A dozen years. A dozen years, that’s how long I’ve lived in the Poconos

And how long the Republicans have been in control of the 189th house district and 40th State Senate District. A lot has happened in those 12 years. My son has gone from diapers to being taller than I am. I’ve gone from contemplating studying to become a Realtor to owning my own brokerage for four years now. In those dozen years, I’ve gone from imagining I’ll have gray hairs one day, to find ways to cover them up.

One thing that amazingly hasn’t happened in the past dozen years is property tax reform in the Poconos. We’ve heard lots of plans and schemes and cockamamie ideas from Republicans, but still no reform. Still, we send our hard-earned tax dollars out of the county and into cyber schools. Still no change and no pragmatic plans from the Republicans. One thing I’ve learned in life is that everything eventually changes. Clearly, Republicans can’t get the job done on property tax reform and that’s why it’s time to change and vote for Tarah Probst for state representative of the 189th district, and Jennifer Shukaitis for state senator of the 40th District.

Matthew Jacobson

Bushkill