Hendricks and Toepel vie for the 147th District seat

This year’s election for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 147th District is between Democrat Rachel Hendricks and incumbent Republican Marcy Toepel, who has held the seat since 2010.

The 147th District includes Douglass, Lower Frederick, Lower Salford, Marlborough, New Hanover, Upper Frederick, Upper Pottsgrove, Upper Salford and West Pottsgrove townships and Green Lane and Schwenksville boroughs.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Rachel Hendricks

Hendricks said she grew up in Gilbertsville and is a compliance coordinator for an environmental company in Harleysville.

While volunteering in last year’s Montgomery County Commissioners election, she said, she noticed a lot of local officials are unopposed on the ballot and decided to run in this year’s election to give voters in the district a choice.

“There’s a number of issues that I’m passionate about. I think the number one thing that I’d like to change in Harrisburg is committing to end the gridlock,” Hendricks said.

Marcy Toepel

Toepel said she is a lifelong resident of the area. Before becoming a state legislator, her jobs included supervisory ones in the Montgomery County Clerk of Courts and Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds offices, she said.

She has also been a PTA president, youth sports coach and referee and has been involved in fundraising for various nonprofits in the area, she said.