Linda Bebko-Jones remembered

Linda Bebko-Jones passed away November 20, 2011. She was 65.

Linda served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (1st District) from 1993 until 2006. While serving as a state representative, she was a strong advocate and sponsored many bills and resolutions in support of military and veteran benefits and health and human services.She supported GLBT equality, crime victims' rights, adoptee rights, substance abuse prevention, sexual harassment awareness, insurance reform, and women's rights. She served on many local and state boards and associations, and received numerous awards and accolades acknowledging her public service.

During her run for state representative in 1992, her Republican opponent, Jerry Knight, engaged in strong attacks on Linda's supportive responses in the voters' guide of the League of Gay and Lesbian Voters. Linda won the race and held the office for 14 years. At the 2003 Erie Pride rally, she spoke about the need for acceptance and equality for GLBT people.

She was open about her own struggles with alcoholism in her efforts to raise awareness and understanding about substance abuse.

Her greatest achievement during her tenure with General Assembly was in passage of her House Bill 23, Act 28 of 1993, which provided the lawful recognition of "stalking" as a criminal act.

In a 2006 interview for the PA House archives, Linda was asked how she would like to be remembered. "Probably that I tried to make a difference in people's lives," she said. "That's what I came down here to do."