Republicans, Democrats face off in 120th District race

Madonna Mantione
·2 min read

KINGSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Three Republicans and two Democrats faced off in the hotly contested 120th district race.

After 10 years in Harrisburg, State Representative Aaron Kaufer is hanging up his orange tie and is not seeking re-election to the state house.

Representative Kaufer has served the residents of the 120th district since taking office in 2015.

Among the efforts, Kaufer highlights as the most important of his tenure are the removal of the Swoyersville Culm Bank, the formation of the Wyoming Area Regional Police Department, the transfer of the former Wyoming State Police Barracks to serve as the department’s headquarters, and the reopening of the former first hospital as Wyoming Valley Behavioral Hospital.

The 120th district covers parts of the west side of the Wyoming Valley and the Back Mountain.

“It’s been an honor to serve the people. It’s an honor of a lifetime, it’s a humbling experience to be able to go to there and be inside that big capitol building and to do what’s right for the people of Luzerne County and the 120th district,” Kaufer explained.

The two Democratic candidates are Fern Leard and John Morgan.

Fern Leard is currently in the lead. She joined the NEPA Democrats for a Primary Election Night Watch Party at Rodano’s in Wilkes-Barre.

Leard serves on the Luzerne County Democratic Party Executive Committee and is a healthcare advocate.

“We never stopped knocking doors. I have an incredible team. We just put the work in, we listened to how everybody felt, we made sure we hit as many area as we can,” Leard explained.

The polls are open: Primary election underway in Pennsylvania

The three republican candidates are Brenda Pugh, Lee Ann McDermott, and Pat Musto.

Brenda Pugh is currently in the lead. She hosted an Election Night Watch Party at Valenti’s in Exeter.

Pugh is chairperson of the Luzerne County Fair and owns her own business, AMP Global Strategies.

“I’m ecstatic. This is about the residents of the 120th district. Today they spoke they decided who they wanted to represent them and I’m excited to know even more of them and find out what’s important to them to get the job done,” Pugh said.

Kaufer will serve the remainder of his term, which expires at the end of November.

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