Krueger-Braneky Announces State House Race

from the inbox:

Swarthmore businesswoman Leanne Krueger-Braneky on Tuesday formally announced her candidacy for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 161st Legislative District. Krueger-Braneky, Director of Fellowship and Alumni for the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), is a nationally renowned economic development professional who specializes in socially responsible business practices. In announcing her first bid for public office, Krueger-Braneky cited the need for greater investment in public education, job creation and support for small and locally-owned businesses.

 "The residents of the 161^st District are being hurt by the policies of Governor Corbett and the Republicans in Harrisburg,” the 37-year-old Krueger-Braneky said. “Our current elected officials are failing us. We need new leadership to ensure a fair, sustainable public education funding formula and real support for local business in order to create jobs and make our economy work for the people of Delaware County and the rest of the Commonwealth.” 

Leanne has received national attention for her work in economic development, advising the White House Business Council on the needs of local businesses.  For eight years, Leanne served as the first Executive Director of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN), creating a 500-plus member business organization working to build a just, green, and thriving economy in the Southeast Pennsylvania five-county region. Leanne’s efforts to reshape economic development practices were recognized when SBN was named Regional Economic Development Program of the Year by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission in 2011.

 “As a parent, I want the same thing for my son that everyone wants – good schools and a safe and healthy environment.  Governor Corbett and the House Republicans have cut millions from public education while handing out tax breaks to large, out-of-state corporations. Delaware County has the highest asthma hospitalization rate among the four counties outside of Philadelphia while the State has gutted environmental protection over the last three years.  I will make sure Harrisburg fights for our children’s future instead of helping make millionaires richer.”

 Leanne holds an MBA from Eastern University and a Bachelor’s from Rutgers University.  She is also a BALLE Local Economy Fellow, a Senior Fellow of the Environmental Leadership Program and a 2009 Pennsylvania Fellow of the Center for Progressive Leadership.  Among the honors and recognitions she has received are: 40 Under 40 by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council; Next Generation of Leadership Rising Stars; and the Green Power Award from Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future.  Leanne lives in Swarthmore, PA, with her two-year-old son Wendell and husband David Braneky and is a proud member of the Swarthmore Co-Op.

 The 161^st Legislative District includes Aston, Brookhaven, Nether Providence, parts of Ridley, Rose Valley, Rutledge, part of Springfield and Swarthmore.