Bucks businesswoman kicks off campaign
Republican Wendi Thomas, Council Rock School Board director from Northampton Township, kicked off her campaign in the 178th Legislative District
By Tom Waring
The Times
Republican Wendi Thomas, a businesswoman and Council Rock School Board director from Northampton Township, last week kicked off her campaign in the 178th Legislative District.
A special election and the primary will take place on May 15. The other candidates are Democrat Helen Tai, a Solebury Township supervisor, and the Green Party’s Adrienne Taffoni Morgado, a retired teacher and environmental activist from Wrightstown who worked for the Bristol Township School District for more than 30 years.
The seat has been open since former Republican Rep. Scott Petri resigned to become executive director of the Philadelphia Parking Authority.
Thomas first became involved in serving the community more than 20 years ago, while advocating for her children. She volunteered in her local schools, and became a Parent Teacher Organization leader.
On the Council Rock School Board, she has served as president and vice president of the Board by her fellow Board members of both parties.
“I have never played political games. My focus is always getting results that help people, and that is the same philosophy I will carry with me as state representative,” Thomas said. “I’m as tired of the partisanship and craziness in our political system right now as everyone else and want to bring the focus back where it should be: on issues that make a difference for local residents.”
As a school board member, Thomas has worked to keep taxes among the lowest in Bucks County. In Harrisburg, she pledges to have a commonsense approach to fiscal issues.
“Government needs to work more like we do in our homes and businesses: by setting priorities, asking if we really need to spend money on a particular item, and then making a decision that is best for all,” she said.
Thomas raised her children while working for a small start-up company in the healthcare industry that ultimately grew into a national firm. She rose from saleswoman to senior vice president at HealthAdvocate.
“To create jobs, we need to support policies that make Pennsylvania competitive in what is a national marketplace to keep and attract job creators. As someone who has actually helped grow a small company into a national one, I know we need a comprehensive approach that addresses everything from education to tax reform and more,” she said.
Thomas wants to preserve open spaces, waterways, parks and trails, town centers and local projects like road improvements that reduce traffic and improve public safety.
Thomas is endorsed by Petri, who said, “Wendi has proven her independence and her commitment to getting results. She will help working families and seniors, protect our quality of life, and make sure our kids can raise their families here, too. The people of the 178th District have trusted me to do what’s right for them, and they can trust Wendi to do the same.”
Thomas and her husband of 30 years, J.T., have lived in Northampton Township for 26 years. They have three children: John Jr., Justin and Stephanie, all of whom graduated from Council Rock South High School and were active in local youth sports.
Thomas earned a degree from Gettysburg College, where she is still an active alumna. ••
