A senior assistant public defender in Lebanon County announced he will be running for the county’s district attorney seat in 2025.
Michael Light II is running as a Republican in the primary election against current Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf, who has held the office since Jan. 31, 2020.
Light, a 2010 graduate of Penn State University, received his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where he studied intellectual property.
Light’s campaign includes promises to restore integrity to the legal system, ensure victims of sexual assault seek justice, combat rampant drug activity, prioritize community safety over politics, and make various reforms to streamline the district attorney’s office.
In addition to fighting drug use within the county, Light said he plans to reform the Small Amount of Marijuana (SAM) program while actively maintaining “strict measures against drug trafficking.”
The SAM program allows those who are found to be in possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana to attend a class and pay all related costs instead of appearing in court.
Light has served in the Lebanon County Public Defender’s Office since 2023 after working as an attorney for several firms, including Barley Snyder; Reilly Wolfson; Russo, Russo & Light; and Russo, Russo and Russo.
Light said his experiences presenting a homicide case to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, working to become death-penalty certified and practicing law across the Commonwealth show he is qualified for the district attorney’s seat, LebTown said.
He is married and has a son. His hobbies include hunting, fishing, refereeing soccer games, and cycling, according to the LebTown story.
Graf, who is also a Republican, recently announced her reelection campaign.
Pennsylvania’s primary election will be held on May 20.
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