About Eric

State Rep. Eric Weaknecht is in his first term of service to residents of the 5th Legislative District, which consists of the following municipalities in Berks County: the townships of Bethel, Bern, Centre, Heidelberg, Jefferson, Lower Heidelberg, Marion, North Heidelberg, Ontelaunee, Penn, Perry, South Heidelberg, Spring and Tulpehocken; and the boroughs of Bernville, Centerport, Leesport, Robesonia, Shoemakersville, Wernersville and Womelsdorf.

For the 2025-26 legislative session, Eric has been appointed to serve on the following committees: Housing and Community Development, Human Services, Local Government, State Government.

A graduate of Kutztown Area High School, Eric is a Berks County native who has devoted his life to serving his community. He continued his education at the Pennsylvania Sheriff/Deputy Sheriff Academy and began his career with the Berks County Sheriff’s Office in 1984 as a deputy sheriff.

His character and leadership were obvious, and he was soon promoted to assistant chief deputy sheriff in charge of the court division in 1996, and again promoted to the position of chief deputy sheriff in 1999. In 2007, Eric was elected sheriff of Berks County and was re-elected four times.

Eric was first appointed by Gov. Tom Corbett in 2012 to serve on the Deputy Sheriff’s Education and Training Board to advise the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency on the development and implementation of training programs for sheriffs and deputy sheriffs across the Commonwealth. Gov. Tom Wolf reappointed him and he served as the board's chairman until resigning to take over his new duties in the General Assembly.

In 2012, Eric was also elected to serve as the secretary/treasurer of the Pennsylvania Sheriff’s Association and has been unanimously re-elected every year since.

Eric’s legislative goals include creating an economic environment that stimulates job creation and economic growth while reducing taxes and burdens on small businesses and working families, defending our state and federal constitutions, supporting law enforcement and the justice system, developing a world-class education system, and providing top quality constituent services to residents of the 5th Legislative District.