State Rep. Jamie Barton will be challenged for his 124th District seat by Tina M. Burns of Tamaqua.

Burns, a Democrat, and Barton, a Republican, squared off in 2022.

Before being elected to the 2-year term in the state House of Representatives, Barton was an energy executive. Burns is a U.S. Coast Guard veteran whose career experience includes working as a health care consultant.

Barton serves on the committees of Environmental Resources and Energy, Housing and Community Development, State Government, Tourism and Economic and Recreational Development.

He spent more than three decades in the energy industry as the vice president of Jack Rich Inc.

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Alvernia University.

Barton is a lay pastor and Sunday school teacher and has served as president and consistory member of St. Johns UCC in Orwigsburg. He also serves on the board of directors for the Big Impact Group of Schuylkill County and Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, and volunteers as an instructor at the Young Entrepreneur Academy.

Barton serves on the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association board of directors and as an adjunct professor at Penn State. He and his wife, Brenda, have four children together.

Burns grew up in New Ringgold with her parents and two siblings.

She graduated from Tamaqua Area High School and served in the United States Coast Guard.

After leaving the armed services, she worked in a number of positions including truck driver, educator, operations manager, chef, horse trainer and small business owner.

Burns earned a Master of Science degree in industrial organizational psychology and works in the health care industry.

The district includes parts of Berks and Schuylkill counties.