State House rep running for 24th Senatorial District
Tracy Pennycuick seeking GOP nod
Tracy Pennycuick was content serving the people of western Montgomery County in the state House of Representatives.
She was happy to be making a difference in the lives of her constituents.
But sometimes opportunities arise. Sometimes there’s a call to action that needs to be answered.
That’s exactly what happened when Pennycuick’s friend and Republican colleague, state Sen. Bob Mench, announced that he would be retiring.
His departure would leave a void, one that he felt Pennycuick would be perfect to fill. And so, the 56-year-old decided to step up and run in the 24th Senatorial District, which includes parts of eastern Berks County and northwest Montgomery County.
“Bob knew that because of the new legislative maps we would be working with a compressed campaign schedule, so he felt that my experience in the state Legislature would be helpful,” she said. “I guess you could say he talked me into running.”
Pennycuick said the opportunity is exciting.
“This district has got a lot of rural and suburban communities but the common theme that runs through it is that the people are focused on their families, on their small business and on their schools,” she said. “There is a strong sense of community pride and a strong sense of tradition. I’m just hoping to make those communities even better than they already are.”
Pennycuick said she will do that by focusing on the things that she has championed in the state House.
That includes advocating for legislation that limits the role of government in the lives of its people, lowers taxes for residents, provides more transparency into the governing process and protects our most vulnerable populations.
She also touted her previous work to pass a budget that fully funded schools and pushed forward legislation that reforms state lobbying practices. Most importantly, she said she’s proud to support the communities she represents through responsive constituent services.
Pennycuick said she is also a strong supporter of legislation that helps military veterans, drawing on her own experience as an Army combat veteran.
She initially enlisted in the armed services as a medic, and later served as a Blackhawk pilot for three tours of duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and during Operation Desert Storm, where she was awarded the Bronze Star. She eventually retired as a lieutenant colonel after 26 years of service.
Pennycuick will face Berks County resident David Moyer for the Republican nomination in the May 17 primary. The winner of that race will compete against one of the two Democrats — Jill Dennin and Emanuel Wilkerson — who are seeking the Democratic nomination in the fall election.
State senators serve a fouryear term and receive an annual salary of $95,432.