Germantown High grad Stephen Kinsey sworn in as state representative

Now, it’s really official.

Nearly a year after he announced his candidacy, Stephen Kinsey is a state representative. The Germantown native was sworn into office on Tuesday inside the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg.

He will lead the state’s 201st Legislative District, which covers parts of Germantown, Mount Airy, West Oak Lane and Ogontz.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Kinsey, but “no matter what you call me, the bottom line is that we still need to focus on what’s at hand.”

An agenda moving forward

Kinsey has said that he plans to focus on, among other things, job creation and improving education during his first term in office.

On Wednesday, he added that he also hopes to set an example for the children in the neighborhoods he now represents.

“It helps create a vision that if Steve Kinsey did it, then anybody else can do it,” said Kinsey of his new position. “A lot of kids in my neighborhood, their world is their neighborhood.”

Kinsey earned the seat after emerging from a three-man Democratic primary race and an uncontested general election contest.

State Rep. John Myers, for whom Kinsey served as chief of staff, retired after 17 years in office.

A total of 28 state representatives were sworn in New Year’s Day.