Dauphin County Commissioners

Jeffrey T. Haste

After a long and distinguished career in state and county government as well as the private sector, Jeff Haste was appointed to the Dauphin County Board of Commissioners in December 2002 by the County Court of Common Pleas, filling the unexpired term of the resigning John D. Payne. Voters then elected him to a full, four-year term in November 2003, 2007 and 2011; his fellow Commissioners chose him as their chairman in January 2004, in 2008, and again in 2012.

Prior to his appointment, Haste served as the Director of Government Relations and Business Development for the consulting engineering firm of Herbert, Rowland and Grubic, Inc. He has also served in the Pennsylvania General Assembly as a full-time state legislator for the 104th District. From 1988 to 1996, he served as Dauphin County's Administrator/Chief Clerk/ Personnel Director, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the county. He has also worked for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the state Senate, Republican State Committee and the Department of State.

Commissioner Haste graduated from Shippensburg University in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in Administration of Justice and Law Enforcement, serving all four years as class president and earning dean's list honors. He is a 1977 graduate of Lewistown Area High School.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Harrisburg Christian School; and in the past has served on the Pennsylvania State Optometry Board and the State Board of Pharmacy after earning appointments from Governor Tom Ridge. He was Chairman of the Susquehanna Township Recreation Board in 2001 and served on the township's Zoning Hearing Board. In 2012, he was appointed to the Governor's Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing, and Conservation. He is also active in the Boy Scouts, youth soccer and baseball and many other community and professional organizations. He received the "Friend of County Government Award" from the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania in 1996 and was named one of the Jaycees' "1984 Outstanding Young Men of America." The Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC named Haste, along with his two fellow board members, "Government Leader of the Year" in 2006 and selected him again for the honor in 2011.

Commissioner Haste oversees budgetary and finance matters, the prison, county parks and recreation, the Conservation District, Cooperative Extension, the General Authority, information technology, purchasing, transportation, adult probation, and the Industrial Development Authority.

Mike Pries

With over two decades of experience in county government and public service, Mike Pries was appointed to the Dauphin County Board of Commissioners in August 2010 by the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas, filling the unexpired term of the resigning Nick DiFrancesco. On September 1, 2010, Pries was sworn into office as commissioner and selected as vice chairman of the board. In 2011, he was elected to his first full term as commissioner. As Dauphin County Commissioner, Pries oversees the county's Department of Community and Economic Development, Safety and Security, Facility Maintenance, Waste Management and Recycling, Domestic Relations, the Planning Commission, Registration and Elections, the Emergency Management Agency, Capital Area Transit and the Dauphin County Library System.

Prior to his appointment, Pries served as the Director of Safety and Security for Dauphin County for nearly eleven years and was responsible for ensuring the county's employees and facilities were safe and secure. During his tenure as Director of Safety and Security, Pries initiated a series of improvements, including implementing integrated security enhancements, enabling security checks, and expanding employee training programs, among many other effective measures. Before his employment with Dauphin County, Pries worked as a Claims Investigator at Equifax Services/Choicepoint and Pinkerton Security Services.

He has also served as a Derry Township Supervisor since 2006, serving as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors from 2008 to 2010. As Derry Township Supervisor, Pries led public meetings, oversaw a nearly $20 million annual budget and over 300 employees, and routinely interacted with local and regional businesses, government officials, community leaders to improve the quality of life in the area. Under his leadership, Derry Township held the line on real estate and occupational taxes. Pries also served on the Derry Township Industrial and Commercial Development Authority since 1999 and as Chairman from 2004 to 2005. His most memorable project was the GIANT Center, home of the Hershey Bears and a popular concert venue.

A devoted community volunteer, Commissioner Pries founded and chaired the Hershey New Year's Committee to plan an annual celebration that draws upwards of 10,000 revelers and features live entertainment, fireworks and more to ring in the New Year. He also volunteered his time on the Derry Township Library Board, the Derry Township Tax Association, the Hershey Memorial Day Committee, Hershey Youth Football Association, the Community Celebration Committee, and many other community service-related organizations.

Commissioner Pries graduated from Penn State University in 1994 with a bachelor's degree in Administration of Justice. He is a graduate of Hershey High School and active member of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Commissioner Pries currently resides in Derry Township with his wife Angela and two children, Carter and Will.

George P. Hartwick, III

George P. Hartwick, III, 40, was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. His father taught him that hard work is the only way to succeed in life. George was born and raised in Steelton, PA. Diversity is what Steelton is known for and where George learned to respect all walks of life. As a scholar-athlete, George was the wrestler with the most wins in the history of Steelton-Highspire High School. He also played football and baseball. In his life, nothing has ever come easy. He was the first in his family to graduate from college, which he had to pay for as he worked his way through school. George is a proud graduate of the Pennsylvania State University. One of the things most people would be surprised to learn about him is that he had a degenerative hip disease, called Perthes, and was required to wear leg braces for five years as a child. That experience confirmed to George that is was ok to be different.

At the age of 24, George became the youngest person ever to be elected Mayor of the Borough of Steelton. As Mayor of Steelton he worked to restore community pride - a belief that collectively we, as leaders and the community controlled our own future. George, in collaboration with various community groups, created Steelton's first ever Boys and Girls Club, senior center, revitalized every playground and park and reestablished a summer playground program that gave children supervision and activities. It provided jobs for the Steel High graduates attending college. Every street was repaved and trees were planted to beautify the downtown area. A first class boat dock accessing the Susquehanna River was created; all while balancing the budget and not raising taxes.

After serving two successful terms as the mayor of Steelton Borough he ran and was elected County Commissioner in November 2003. As Commissioner George continues to work harder than ever and to fight for the people whom too often don't have a voice. As county commissioner he is most proud of working relationships established with colleagues, the employees and the Courts. I have shown, unlike Washington, D.C. or Harrisburg, that the only way to fundamentally reform government and place the interests of our taxpayers first is to put personal and partisan interest last. Now in his second term as commissioner on the Dauphin County Board of Commissioners, Hartwick has primary oversight of the county's Human Services Department, Tax Assessment Office, Economic Development Office, Personnel Department and other initiatives. He has attracted international recognition to the county for its unprecedented Family Group conferencing success, and his strong leadership style and proactive, results-oriented approach led to his selection for the prestigious "Government Leader of the Year" Award in 2006, along with his two fellow board members, by the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC. They also received the "Helping Hand" Award from Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Capital Region, were awarded multiple "Waste Watchers" Awards from the state Department of Environmental Protection, and were named "Champions of Diversity" by the Institute for Cultural Partnerships, Pennsylvania Citizens for Better Libraries (PCBL) Local Public Official Award, S.W.A.N. Collaboration Award, the Harambee Recognition Award of the Nguzo Saba Ujoma-Unity, Electorate for President Obama Electoral College, among other awards.

George lives in Swatara Township with his wife Sasha. They have four beautiful daughters and a son. Outside of the office nothing is more important to him than his children. Whether it's attending summer league basketball or kiddy soccer or playing a round of golf with his daughter, George realized that you can't change the world unless you are a good father first.

*The Board of Commissioners is the legislative and administrative body of county government. Each commissioner is elected to a four-year term
*The Commissioners oversee the county's employees, the budget, and the administration of county programs
*The Board meets weekly on Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. to transact the county's business
*All citizens are welcome to attend the meetings