The Canary can confirm former Ateeco Inc. owner and executive Tim Twardzik is running for Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives.
Twardzik will seek the Republican nomination for the 123rd District in Harrisburg. That seat’s currently held by Democrat Neal Goodman. Goodman announced last year that he won’t seek re-election in 2020.
Tim Twardzik Seeking State House in 123rd District
Twardzik will announce his candidacy in Shenandoah this Thursday night.
According to the flyer above, the announcement will happen at Schuylkill Historical Fire Museum on Thursday, from 6-8 p.m. That’s located at 105 S. Jardin St., Shenandoah.
Replacing Neal Goodman
Twardzik looks to become a new face for the 123rd District in Harrisburg.
Goodman held the seat since winning election in 2002. He’s served 9 consecutive terms and rarely faced an opponent.
In 2010, the Democrat beat Etur Dicassimiro. Before that, he turned aside Republicans Mike Cadau in 2006, Tom Yarnell in 2004, and Champ Holman in 2002.
Goodman won the Democrat nomination in 2002. He replaced EJ Lucyk when he retired.
Tim Twardzik
Twardzik brings a wealth of business experience with his candidacy. He’s the former owner and chief exec at Ateeco Inc., the makers of Mrs. T’s Pierogies, an increasingly popular national brand.
He now serves in various local business leadership roles.
Democrat Challenger
As soon as Goodman announced his retirement, it didn’t take long to pinpoint his nephew, Minersville councilman Ian Mahal, as a potential replacement and challenger for the Democrat nomination.
Late last week, Mahal put those rumors to bed. In a social media announcement, he said:
I would like to officially announce that I will not seek the Democratic nomination for the 123rd State Legislative District. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank everyone who approached or messaged me with kind words of encouragement, but after months of deliberation; I decided that this moment was not my time. The future ahead is bright, and it is my hope to be a part of it. I will continue to fulfill my commitments to our county and fight to improve our proud Coal Region communities. Thank you!
So that leaves the door open for now for Democrats in the 123rd District. It includes the following boroughs in Schuylkill County: Ashland, Frackville, Gilberton, Girardville, Gordon, Mahanoy City, Mechanicsville, Middleport, Minersville, Mount Carbon, New Philadelphia, Palo Alto, Port Carbon, Shenandoah and St. Clair. The district also includes parts of Pottsville as well as numerous townships.
We hear two former Schuylkill County political rivals could be primed for a Primary challenge for the Democrat nod in the 123rd.
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kathleen thompson
January 22, 2020 at 8:45 pm
Yeah Tim!!! You have my vote!!!!