Former Norristown council president seeks new state House seat

Saying she wants to be a “vocal and tireless advocate for her community,” Rochelle Culbreath, a former president of Norristown Borough Council, is seeking a state representative seat in a new Pennsylvania House District proposed for Montgomery County.

Culbreath, 53, a fourth generation Norristonian who was the first African American woman to serve on Norristown council, from 2000 to 2007, and the first African American council president in 2005, announced her campaign for state representative in what is the newly created 54th House District under new maps proposed by the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission.

Culbreath is seeking a Democratic nomination for the seat in the May 17 primary election.

That brand new district is comprised of the boroughs of Norristown and Conshohocken and Plymouth Township, with a population estimated at 63,471.

“I’m the most qualified for this position and it’s something I’ve wanted to do my entire life. I come from a family with a lifelong legacy of public service and I’m looking forward to serving the people of Norristown, Plymouth and Conshohocken,” Culbreath said during a recent interview.

Culbreath said that from a young age, she “was called to be a vocal and tireless advocate for her community.”

The Norristown High School graduate said she hails from a family with deep ties to community service, including her grandmother, Frances Nowlin, a teacher who taught for more than 40 years at Gotwals Elementary, and her grandfather, William Nowlin Jr., who was one of the first African American police officers with the Norristown Police Department.

“I have always just known them to be a part of public service. It really wasn’t an option. It was just part of the work that was required of me to engage in public service and to help people,” Culbreath said.

Last month, the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission voted 4-1 to finalize the maps for the state’s 203 House seats and 50 Senate seats in the once-in-a-decade redistricting process. However, the new maps are facing challenges in court and the state Supreme Court said all appeals and legal briefs regarding challenges were due by March 7. The Legislative Reapportionment Commission has until March 11 to respond.

It’s unclear how long after that a decision would be rendered by the court.

“When we will be able to circulate petitions, probably, we won’t know for another few days. I suspect by next week we should know when petitions will come out. It’s going to be a very short window to circulate petitions. I’m prepared for everything,” Culbreath said.

Culbreath, who received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Temple University and paralegal credentials from the Main Line Paralegal Institute, is currently

employed as manager of legislative affairs for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), the nation’s sixth largest public transportation agency. Culbreath said during the last 16 years in that role, she has shepherded hundreds of bills through the state Legislature annually, worked on budget reconciliations, amendments, and legislative compromises, bringing together Republicans and Democrats to pass legislation.

“I go to Harrisburg every week for my job and I follow public transit legislation and policy,” said Culbreath, adding her legislative experience has left her well-prepared to become a state representative.

Culbreath added she has facilitated constituent services for state legislators in southeastern Pa. and created a vulnerable population task force, consisting of 50 stakeholders, including health, police and social service agencies, who work in Montgomery County to help the homeless and vulnerable populations who may frequent mass transit stations.

Culbreath said she also devotes her time to the Montgomery County Workforce Development Board, the Governing Board of Your Way Home and participates in the HUD Point in Time Count for Montgomery County to quantify the homeless population in the region.

Culbreath said that while mass transit policy and legislation “is near and dear to her heart,” her platform priorities as a state representative also would include jobs and employment, investment in trades to prepare the next generation of skilled workers, small business growth, strong and safe neighborhoods, affordable housing, infrastructure and equitable education.

According to her biography, Culbreath has had volunteer leadership roles with the Norristown Agape Improvement Development Corp., the Norristown Homeowners Association Board, the Macedonia Community Development Corporation, the Board of the Norristown Preservation Society, the Norristown Salvation Army Advisory Board, Montgomery County 2040 Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, the Montgomery County Homes for All Advisory Committee, and served as chairwoman of Weed & Seed.

Culbreath also touted her work with the 2005 Save Our Hospital campaign to keep Montgomery Hospital open in Norristown and her work with The Food Trust to improve access to fresh healthy food in the borough. Culbreath also was instrumental in establishing Out of Harm’s Way, a theatrical program to raise awareness and engage parents in the experience of their children in community police relations and anti-social youth behavior, according to her biography.

Culbreath has held campaign kickoff events in Norristown and Conshohocken and plans to hold a kickoff event in Plymouth on March 13 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Clubhouse at Parc in Plymouth Meeting.

Rochelle Culbreath