Candidates with backgrounds in public service and the private sector are vying for the Pennsylvania House seat representing the 166th Legislative District, which includes Haverford Township and part of Marple Township.
Democrat Judy Trombetta, president of the Haverford Township Board of Commissioners, and Republican Joe Walker, a small-business owner and insurance broker, will face each other in the Nov. 3 general election.
In the primary election, Trombetta easily beat state Rep. Greg Vitali of Haverford, ousting a lawmaker who has served the district since 1993.
Trombetta, who is married to husband, Brandon, and has one son, grew up in Berwyn. The candidate has resided in Haverford Township since 2015. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Temple University and the University of Pittsburgh, respectively.
She has worked in local, county and state government, including as chief of staff in the Pennsylvania Senate and Pittsburgh City Council. The candidate has served as a Haverford Township commissioner since 2022 and became president of the Board of Commissioners in 2025. She also works as an intergovernmental affairs manager for Montgomery County.
Trombetta said she is running because she believes government should be accessible, responsive and accountable to residents.
“I believe government exists to help people,” she said.
Her priorities include public education, environmental protection, public transit, small-business and economic development, neighborhood safety and making Pennsylvania more affordable. She also said she would focus on constituent services and securing state resources for the district.
If elected, Trombetta said she would hold regular town halls, publish weekly electronic newsletters and operate an accessible district office.
She cited her experience working at multiple levels of government as preparation for the job.
“I have worked at the local, county, and state levels of government,” she said, adding that her background has given her experience with legislation, constituent services, grants, community projects and partnerships between government agencies.
Walker has lived in the district since 2013 and is a Wayne native.
He graduated from Archbishop John Carroll High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a minor in human resource management, from Widener University.
A licensed insurance agent with more than 25 years of experience in employee benefits, Walker is the founder and owner of Dignity Insured LLC, a health insurance brokerage serving small businesses, individuals and Medicare recipients.
He is married to Christine Wellington Walker and they have five children. He is active with St. Denis Parish in Havertown and has coached youth football and basketball. He has served for eight years as director of Bulldawg Flag Football.
Walker said he is running for state rep out of a sense of civic duty and wants to serve as a link between district residents and Harrisburg.
“I am not a career politician. I am a local business owner and community member,” Walker said.
His top priorities are property tax relief, health-care affordability and transparency, and what he calls smart zoning and support for local businesses.
Walker said he would support targeted property-tax freezes or reductions for long-term residents age 70 and older and would pursue policies aimed at increasing transparency in health-care pricing. He also said zoning should protect neighborhood character while allowing small businesses to grow.
His professional experience, he said, has given him a practical understanding of managing costs and budgets.
Walker also emphasized support for police officers and first responders and said he wants to create a more welcoming environment for new small businesses.
“True leadership isn’t top down; it’s bottom up,” Walker stated. “It requires active listening, assessing community needs and putting people first. My background in business and local leadership has prepared me to listen to residents and effectively advocate for their needs in Harrisburg.”
The candidates offer different backgrounds as they seek the seat.
Trombetta points to more than a decade of government and community work, including experience in Harrisburg and as a local elected official. Walker points to more than two decades in the private sector and his experience running a small business and working with businesses in numerous states.
Both candidates also emphasize constituent accessibility and community involvement, although they approach the role from different professional perspectives.
Trombetta said she wants to bring her government experience to Harrisburg and focus on collaboration and constituent services.
Walker said he would bring what he describes as a common-sense, business-oriented approach to the Legislature, with an emphasis on controlling costs and reducing financial pressures on families and seniors.
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