Rep. Kaufer honor is well-deserved

WILKES-BARRE — There will be a party at the Friedman JCC on Saturday, Sept. 28, that will honor outgoing State Rep. Aaron Kaufer.

If all the people whose lives Kaufer, 36, has helped improve show up, the building and parking lot won’t be big enough to handle them all.

Kaufer, R-Kingston, is more than deserving of this honor — he has been a good legislator who has worked with both sides of the aisle and he has, to borrow a term from our Governor, got stuff done.

The Friedman JCC announced the fifth annual Gala, honoring Kaufer, saying it is a “highly anticipated celebration that promises a festive evening of food, drink, and live music, and a roast of Kaufer.” Proceeds from the event will benefit the many programs of the Friedman JCC.

“Aaron has served our entire community with diligence and dedication these past 10 years,” said Greg Fellerman, President of the JCC. “No matter your political affiliation, we hope you’ll join us for a great night toasting and roasting Aaron.”

Tickets are available online at — https://friedmanjcc.org/gala/ . For those unable to attend, the JCC welcomes donations and sponsorships to benefit the programs at Friedman JCC. Tickets are $125 per person.

“I grew up at the JCC,” Kaufer told me. “I’ve been involved there since I was a kid. I played basketball, softball, soccer. When I was too old to play, I began to work there and referee basketball games. I even taught basketball and soccer to children at the JCC.”

Over the years, Kaufer has been supportive of the Friedman JCC and was instrumental in the construction of its new facility in Kingston.

“Both my wife and I went to camp at the JCC when we were young, and the program has had a positive impact on countless children, Jewish and non-Jewish, not just here in Luzerne County but throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond.”

“For me, this honor is about l’dor v’dor, which means from generation to generation,” he said. “This is a place I grew up in and worked in. Now, I’m trying to pass this place, this institution, on to the next generation. My father and his siblings all grew up at the JCC, my brothers and I grew up at the JCC, and now it’s my daughter’s turn.

“As everyone knows, I’m about to leave public office, so now is their time to get some shots in. I’m looking forward to having some fun. I hope the roasters will really step up their game. I’m expecting them to do better than the Tom Brady roast.”

In January, Kaufer announced his decision to not run for reelection, saying he is truly grateful to have been given the opportunity to serve the community over the past 10 years. Kaufer’s term expires Nov. 30, 2024.

“I’m proud of the work I’ve been able to get done and the relationships I have built with community members and elected officials throughout our area to achieve tangible and meaningful results for our community,” Kaufer said in January.

He collaborated with local elected officials to bring hundreds of millions of state tax dollars back to the region to help important community projects, including paving hundreds of miles of state and local roads, the construction and rehabilitation of countless municipal and public works buildings, community parks, trails, and recreation projects, and he was a staunch supporter of beautification efforts led by the Street Art Society of NEPA.

Among the efforts Kaufer highlighted as the most important of his tenure were:

• The removal of the Swoyersville Culm Bank.

• The formation of the Wyoming Area Regional Police Department and the transfer of the former Wyoming State Police Barracks to serve as the department’s headquarters.

• Regionalization efforts through the West Side Council of Governments.

• Generational investments in regional sewer infrastructure.

• The rehabilitation efforts in Keiper, Center Street, Kirby and Riverbend parks.

• The reopening of the former First Hospital as Wyoming Valley Behavioral Hospital.

Fought for working families, seniors

In the Legislature, Kaufer said he fought to protect the working families and seniors of the Wyoming Valley by voting against broad-based tax increases, fighting to lower property taxes and utility rates, sponsoring legislation that would ban lawmakers from receiving gifts from lobbyists, and refusing costly per diems.

“As state representative, I always strived to provide reform-focused leadership that would restore the public’s trust in state government,” Kaufer said. “Although I was not always successful, I refused to back down because my top priority was always the families I served.”

Kaufer had dozens of bills and resolutions signed into law.

During the height of the pandemic, his policies allowed for business owners to collect unemployment, and most recently, his legislation expanded the Property Tax and Rent Rebate program, which puts more money back in the pockets of seniors across our area.

“I ran for office to put people over politics and to lead by example,” Kaufer said. “Throughout my tenure, I have worked hard to be part of the solution and improve the lives of my constituents.”

Mazel tov, Mr. Kaufer. You earned this honor.

Thanks for showing us how an elected official represents the people.