A devoted family man, Rep. Stephen Barrar is serving the residents of Delaware and Chester County's 160th District for his fourth term in Harrisburg. His legislative priorities are driven foremost by his desire to improve the quality of life for families in Pennsylvania. With a wife and two children, Barrar understands the pressures and demands modern society places on today’s families.

With his motivation starting at home, Steve continues that perseverance stretching it into the community. A graduate of Interboro High School and a U.S. Navy veteran, Steve resides in Boothwyn with his wife of 25 years, Elena, and their daughters Stephanie 20 and Elizabeth 17.

Prior to his election to the House, Steve served as an Upper Chichester Township Commissioner from 1992 to 1996, and president of the Board of Commissioners from 1994 to 1996. A former local businessman, Barrar owned and operated a retail garden center and greenhouse, the Twin Oaks Garden Mart, in Aston, Pennsylvania. The legislator’s development of an active and accessible district office and Internet Web site, as well as his personal approach with constituents, have won him the praise of Republican Leadership in Harrisburg.

He has been appointed to serve on the House Appropriations Committee and Education subcommittee, which is responsible for developing the annual state budget and ensuring the quality and funding of our children’s education. Currently he serves as secretary of the Professional Licensure Committee and is also a member of the Liquor Control, Computer and Intergovernmental Affairs committees. Additionally, he serves as treasurer for the House Firefighters Caucus, a special committee formulated to deal with the important needs of our volunteer firefighters. His efforts led to a historic $25 million budget appropriation for the state’s volunteer fire companies, and supported legislation in 2003 that gave an additional $25 million in state funding.

For the past eight years, Steve has worked to make significant changes to the quality of life for the residents of the 160th district, and for Pennsylvania’s citizens as a whole. Steve’s groundbreaking legislation to help protect small businesses from unreasonable legal actions by the Commonwealth became law in 1997. The House also has adopted his legislation to repeal obsolete statutes on the books and his resolution to recognize "Community College Month."

An active member of the community, Steve is a member of the Chichester Business Association (since 1984), the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, Bethel VFW Post and the Concord Lodge No. 625, and the National Federation of Independent Business. His dedication towards the protection of Delaware and Chester County’s small businessman, has led him to become an Honorary Member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart for his support of disabled veterans. Barrar and his wife are also active members of their Home and School Association and the Chichester Band Parents Association.