Long-time supervisor hopes to follow the retiring Ross
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
Cuyler Walker
EAST MARLBOROUGH — A long-time township supervisor formally announced his bid to succeed State Rep. Chris Ross Monday — Cuyler Walker will seek the Republican nomination for the 158th District.
Walker, currently the chair of the township’s Board of Supervisor, has been active in the community for decades — he grew up in the township and his family has deep roots in the Unionville area — and has served in township government for the last eight years. Ross announced last month that he would not seek a 10th term in the legislature.
“It would be an honor to serve the citizens of the 158th State House District, and I will campaign vigorously for their votes,” Walker said in a statement released Monday. “Having been a resident of our community my entire life, I have a strong record of public service locally and at the state and federal levels. I believe that this background, paired with my private sector experience both as an attorney and small business owner, has prepared me well to serve as our next State Representative.”
Walker is an attorney with more than two decades of experience. Currently, he is a partner at the law firm of Pepper Hamilton specializing in corporate governance, mergers & acquisitions, and securities law matters. He is also the President of a family-owned manufacturing business with 25 employees. Previously, Walker served in the administration of Gov. Richard Thornburgh and also held posts in the U. S. Department of Justice during the administrations of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.
Walker lives in the township with his wife Katie and their children, Harry and Avery.
Walker is expected to face a primary challenge from Roger Howard, also a township resident. Howard previously challenged state Sen. Dominic Pileggi for his state senate seat and briefly sought a seat on the Unionville-Chadds Ford Board of Education. He has not formally announced his candidacy.
Should Walker win the GOP primary in May, 2014, he will likely face Democrat Susan Rzucidlo of New Garden, who told supporters last month that she would make a third run for the 158th District seat. She lost previous bids to Ross in 2010 and 2012.
Rzucidlo has been a vocal advocate of disabled children and their families.
