Trending
BELLEFONTE -- State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin) announced he will be seeking re-election to represent the 171st District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Benninghoff, currently serves as Majority Leader for the House of Representatives, and has retained his seat for 25 years.
"It has been the honor of my lifetime to serve the people of Centre and Mifflin counties in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives," Benninghoff said. "I want to continue to be an advocate for our community and the values we hold dear."
According to a release from Benninghoff's office, his tenure in the General Assembly has involved "significant legislative achievement and continued trust among his colleagues to lead on sound conservative principles that put the people of Pennsylvania first."
Of note, Benninghoff, an adoptee, was the author of landmark legislation that gives children born in Pennsylvania and subsequently placed for adoption the ability to obtain a copy of their original birth certificate.
"Last session, Benninghoff authored legislation that did away with an arcane area of state law that essentially re-victimized rape victims by requiring them to find a surrogate family for a subsequent child before they could sever the parental rights of the rapist," the release said.
This session, Benninghoff wrote the legislation that ended Gov. Tom Wolf's COVID-19 emergency powers.
"The foundation of our form of government requires us to put people first, to truly listen to and respond to the needs of those we represent. I have been honored to carry the voice of our unique community to the halls of government in Harrisburg and would be honored to be able to continue to serve my friends, neighbors, and colleagues," Benninghoff said.
Benninghoff is also the founder of the Pennsylvania General Assembly's bipartisan, bicameral Cancer Caucus that has worked to secure funding for pediatric cancer research and raise and advocate for cancer-related policy issues at the state level. He has also championed legislative and community efforts that support people with intellectual disabilities.
Predating his time in the General Assembly, Benninghoff worked in construction and worked as a hospital orderly. Later, he served Centre County for two terms as county coroner.
Benninghoff is active in the Bellefonte Borough community. He is the founding member and active participant in a number of local non-profit and charity organizations, including Leadership Centre County. He is an active member of the Bellefonte Kiwanis Club and supports law enforcement through membership in the Fraternal Order of Police, Bald Eagle Lodge No. 51. As a man of faith, Benninghoff is a long-time member of Faith United Methodist Church in Bellefonte.
Benninghoff graduated from State College Area High School, later attending Pennsylvania State University. He received advanced training in the Certified Coroners Training Program conducted in Hershey by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Benninghoff resides in Bellefonte and is the father of five children -- Michael, Heather, Amy, Kelley and Ryleigh as well as a growing brood of grandchildren.