The LuLac Edition #5, 584, February 24th, 2026

 

LUZERNE 

STATE REP CANDIDATES 

2026 

 

Three candidates have come forward to run for State Representative.

117^TH

JEREMY BENSCOTER: From the candidate website: I’m  Jeremy Benscoter and I grew up in the 117th district. I lived in Hunlock Creek, went to Hunlock Creek Elementary, and graduated from Northwest Area High School. I worked through college and graduated with a BS in Computer Science from Bloomsburg University. I come from a family that struggled to put food on the table and had little in the way of disposable income. I know how a small increase in your utilities can have a huge impact on your day to day. I have spent my whole life in Hunlock Creek and have seen the changes that have happened over the years.

Today, I work in technology. I have been a programmer for over 15 years and have a wide knowledge of the tech industry, its successes and its failures. I currently work as Director of Information Technology overseeing a small, privately owned company in Pittsburgh. The website you are browsing was created by and is managed by me.

I understand that technology is ever-changing. I will fight to protect us from corporations that want to impose their expenses on us and take people’s homes. I want to make sure that the data centers that are popping up across PA pay their fair share in utilities and don’t pass it on to the rest of us. Just like you, I am tired of seeing my electric bill go up every year.

Benscooter will have a big hill to climb in this GOP district but he has drive, a personal message that can resonate as well as a good presence that voters in that district might respond to. 

JAMIE WALSH  Walsh  is a first time Representative, but his road was longer and more arduous than Pugh’s winning a primary by only 3 cotes. Walsh has a good way of conversing with voters but some of his stances have been MAGA like. His decision to vote against Black History month is troubling but to give him the benefit of the doubt he might have been playing to his base on that one.  Walsh has been in the remodeling and medical devices business and excelled in both.  During the last 11 years, Jamie has served as President of the Lake-Lehman Junior Knights (7 years), and Secretary of the Wyoming Valley Junior Football Conference (4 years). Three years ago, he co-founded and then became President of the Citizens Advisory of Pennsylvania which is a parent’s rights organization that encompasses all of Pennsylvania. The organization provides parents with information and resources to help them when dealing with issues and advocating for rights in their school districts. In the last 3 years, Jamie has been to well over 2 dozen school districts statewide to help parents fight for their rights, but his focus has been primarily within Luzerne County.

Walsh is opposed by Bill Jones in the spring primary.

BILL JONES: Bill has committed his entire career to serving our community. After college, he spent 15 years in the banking industry, gaining hands-on experience in financial management and community development. As the Vice President and Community Development Officer for PNC Bank in NEPA, Bill had state-wide responsibility to ensure the bank was reinvesting in our communities.

He left banking to become the Chief Operating Officer of Volunteers of America of PA. He developed and managed programs that supported the elderly, at-risk children and families, individuals who were homeless, Veterans, those with intellectual disabilities or mental health needs, and more.

Most notably, for 12 years, Bill served as President and CEO of the United Way of Wyoming Valley, where he led a major transformation of the organization. Under his leadership, United Way focused on addressing childhood poverty and improving coordination among local agencies serving children, families, and others in need.

Bill is facing off against incumbent Jamie Walsh who won by a mere 3 votes in the last election. Walsh has been  very critical of the Luzerne County Bureau of Elections and voted no to recognize Black History month. 

Jones is the son of former County Commissioner Red Jones who served as a commissioner in the 90s.

118^TH

JIM HADDOCK Jim Haddock is the Democratic candidate for the 118th House District and resident of Pittston Township, and he has a record of proven leadership and delivering results for our communities. As the former Mayor of Avoca, Jim fought for residents when it came to quality-of-life issues, and his devotion to responsible public service means that he will bring common sense solutions to Harrisburg.

Jim took on the Kerr-McGee organization after they created an environmental disaster and exposed our residents to deadly carcinogens for decades. Jim spearheaded the effort to hold Kerr-McGee accountable, filing an official complaint with the Department of Environmental Protection and filing a lawsuit to bring justice for those in Avoca and beyond. His work resulted in compensation of over 5,000 residents.

