Russ Diamond of Annville today launched a campaign for the Republican nomination for State Representative in the 102nd district with a two‐minute online video posted at www.truckerruss.com. His campaign platform includes permanently eliminating property taxes, continuing efforts to reform state government, and improving Pennsylvania’s economic climate.
“Lebanon County needs a strong voice in Harrisburg, someone who knows how to navigate the political waters and make things happen,” Diamond said. “I believe my experience over the last ten years uniquely qualifies me to go to the Capitol and effectively represent the people of our community. As a life‐long resident of Lebanon County, I will proudly honor and defend our Republican values in the General Assembly.”
Diamond, 50, is best known for founding PACleanSweep in July 2005 in response to the infamous legislative pay raise. The group recruited over 110 candidates for legislative seats and assisted over 40 percent of challengers during the historic 2006 elections where 55 legislative seats change hands, more than 12 times the usual turnover rate. Lawmakers in turn ramped up their efforts to illegally use taxpayer funds for campaign purposes, drawing the attention of law enforcement and landing several legislative leaders in prison.
Thirteen PACleanSweep candidates, including Rep. RoseMarie Swanger, were elected to the House of Representatives in 2006. The pay raise was repealed as a direct result of electoral pressure provided by Diamond’s group and public outrage. The group was also instrumental in Pennsylvania’s first ever non‐retention of a Supreme Court Justice.
In 2007, Diamond authored legislation to create a limited citizens’ constitutional convention. The bill was introduced by Senator Mike Folmer in 2008 as SB1290. Representative Swanger co‐sponsored the bill (HB2723) in the House. The bill was re‐introduced with bipartisan support during subsequent legislative sessions.
Diamond has served as a member of the Lebanon County Republican Committee since 2010 and chaired its By‐ Laws Committee, which proposed an overhaul of the Committee’s endorsement process. The proposals were adopted by the LCRC membership in a near‐unanimous vote. He also served as office manager for the LCRC from March 2012 through April 2013, focusing his efforts on modernizing the Committee’s bookkeeping practices and upgrading its website.
Diamond graduated from Northern Lebanon High School and Lebanon County Vo‐Tech in 1981. He has owned and operated Raintree Multimedia, an Annville‐based audio/video and optical media production company, since 1992. He is employed as an over‐the‐road driver for Millis Transfer, Inc.
In 2005 PACleanSweep was awarded the Golden Dot Award for Best PAC or Non‐Partisan Internet Campaign by George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management. In 2006 Diamond was named one of three Citizens of the Year by the Philadelphia Inquirer for his anti‐pay raise efforts. Later that same year, he received the Public Service Achievement Award from Common Cause/Pennsylvania and was named Communicator of the Year by the Harrisburg chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators.