EAST VINCENT >> An industrial and commercial electrician who grew up in Pottstown has announced her candidacy for the 26th District seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives held for 25 years by Republican Tim Hennessey.
“Our community deserves real representation in Harrisburg,” Pam Hacker said in a release announcing her candidacy to run for the Democratic nomination. “I am running for State Representative out of frustration over what I see happening in our state government today.”
Hacker also took a swipe at Hennessey’s long tenure in Harrisburg.
“Every year in Harrisburg there is a failure to agree on a budget, the debt of Pennsylvania grows deeper and the gap that separates us widens. People’s voices are being silenced and ignored while politicians with seemingly lifelong terms in office make all the decisions that affect our lives,” she said.
Hacker, 58, is the daughter of the late Richard and Pauline Firing. She was born and raised in Pottstown, is a graduate of the former St. Pius X High School and currently resides on Brown Drive in East Vincent with her husband, Steve.
Since 1984, she has worked with the former IBEW Local 380, now Local 98 North.
As such, she has extensive experience in the building and construction trades.
“I am not a politician. What I am is a construction electrician, now in my 34th year in the building trades. Every job that I have ever worked on has required the skills and cooperation from the men and women involved,” said Hacker.
“From the architect to the tradesman we must work together to do our jobs in order to get a project from blueprint to final inspection. In my world, if you don’t do your job someone else can, and will, replace you. Our politicians need to be reminded that they work for us, and if they don’t do their jobs, they also can be replaced,” she said.
“From properly funding education at the state level to strengthen our public schools and stop skyrocketing property taxes, to investing in infrastructure and community and economic development to revitalize our communities and create jobs, to standing up for the rights of working families and fighting to protect the environment on which we all depend, I will be the voice and the advocate we need,” Hacker said.
The 26th House District is almost entirely in Chester County, but also includes three small voting districts in Pottstown.
The Chester County townships include East Coventry, East Nantmeal, East Vincent, Honey Brook, North Coventry, South Coventry, Wallace, Warwick, West Caln, West Nantmeal and West Sadsbury, as well as the boroughs of Elverson and Honey Brook.
