Kerry Benninghoff

Kerry A. Benninghoff is an American politician and coroner serving as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 171st district. Elected in November 1996, he assumed office on January 7, 1997.

Kerry Benninghoff
Majority Leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
June 22, 2020 – December 1, 2022
Preceded byBryan Cutler
Succeeded byJoanna McClinton
Majority Whip of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
December 1, 2018 – June 22, 2020
LeaderBryan Cutler
Preceded byBryan Cutler
Succeeded byDonna Oberlander
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 171st district
Assumed office
January 7, 1997
Preceded byRuth C. Rudy
Personal details
BornLebanon, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Children5
EducationPennsylvania State University
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life and education

Benninghoff was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. He graduated from State College Area High School and attended Pennsylvania State University from 1980 to 1981.[1] He is also a graduate of the Certified Coroners Training Program of the Pennsylvania State Police Academy.[2]

Career

While working as an orderly at Mount Nittany Medical Center in State College, Pennsylvania, Benninghoff was appointed as deputy coroner of Centre County, Pennsylvania in 1985.[3] In 1991, when Coroner Robert Neff retired, Benninghoff was elected to the office. He was re-elected in 1995.

In 1996, when Representative Ruth Rudy retired, Benninghoff declared his candidacy to succeed her. He defeated Democrat Keith Bierly in the general election that year and has been re-elected to each succeeding session of the House.[4]

In 2018, after being re-elected to the House, Benninghoff was elected by members of the Republican Caucus to serve as House majority whip.[5]

On June 22, 2020, Bennighoff was elected House majority leader. As majority leader, Benninghoff is the second highest-ranking Republican in the chamber behind Speaker Bryan Cutler.[6]

Benninghoff is against legalizing adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania. He has described it as a gateway drug and cites the opioid epidemic as a concern.[7]

Personal life

Benninghoff lives in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. He has five children.[1]

References
  1. "Kerry Benninghoff's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  2. "Representative Kerry A. Benninghoff". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  3. My Linh Nguyen (1993-10-21). "Dealing with the dead". The Daily Collegian. Archived from the original on 2011-05-25. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
  4. Sean Kim (1996-11-06). "Benninghoff Takes 171st State House". Centre Daily Times.
  5. Geoff Rushton (2018-11-14). "Benninghoff Elected House Majority Whip". StateCollege.com.
  6. "Centre County Republican Kerry Benninghoff elected as Pa. House majority leader". pennlive. 2020-06-22. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  7. Radio, Omny. "Recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania - The KDKA Radio Morning Show with Larry Richert and Kevin Battle - Omny.fm". omny.fm. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
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