Murrysville GOP organizer will challenge Silvis in 55th District

A Murrysville political organizer will challenge fellow Republican and state Rep. Jason Silvis in the May primary election for the newly shaped 55th District.

Jill Cooper of Murrysville been active in local politics for more than a decade, working as part of the Murrysville Export Republican Committee and serving as former executive director and a current board member with the Murrysville Economic & Community Development Corporation.

Cooper said state Rep. Bob Brooks’ recent decision not to seek re-election is what spurred her to run.

“I felt that I wanted to run and really try to amplify our voice in Harrisburg,” Cooper said. “The current reps are there, but I feel like we can do more to talk about the conservative agenda.”

One of those current representatives is Silvis, who in the course of one week got news of a newly shaped 55th District and a primary challenger.

“I was at an event this morning with Jill, since petitions started today,” Silvis said on Friday. “She’s welcome to run. I don’t have anything against her.”

The new 55th District, solidified following a state Supreme Court ruling this week, brings the boundaries — which stretched across three counties — fully into Westmoreland, which Silvis said will be an advantage.

“It’ll be much easier to deal with one set of county commissioners, and the departments that come along with each county,” he said.

The new 55th District brings in a sizable chunk of Westmoreland County from Brooks’ former 54th, which was relocated to Norristown outside of Philadelphia during redistricting — a sign of the recent population growth in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Cooper said she wants to take her fight from outside the state Capitol to inside.

“When the governor said our kids couldn’t play sports, I was on the steps at the Capitol protesting,” she said. “I’ve always been involved in conservative politics, and I want to try to go inside and shake up the halls at Harrisburg.”

Silvis, a former stuntman and now full-time legislator, said he wants to continue serving all of the towns in his district and pointed to his strong entry into state politics.

“I beat an incumbent whose family had the seat for the past 43 years,” he said. “I try to do my best for everyone in the district.”

After a career in sales and marketing with Alcoa, Cooper retired in the early 2000s to raise her two children.

“Aside from my family, being an advocate for the things we care about in our community, state and country has been my calling,” she said. “I’m excited, and hopeful that we can win.”

For more on the newly shaped House districts, see SpotlightPA.org/topics/redistricting.