A Former Pottstown School Director Is Running For The Open 24th Senatorial Dist. Seat

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — A former Pottstown School Board member is hoping to flip the 24th Senatorial District blue for the first time in history, announcing that he is running for the seat held by retiring State. Sen. Bob Mensch, a Republican.

Emanuel Wilkerson announced last week that he is seeking to represent the state's 24th Senatorial District, which encompasses parts of Montgomery, Bucks and Berks Counties.

"I have a record of fighting for my community and what I believe in, and I am excited to unite a coalition and show what it takes to build a brighter future," Wilkerson posted on Facebook. "Let's get to work!"

Wilkerson is a Pottstown native who, at age 18, became the youngest local official ever elected in Pennsylvania when he won a seat on the local school board, according to his campaign website.

Before his election to the school board, Wilkerson had been appointed, while still in high school, to represent the study body on the board as a student member. He says he was able to influence the board during that time to launch initiatives to "strengthen student voices and foster success."

Wilkerson, a lifetime NAACP member, also says he worked with the local chapter to promote community-based policing, promote voter registration, and bring the first COVID-19 vaccine clinic to Pottstown Borough.

On his campaign site, Wilkerson says that his candidacy will "bring an energy to this race that has never been felt in this district before.

"I have always been a fighter," he states. "I have taken the fight for fair funding of our public schools to Harrisburg. I have united a multigenerational coalition to learn from each other."

Wilkerson says that by flipping the 24th Senatorial District blue for the first time ever, "we can show not only this district, not only this state, but the entire country what it takes to win."

Wilkerson has already won the endorsement of Pottstown Mayor Stephanie Henrick.

Patch has previously reported on the other two candidates who have announced a run for the 24th Senatorial District — Skippack Township Supervisor Nick Fountain and State Rep. Tracy Pennycuick.

Visit Wilkerson's campaign website to learn more about the candidate and his policies.