Ex-Pottstown School Board member running for state Senate
Emanuel Wilkerson seeking Democratic nomination in 24th Senatorial District
Despite his young age, Emanuel Wilkerson is no stranger to public service.
Six years ago, when he was barely old enough to vote himself, he was elected to serve on the Pottstown School Board while still attending classes at the high school. He was the youngest serving elected official in Pennsylvania at just 18 years old.
Wilkerson served on the school board for three years, stepping down to study political science at Temple University. College didn’t diminish his desire to serve. In fact, he put his degree to use as a staff assistant for U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean and as a legislative assistant for state Rep. Matt Bradford.
And now he’s looking for a seat of his own once again.
Wilkerson is running to represent the 24th Senatorial District, which includes parts of eastern Berks County and northwest Montgomery County. The seat is wide open with longtime Republican incumbent Bob Mensch announcing this year that he is retiring from the post.
But first Wilkerson will have to get through the primary contest. He is facing former Boyertown School Board member Jill Dennin for the Democratic nomination in the May 17 primary. The winner of that race will compete against one of the two Republicans — state Rep. Tracy Pennycuick and Washington Township Supervisor David Moyer — who are seeking the Republican nomination.
Wilkerson said his experience as a school board member as well as his work for Dean and Bradford have given him the insight needed to find solutions to the challenges that face constituents in the district.
“I want to take my years of public service and be an advocate for the causes that really matter to the people across this district,” he said. “We always talk about how the future is on the way, but the future is here now. I think it’s important that people who have faced these critical issues have a seat at the table.”
Wilkerson said funding education and strengthening local infrastructure are his two principal issues, noting that these critical issues touch all communities in the district.
“Our roads are flooding, our schools are being underfunded, some of our communities are in need of economic development,” he said. “I have come across a lot of different people, so I know that these issues are the same throughout the district. We need to get back to government that works for the people.”
He pointed out that while the state enacted a fair funding formula back in 2016 designed to give all Pennsylvania students a level playing field, the formula has only been used to dole out new state money. That means without significant increases in basic education funding — the main stream of state funding for public school districts — the impact of the new formula is blunted.
Wilkerson said he would also fight for more funding for infrastructure projects, noting the district needs a senator who can provide support to local municipalities so they can mitigate the climate change issues the nation is facing.
He said that is something he has extensive knowledge in through his work in Dean’s district office. One of his primary tasks was to work closely with municipalities to assist them in securing grants for various projects.
“We know the funding is there with the passage of the federal infrastructure bill, but we need someone who is going to be a strong advocate for helping to get that money into the hands of local municipalities,” he said. “We need legislators that will make sure these funds are distributed equitably and that our communities are benefitting from those dollars.”
Wilkerson said another issue important to him is improving the economic outlook in the district. He said that means advocating for development projects to revitalize communities like Pottstown, championing the creation of jobs with livable wages and making child care more affordable.
“These are kitchen table issues,” he said. “These are not Republican or Democratic issues. These are issues that everyone cares about and will make our communities better.”
State senators serve a four-year term and receive an annual salary of $95,432.