Kathleen Coder Announces Candidacy for the 16th District

Kathleen Coder announced her candidacy Monday for the Republican nomination to the Pennsylvania State House, 16th Legislative District.

“We don’t need more career politicians in Harrisburg,” Coder of Bellevue said in a press release. “We need real people who want to serve and do something to make a difference.”

Coder enters the legislative race for the Republican nomination with , who announced his candidacy in January. Both are vying for the seat currently held by State Rep. Rob Matzie, D, Ambridge.

The 16th District in Allegheny County includes Crescent, and Ross townships, , Bellevue, Franklin Park, and , along with Ambridge, Baden, Aliquippa, Economy, Harmony and Conway in Beaver County.

Coder is the founder of Inta-Great, a company that serves as a catalyst for leadership development, and she works with individuals from all around the country, Fortune 100 companies, churches, non-profit organizations and schools by helping them develop the leadership skills they need to become successful and sustainable, the release states.

Coder also announced that NFL legend and Steeler great, Rocky Bleier, will chair her campaign.

Coder served four years as Bellevue Council president, working with both Democrats and Republicans to move the community forward, the press release said.

“Bellevue has been awarded with more grant monies than it has ever received. I’ve worked with neighboring communities, the City of Pittsburgh, and Allegheny County to implement inter-governmental cooperation and good relationships,” she said in the release.

As a result of her efforts, Coder said she was invited to the White House in Washington, D.C. to participate in a national “Forum on First Suburbs, Inclusion, Sustainability, and Economic Growth” this past summer—a forum led by Building ONE America, an advocacy group that supports economic growth in small towns.

Coder will focus her efforts on community and economic development, servant leadership and sustainable education.

“During my time as Bellevue Council president, I created a school task force to come alongside our school to think innovatively about our future and making our school sustainable. Although I am from Pittsburgh, I bring a fresh approach to many of these issues because of my experiences living in other cities, like Seattle and Atlanta, and witnessing their growth. I can bring some of their best practices to our region and state,” she said.

She also serves as vice president of CONNECT (Congress of Neighboring Communities), and serves as a board member of North Hills Community Outreach, Three Rivers Wet Weather, and North Boroughs Chamber of Commerce.

Coder resides in Bellevue with her husband Ron Coder, former Penn State and Steelers offensive lineman.