Mike Gerber
State Representative
About Mike
Representative Michael F. Gerber, 36, was born and raised in Montgomery County. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a Dean’s List student and a defensive back on an Ivy League championship football team. Gerber then graduated cum laude from Villanova University School of Law, where he received a scholarship award for his contributions to community legal services.
Gerber, his wife Jessica, and their three children, Benjamin, Samuel and Alison, live in the Broad Axe section of Whitpain Township.
Gerber was recently named as legislative “Rookie of the Year” by the Pennsylvania Reporter and as a "Star to Watch" by the National Journal Group Inc., a nonpartisan publishing group based in Washington, D.C. Gerber represents Pennsylvania’s 148th Legislative District, which is located in the Philadelphia suburbs and includes the Montgomery County municipalities of Conshohocken, Lower Merion, Narberth, Plymouth, Upper Dublin, Whitemarsh, and Whitpain.
Gerber comes to government service having established a strong legal career. He was recognized as a “Lawyer on the Fast Track” -- one of the top 35 lawyers under the age of 40 in the state of Pennsylvania -- by American Lawyer Media and as a “Rising Star" by Philadelphia Magazine’s Pennsylvania Super Lawyers publication. Gerber served as legal counsel to Governor Ed Rendell’s transition team and as Law Clerk for Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter of the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Prior to that, Gerber interned for Anthony J. Scirica, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and for the United States Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In private practice at the Philadelphia law firm of Wolf Block, Gerber handles litigation matters.
Gerber carried significant responsibilities in his second term in office and has been a champion for the environment, mass transportation, business tax cuts and education.
Environment
After taking a leading role in the passage of Growing Greener II, Gerber was named Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee for the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, where he is engaged in issues relating to alternative fuels and cleaner energy sources. He is the only freshman legislator serving as a Chair.
Transportation
As a member of the House Transportation Committee, Gerber is one of only five House members -- and the only one from Southeastern Pennsylvania -- appointed to the SEPTA oversight committee. As a former daily regional rail user, Gerber has been an outspoken advocate for improving mass transit.
Youth and Education
With a long history of working with children, Gerber serves on the House Children and Youth Committee and on the University of Pennsylvania’s Advisory Board for The Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice and Research. Prior to his election, Gerber helped found a non-profit that served inner-city youth, coached youth and high school sports and practiced law in the area of child welfare. For the past two years, he has led the charge in the legislature to increase funding for Head Start and is a strong advocate for public schools.
Business Tax Cuts
Gerber also is a legislative appointee on the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority Board, a statewide board that appropriates more than $50 million annually for economic development. Coupling that experience with his legal experience representing large and small businesses, Gerber teamed up with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver more than $295 million in business tax cuts in this year’s budget.
Insurance
Finally, Gerber is a member of the House Insurance Committee, where he hopes to have a great impact on making health care more accessible to Pennsylvanians.