Marguerite Quinn (R-143rd dist.) will seek to replace fellow Republican Chuck McIlhinney, who is not seeking another term
By Tom Waring
The Times
State Rep. Marguerite Quinn (R-143rd dist.) will be running in the 10th Senatorial District race.
Quinn will seek to replace fellow Republican Chuck McIlhinney, who is not seeking another term.
The Democratic candidate is expected to be former state Rep. Steve Santarsiero, who lost a congressional race in 2016.
“I will bring pragmatic, independent leadership to the Senate and continue standing up for taxpayers and our communities,” Quinn said. “Whether it has been stopping the largest ever proposed tax increase in history, delivering record funding for schools, or working to preserve the unique character of our communities, I have always worked to bring responsible, effective representation to the issues while saying no to political games.”
Quinn was first elected to the House in 2006. She has led bipartisan efforts to increase access to quality healthcare and update the state’s laws to regulate the use of telemedicine. She also serves on the advisory board for the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Quinn has been active in the effort to address the opioid epidemic. She helped develop a legislative package that was passed with bipartisan support and signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf. She is also the author of a 2014 law that limits direct physician dispensing of prescription drugs.
A member of the House Appropriations Committee, Quinn has been a proponent of increased education funding. She helped implement a new education funding formula that is more fair to suburban school districts.
Quinn was also responsible for the creation of the State Employees Achieving Savings program. SEAS creates transparency and provides state government workers the ability to recommend ways to deliver better services as well as identify cost savings opportunities in the services provided by the state.
“One of my priorities is to always be a voice for taxpayers bringing fiscal discipline and common sense to state government,” Quinn said. “I opposed massive income and sales tax increases that would have unfairly targeted Bucks and Montgomery counties, but have also been supportive of a bipartisan and fair natural gas severance tax that allows the state to take advantage of this natural resource.”
Quinn has backed legal and regulatory reform and vocational and job-skills education programs, and supported efforts to preserve open space and protect environmental assets.
“I want all our families to have jobs that let them provide for today and reach their retirement goals for tomorrow. I want an economy that gives our children the opportunity to stay in the area and raise their own families,” Quinn said. “We are in a national competition to keep and attract employers, and I want to make sure Pennsylvania wins that competition.”
Quinn graduated from Archbishop Wood High School and then attended St. Joseph’s University, where she earned a degree in international relations. Prior to entering public service, she spent two years as a volunteer teacher in American Samoa, worked as a marketing professional for an international consulting firm and, later, enjoyed a career as a Realtor until entering the House.
Quinn resides in Doylestown with her husband, John. She has two daughters, three stepchildren and one granddaughter. ••
