LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — Brenda Pugh, business owner and chair of the Luzerne County Fair, declared victory in the Republican primary for a seat in the 120th State House District.
Pugh took the podium at 9:24 p.m. at Valenti's Restaurant in Exeter with 62.1% of the vote behind her, with roughly half of the district reporting. She was joined by state Rep. Aaron Kaufer, the district's incumbent, who is not seeking reelection, state Rep. Karen Boback, and state Sen. Lisa Baker.
She thanked her supporters for her showing at the polls.
"I'd like to think I had something to do with this," she said. "Everyone in this room had something to do with this.
She bested Lee Ann McDermott and Pat Musto.
McDermott owns a real estate appraisal business with her husband and recently started her second term on Luzerne County Council.
Musto is also a business owner and draws on his experience serving on the Dallas School Board for three terms during a period of time when the board did not raise property taxes.
All three candidates said they would support a longtime Republican effort to eliminate state property taxes.
The 120th District makes up parts of the west side of Wyoming Valley and the Back Mountain.