PA House Rep. Candidate Rochelle Culbreath Speaks To Patch About Run

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — "It's been a lifelong dream for me to run for state representative," Rochelle Culbreath tells Patch.

Culbreath, 53, a Norristown native whose family has strong roots in this Montgomery County seat going back four generations, is one of the announced candidates seeking to represent the newly created 54th Legislative District, which includes the boroughs of Norristown and Conshohocken, as well as Plymouth Township.

Culbreath comes from a long line of community activists and dedicated public servants, something that spurred this fourth-generation Norristown resident to seek elective office.

Her godmother, Louise Williams Bishop, a former Democratic Pennsylvania state representative, took Culbreath up to Harrisburg when Culbreath was younger, something the candidate said started her down the road of public service.

Her great grandfather was instrumental in helping to rebuild the Siloam Baptist Church in Norristown.

Her grandfather, William A. Nowlin, Jr., was the second-ever Black police officer in Norristown during the 1970s and 1980s.

And her grandmother was the third-ever Black teacher in the Norristown public school system, also during that same time period.

"We are town first," Culbreath said.

First Black Norristown Councilwoman

Culbreath carried on her family's service-oriented tradition by becoming the first-ever Black councilwoman and first Black borough council president in Norristown. She was on that body from 2000 to 2007.

Back in 1993, Culbreath had left home to attend college, but she ventured back to Norristown afterward and hasn't turned back.

Upon her return home, she said things were different than when she had left to attend school.

"I just saw a difference in what my community was like when I left to go to college," she said.

Ever since, she wanted to seek political office to help ensure that her community would remain thriving and a good place to call home for folks.

Diverse District

Now, Culbreath seeks a seat that will represent not just Norristown, but also two neighboring municipalities.

And while some of the needs amongst the diverse constituency will undoubtedly vary, Culbreath believes many issues — jobs, education, healthcare — transcend municipal lines.

By day, Culbreath works as a state manager of legislative affairs for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, so, not surprisingly, a big passion of hers is mass transit.

She has also spent more than a decade working on a workforce investment board for Montgomery County, she said, and thus she is passionate about creating "employable people."

"You can have jobs, but the people have to be engaged enough to get those jobs," she said.

Culbreath says she is a strong proponent of manufacturing jobs and she advocates for the building trades.

She is also dedicated to creating affordable housing in her district, as well as ensuring that local youth are entitled to a quality public education.

No Stranger To State Governance

Because of her day job, Culbreath says she is no stranger to state government, since she travels up to Harrisburg quite often on a regular basis.

And she said that anyone who knows her, and is familiar with her passion for public service, would not be surprised to learn she launched a state rep run.

"It's not really that big of a surprise I don't think," she said. "I'm no stranger to following public transit policy and legislation."

Culbreath, who was previously married and is now a single mom of 18-year-old daughter Brianna, joked that people often peg her as a workaholic, but she stressed that she does have other passions.

One thing she enjoys is her "Dine In District 54" social media posts, in which she visits different restaurants in the municipalities that make up her legislative district, and comment and post photos about the local businesses.

It's a great way to engage the local community, she said.

As for her state rep run, Culbreath said one thing that distinguishes her from other candidates is experience.

Earlier this week, Culbreath launched her campaign kickoff event by visiting the George Washington Wood B&B, a charming bed and breakfast operating out of a historic building in Conshohocken Borough.

To learn more about Culbreath, visit her campaign website here.