, school funding, and property taxes dominate kitchen table conversations, knowing who holds power isn’t just civic trivia. It’s practical information that determines who you call when you need help.

The Representation Gap

The numbers are stark.

According to the Annenberg Public Policy Center, 44 percent of Americans don’t know which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives. The Gallup organization found that only 35 percent of Americans surveyed could name their own representative—and of those who could, approval ratings jumped to 62 percent compared to 46 percent among those who couldn’t.

Translation: When you know who represents you, you’re more likely to engage. When you don’t, you’re voting—or not voting—in the dark.

Johns Hopkins researchers found the disconnect runs even deeper at the state level:

About half of Americans couldn’t say whether their state has a one- or two-house legislature
A third couldn’t name their governor
Nearly a third didn’t know which state officials they voted for beyond governor
More than half didn’t know who draws their legislative district boundaries

“Most people are not aware of who exactly represents them and the significant decisions made by their state government,” the researchers concluded.

Who Represents Monroe County?

Here’s your cheat sheet. Clip it. Save it. Use it.

U.S. Senate (Statewide)

Senator John Fetterman (D)

Washington: 202-224-4254
Wilkes-Barre: 570-820-4088

Senator Dave McCormick (R)

Washington: 202-224-4254

U.S. House of Representatives

Monroe County is split between two congressional districts:

7th Congressional District – Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. (R)

Washington: 202-225-5546
Covers: Townships of Eldred, Polk, and part of Ross

8th Congressional District – Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R)

Washington: 202-225-6411
Covers: Townships of Barrett, Chestnuthill, Coolbaugh, Hamilton, Jackson, Middle Smithfield, Paradise, Pocono, Price, Smithfield, Tobyhanna, and Tunkhannock; Boroughs of Delaware Water Gap, East Stroudsburg, Mount Pocono, and Stroudsburg

Pennsylvania State Senate

District 40 – Senator Rosemary Brown (R)

Harrisburg: 717-787-6123
Scotrun: 570-620-4326
Covers: All of Monroe County (plus parts of Lackawanna and Wayne counties)

A graduate of East Stroudsburg High School and the University of Scranton, Brown served six terms in the state House before winning her Senate seat in 2022. She chairs the Local Government Committee and focuses on school property tax reform and business-friendly policies.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Monroe County has four state representatives:

District 115 – Rep. Maureen Madden (D)

Harrisburg: 717-787-5811
Coolbaugh: 570-894-7905
Covers: Parts of Monroe including Barrett, Coolbaugh, Middle Smithfield (part), Paradise, Pocono Township areas

District 176 – Rep. Jack Rader Jr. (R)

Now serving his sixth term
Former 28-year Jackson Township supervisor
Covers: Parts of Monroe County

District 189 – Rep. Tarah Probst (D)

First female Mayor of Stroudsburg (2015-2022)
Re-elected in 2024 by a 15-point margin
Born and raised in East Stroudsburg
Covers: Parts of Monroe and Pike counties, including Stroudsburg area

District 177 – Check your specific address

Legislative boundaries don’t follow municipal lines neatly

State Officials

Governor Josh Shapiro (D) – 717-787-2500

Lt. Governor Austin Davis (D) – 717-787-3300

Monroe County Elected Officials

District Attorney: Michael Mancuso

County Commissioners: The three-member board governs county operations

Controller: Erik Diemer (D)

Coroner: Thomas Yanac (D)

Register of Wills/Recorder of Deeds: Kate Best (D)

Sheriff, Treasurer, Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts: Check monroecountypa.gov for current officeholders

Finding Your Exact Representatives

Because legislative districts don’t follow township or borough lines, the only way to know exactly who represents you is to enter your street address at:

legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator

This tool will show your exact state House member, state senator, and U.S. representative based on where you live.

Why It Matters

Your state legislators vote on:

School funding formulas that determine local property taxes
Zoning laws that affect data center and warehouse development
Criminal justice policies
Environmental regulations protecting the Poconos’ streams and forests
Healthcare access and Medicaid funding

Your county officials handle:

Property assessments and tax collection
The court system and district attorney’s office
Emergency services coordination
Land use planning

Your U.S. representatives vote on:

Federal funding that flows to Pennsylvania
Immigration policy
Social Security and Medicare
National defense and veterans’ affairs

When you don’t know who represents you, you don’t know who to hold accountable—or who to thank.

How to Engage

Attend a town hall. Most legislators hold periodic public meetings. Follow their social media or sign up for newsletters to get notified.

Call their office. Staffers track constituent calls. When hundreds of people call about an issue, legislators notice.

Show up at public meetings. Township supervisors, school boards, and county commissioners make decisions that affect your daily life. These meetings are open to the public.

Vote in every election. Municipal elections in odd-numbered years often have lower turnout—meaning your vote carries more weight.

The bottom line: Democracy works better when citizens know who’s in charge. In Monroe County, you’re represented by officials from your township or borough all the way up to the White House. Learning their names is the first step toward making your voice heard.

Find your legislators: legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator

Monroe County government: monroecountypa.gov