Jim will bring that same fighting spirit to Harrisburg for the people of the 118th. His priorities include properly funding our public education, fight to reduce property taxes, stop the constant turnpike toll and property tax increases, create living-wage jobs, and secure affordable healthcare for our families.

JOHN LOMBARDO: In his second term as County Councilman Lombardo brings name recognition, service on the Council as well as making sure he shows up at area events. He is engaging, has outlined priorities that can register with voters and can navigate any negativity directed at him from the national chaos engendered by his party. If he faces no primary opposition, he will be a formidable candidate for the 118^th,

119^TH

 LAUREN MCGURDY McCurdy is filing petitions to run against Alex Syncavage. In his second term, her opponent has demonstrated good customer service to his constituents. But unlike the 120th, this district can be more competitive. McCurdy comes with experience on the Crestwood area school board, a long record of activism in the Democratic party and can be a reasonable alternative to the two termer. McCurdy has pushed for more STEM education, school security and more money allocated for the practical application of tools needed for education. As a challenger she will need a committed team to focus in on her candidacy because it appears from what we hear, Ryncavage has a head start in this race which can with the right support, can be competitive.

ALEC RYNCAVAGE  of Plymouth, is honored to bring his unique experiences forging his own non-traditional pathway to define a new chapter for the people of the 119th Legislative District in Luzerne County and deliver prosperity for all of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Alec has been appointed to the following committees for the 2025-26 Legislative Session: Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities, Finance, Gaming Oversight, Local Government, and Transportation.

Ryncavage is running for a third term and has beaten back two Democratic opponents handily.

 

120^th

 

FERN LEARD:  Leard has announced her campaign for State Representative in the 120th Legislative District. If nominated, Leard, 41, a Democrat from Dallas Township, will try to unseat Rep. Brenda Pugh, R-Dallas Township. “I’m running because the working class deserves more than promises,” Learn said. “We deserve a fighter. We deserve a voice that comes from our communities and never forgets who it represents. Leard said for too long, working families have been asked to carry the weight of an economy stacked against them. “I know that struggle personally,” Leard said. “I grew up in foster care. I worked multiple service-industry jobs just to survive. I know what it’s like to worry about bills, healthcare, and whether hard work will ever truly be enough.”

Leard said that lived experience is why she spent over a decade fighting in Washington, D.C., to ensure that health insurance covered lymphedema treatment, so millions of Americans could access the care they deserve.

“And it’s why I’m running now — to bring that same relentless advocacy back home,” Leard said.

The challenges facing the district affect all, Leard said.

“But it’s also that shared struggle that unites us and fuels my determination to build a future where families can finally breathe easier,” she said. “A future where everyday necessities are affordable, our rights are protected, and no one is pushed aside so powerful interests can profit. This moment demands leadership that puts people first, not politics, not corporations, not insiders.”

Leard said her campaign is grounded in the belief that the community’s future can be fairer, strong120th er, and shaped by the people who live here.

Leard is facing primary opposition from Attorney Johann Bryn Smith. Leard has demonstrated that she can run an uphill campaign on her own. Last year the state campaign committee did little to help her efforts because the 120th has been primarily a Republican stronghold with the exception of the Phyllis Mundy era. Both Bryn Smith and KLeard have already lost in the district and to me, just my opinion a primary fight in this area will not help in the uphill climb to unseat Rachel Pugh.

JOANNA BRYN SMITH    The top voter in the 23 County Council race, Bryn Smith has shown she could have voter appeal. Previously she had run against Aaron Kaufer and was handily defeated. Why she has chosen to enter into a primary battle with Fern Leard is not surprising. If the powers that they think her primary opponent Fern Leard (who has also been previously defeated by GOP Kaufer and Brenda Pugh)  was intimated by a Democratic Executive committee action, they have another thing coming. Leard has a very hard core constituency and despite promises that a new transplant to Kingston is going to guarantee that vote. This is going to be a hard climb for both Leard and Bryn Smith but in the end might be futile. 

