Chris Gebhard
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 48th district
Assumed office
June 9, 2021
Preceded byDave Arnold
ConstituencyLebanon County and parts of Dauphin and York counties
Personal details
Born1974 or 1975 (age 48–49)
Political partyRepublican
SpouseSarah
Children2
EducationVanderbilt University (B.A.)
ProfessionBusiness owner

Christopher Gebhard (born 1974 or 1975) is a Pennsylvania state senator who represents the 48th district, which includes all of Lebanon County and portions of Dauphin and York counties. He is a member of the Republican Party and the owner of an insurance and risk management firm.

Early life and career

Gebhard was born in 1974/1975 to parents Peter and Lauralee Gebhard.[1] He attended Cedar Crest High School in Lebanon before graduating from The Hill School in Pottstown in 1992. Gebhard earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Vanderbilt University in Nashville,[2][3] after which he returned to Lebanon and began working for his father's insurance agency just after it had merged with a larger company in 1996. Later that year, Gebhard took a job with Cincinnati Insurance Company in Ohio, returning to Hoaster Gebhard in early 2000 but as a "regular employee" per his father.[4] By 2014, Gebhard became the CEO and president of Hoaster Gebhard & Co., an insurance and risk management firm in Lebanon.[1][4]

Pennsylvania Senate

After Dave Arnold died in January 2021 while serving as state senator from Pennsylvania's 48th district, a special election to fill the position was scheduled for May 18, 2021.[5] Gebhard was chosen by the Lebanon County Republican Committee as the Republican candidate,[6] from a list of eight potential names.[7] Running against three other candidates, he won the special election to complete Arnold's term with 62 percent of the vote.[8] Gebhard was sworn in to office on June 9, 2021.[9] In 2022, he ran for re-election and won against Calvin Clements, who was his closest opponent in 2022. He won with 67% of the vote.[10]

In the 2020–2021 session, Gebhard opposed an amendment to House Bill 1024 that would have allowed medical patients to grow six cannais plants at home.[11][12] However, Gebhard did vote for House Bill 1024 without the home grow amendment, which allowed medical marijuana growers in Pennsylvania to remediate moldy product and use additional pesticides.[13] In 2023, Gebhard sponsored Senate Bill 773, a marijuana industry-backed bill "providing for limitations on permits and providing for additional dispensary permits authorized, for application and issuance of additional dispensary permits and for limitations on other additional permits or licenses."[14] Gebhard is a principle in Hoaster Gebhard & Co, an insurance company based in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.[15] Hoaster Gebhard & Co offers "marijuana insurance" for marijuana companies.[16]

Personal life

Gebhard lives in North Cornwall Township with his wife Sarah and two sons.[6]

He has played golf since he was a teenager, and won most of the major local golf tournaments, including several better ball pairs tournaments.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 Murphy, Jan (June 10, 2021). "Pa. Sen. Chris Gebhard nervous but ready to take on challenge of his new job". The Patriot News. Retrieved June 12, 2021 – via MSN.
  2. ↑ Toth, Matthew (April 13, 2021). "Republican candidate in 48th District special election hopes to fill 'void of leadership'". Lebanon Daily News. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Senate Republicans Welcome Senator-elect Chris Gebhard". Pennsylvania Senate Republicans. May 19, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2021. graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology
  4. 1 2 "A Generational Business". Hoaster Gebhard & Co. April 4, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  5. ↑ Murphy, Jan (January 26, 2021). "Special election date set to fill seat left vacant by Pa. Sen. Dave Arnold's death". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Knapp, Tom (April 9, 2021). "Meet Chris Gebhard, Republican candidate for 48th Senate District seat". LebTown. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  7. 1 2 Falk, Jeff (March 24, 2021). "Backed by Strong Competitive Resume, Chris Gebhard Takes Swing at Political Arena". Lebanon Sports Buzz. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  8. ↑ Hullinger, Logan (May 19, 2021). "Lebanon County Republican wins 48th Senate District special election". York Dispatch. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  9. ↑ "2 winners of May special elections sworn in to state Senate". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Associated Press. June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Summary Results Report 2022 General November 8, 2022 OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Bureau of Elections and Voter Registration for Lebanon County of PA. November 29, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Sen. Ward's motion to table Amendment No. A-2029".
  12. ↑ "Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Home Grow Amendment Fails". CBS News. June 29, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Roll Call: PA HB1024".
  14. ↑ "Senate Bill 773 - 2023-2024 Session".
  15. ↑ "Christopher Gebhard, Meet Our Team".
  16. ↑ "Marijuana Distributors / Growers Insurance".
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