Meet Nancy

Hi, I’m Nancy Guenst. It's been a busy two years in Harrisburg and throughout the district.  Recovery from the global pandemic has affected our lives and the mental wellbeing of our children, friends and families.  We need to heal together and move forward.  Never has the need for strong, compassionate and effective leadership been more clear.  Let's join hands and do this together.

As your State Representative, I've been working hard to lead our district in which I was born, raised, and have lived almost my entire life through this unprecedented public health crisis. I’ve been working with County and State officials as well as our Borough and Township Managers, police chiefs and others, to lead our municipalities through these very challenging times. I’ve been hosting virtual town halls as part of a comprehensive effort to keep our community aware of the status of our public services that they depend on and other matters that affect them. As a State Representative, Mayor, two term Council Person, Army Veteran, and a small business owner, I have a track record as a strong, effective, and compassionate leader. And as a daughter and a mother, my inspiration to do my part to become an elected official and to run for higher office was ignited by the lives of my mother, my son, and my brother. 

My mother was my first role model. She taught me the value of hard work, the importance of fighting for a seat at the table for what you believe in, the responsibility of giving to those less fortunate, and the power of compassion. These are the values that I try to live by every day. My mother fought to get one of the first female judges in office at a time when female judges were frowned upon. I watched as she stood up against the people in power. I try to emulate that courage every day. My mother showed me the importance of compassion, and giving to those less fortunate. Everyday she took me around to neighbors' houses, or the local orphanage, to bring all the leftover food home from our deli shop to kids that were in more need than we were. 

So when I saw that there were officials on my Borough Council who were making backroom deals and lacking transparency, I decided that instead of just going to meetings and complaining, I needed to be the change I wanted to see and run for Borough Council myself. While on Council, I introduced the Human Relations Ordinance and worked to get it passed. And although it included fundamental, basic human rights, our mayor at the time vetoed that bill. That's when I decided, enough is enough. For me to just be a council person wasn't enough, I needed to run for mayor. And so I did. During my first term as the Mayor of Hatboro, Borough leadership and I reintroduced the ordinance and it passed with flying colors.

Now, I want to build on the work I've been doing in Harrisburg by running for a second term as your State Representative. We know that this is a time, if ever there was one, to flip this legislature. We need proven, effective leaders who are from the community, know the issues of concern to the constituents, and have the ability and desire to be a powerful voice for us. A gerrymandered legislature has lead to years of the needs of the rightful majority being silenced while the blatantly harmful priorities of a minority of Pennsylvanians have been allowed to advance.

We also are currently dealing with many issues that resonate deeply within me. I want to continue my time in Harrisburg fighting for people like my brother, a person who struggled with heroin addiction and sadly lost the battle at the age of 39. My brother was treated like a criminal, rather than someone with a disease. His death was preventable. I need to fight for equality for my son who had his military career cut short when he was kicked out under the old Don't Ask, Don't Tell guidelines. I need to fight for a future where my nieces and nephews and their children can breathe clean air and drink clean water. And of course, we're seeing now, more than ever, how critical it is to fight for affordable healthcare for all, an increase to the minimum wage, and for safe and fully funded schools. 

It is time for change in Harrisburg. For far too long, we've had candidates run for office who seem more interested in the title than representing their constituents. Our district office continues to provide essential constituent services in one of the busiest and most responsive district offices in our commonwealth. I need the support of people like you to help ensure that I can continue to be the change we want to see in these uncertain and challenging times. I hope I can count on your support. 

- Nancy