This has always been a Republican seat. There have been only two Democrats who had this west side seat. The late Frank Cossin Senior (but he was gerrymandered out by a GOP legislature in 1964 and Phyllis Mundy who beat an incumbent who was under an insurance fraud investigation. (Mundy  on the strength of her incumbency went on to serve for twenty plus years)  . Even though strides have been made to turn the district blue, there is still a big registration gap that will be hard to overcome.

My big fear for the Dems is this. They might become the  Luzerne GOP of the 90s when the party was content to battle it out in the primary with multiple candidates only to be beaten by the GOP. There were entertaining primaries but had no effect in the General.

BRENDA PUGH Born and raised here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, Brenda is a successful business owner, wife, mother, and trusted community leader. She shares our priorities, strong values, and is best prepared to use her proven experience and skills to serve as our next State Representative. Brenda is seeking the Republican nomination for the State House seat currently held by retiring State Representative Aaron Kaufer.

"As State Representative, I will use my proven experience to implement commonsense policies that  create good paying jobs for Luzerne County workers, hold the line on taxes to enable taxpayers to  keep more of their money, reform state government to make it work for our families, and support public safety initiatives and our police to keep our communities safe.” 

As a candidate Pugh is formidable with that huge registration lead and has continued the important aspects of constituent service through a response team in her local office. She kicked off her campaign on the 17th of this month. 

 

121rst

JESSICA McCLAY: She has served on various city boards, was elected as a city Council woman in ’23 and is now City Council Chair. Prior to taking her seat on council, McClay served as a volunteer on the city’s Planning and Fire/Civil Service Commission  as well as the Traffic Committee. Prior to taking her seat on council, McClay served as a volunteer on the city’s Planning and Fire/Civil Service Commission, During her service on the Wilkes-Barre City Council, McClay said she has championed fiscal responsibility and public safety investments. She said she has earned a reputation with city residents as a hard-working, responsive councilwoman who listens to their concerns and acts promptly to address them.

McClay said she collaborated with the Mayor’s administration to pursue more grants to secure essential resources, while shifting the financial burden away from taxpayers. McClay said she supported funding for crucial equipment to keep city firefighters safe and for new, state-of-the-art police vehicles for city officers to modernize the Wilkes-Barre Police Department’s fleet. As a member of the Fire Civil Service Commission, she said she worked closely with the city fire department to streamline the hiring of qualified firefighters.

McClay said her campaign will focus on making life more affordable for working Pennsylvanians, attracting high-paying union jobs to the region, and investing in our schools and small businesses. Her other priorities include expanding access to affordable healthcare and supporting our first responders.

DENISE THOMAS: The 4 term Wilkes-Barre Area School Director has put her hat in the ring for the 121rst. Thomas has good name recognition and will have a base of support in the school district as well as Rolling Mill Hill.  According to a press release, Thomas highlighted her goals as state representative.

• Working to ensure state funding supports our communities in ways that ease financial pressure on families and strengthen local budgets.

• Expanding access to affordable healthcare, including strengthening community-based and mental health services.

• Fully, fairly funding public education so districts are not forced to choose between quality education and raising taxes.

• Responsible budgeting in Harrisburg, ensuring taxpayer dollars are managed with discipline and transparency.

As a proud member of a family with five generations rooted in the community, Thomas says public service is personal and was instilled in her thanks to her parents, Anthony and Terry Gonda Thomas.

ANN MARIE MONTIONE: A resident of Barney Farms, she has expressed interest in running in the 121rst. Her daughter was seen at a signing petition at Rodano’s on Sunday but at this time there appears to be no organized effort.

MIKE HAROSTOCK the lone Republican has announced his candidacy for State Representative in Pennsylvania’s 121st Legislative District, challenging the Democratic nominee and citing a need for forward-looking leadership in Harrisburg. Harostock, 41, is the mayor of Bear Creek.

Harostock said his campaign is rooted in a deep commitment to the people of Luzerne County and a belief that state government must better reflect the voices, values, and priorities of the communities it serves.

Harostock said he will unite the community by focusing on bringing new energy, innovation, and accountability to Harrisburg, while protecting the values and traditions that make our communities strong.