Michelle Schellberg

Michelle Schellberg earned a high school diploma from Leonardtown High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, San Diego in 1996. Her career experience includes working in public service.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m running for State Representative because the American Dream is slipping away for too many young people. I have three adult children, and I see how much harder it is for their generation to afford a home, raise a family, and build a future here in Pennsylvania.

When I talk with voters across the 77th District, I hear the same concern: the cost of everyday life is rising faster than their income. Families need relief, and young people need a reason to stay. I will work to reduce taxes and energy costs, remove barriers that make it difficult for small businesses to start and grow, and help bring good-paying jobs to our communities.

I also believe government must respect the people it serves. I will defend constitutional rights, parental rights, and the ability of local communities to have a voice in decisions that affect them.

I’m not a career politician. I’m a mother, a former educator, and a neighbor who wants Pennsylvania to be a place where hard work and responsible choices still lead to opportunity. I’ll listen, ask tough questions, and work for practical solutions that help the people of our district build a good life here.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Make Pennsylvania Affordable: Families across the 77th District tell me that everyday costs are rising faster than their incomes. I will work to reduce taxes, lower energy costs, and make Pennsylvania a place where young people can afford to build a life.Create opportunity close to home: Our young people should not have to leave Pennsylvania to find a good job. I will work to remove barriers for small businesses, support responsible energy development, and attract employers that provide good-paying jobs in our communities.Protect the rights of the people I represent: Government should respect constitutional rights, parental rights, and the voice of local communities. I will listen to the people of the 77th District, ask tough questions, and stand up for their freedoms in Harrisburg.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am particularly interested in policies that affect whether families can afford to live and build a future in Pennsylvania. That includes taxes, energy costs, housing affordability, and removing barriers that make it harder for small businesses to grow and create good-paying jobs.

I also care deeply about education, parental rights, and protecting constitutional freedoms. I want to ensure that state government respects individual rights and that local communities have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect them.

My focus is practical: helping young people find opportunity here, supporting families, and making the 77th District a place where people can start a business, raise their children, and stay for generations.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to Dr. Ben Carson. I admire his humility, his faith, and the way he speaks about the importance of family, education, and personal responsibility. His life shows what can happen when a young person has encouragement, works hard, and has the opportunity to develop their gifts.

I would like to follow his example by listening carefully, treating people with dignity, and staying grounded in my principles while serving others.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

An elected official should have integrity, humility, and the courage to do what is right, even when it is difficult. They should tell the truth, listen carefully to people with different views, and be willing to learn before making decisions.

Public office is a responsibility to serve, not a position of power over others. Elected officials should be accessible, explain their votes, spend taxpayer money responsibly, and respect the constitutional rights of every person they represent. Above all, they should remember who sent them to Harrisburg and be accountable to them.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

A state representative’s first responsibility is to represent the people of the district, including those who did not vote for them. That means listening, being accessible, and understanding how proposed laws will affect families, businesses, schools, and local communities.

The job also requires writing and evaluating legislation, voting on the state budget, and overseeing state agencies. A representative should ask tough questions, protect constitutional rights, and make sure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly. Just as important, they should help constituents navigate state government and explain their decisions openly.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I’m not running to build a personal legacy. I want to help leave Pennsylvania better for the next generation: a place where faith and freedom are respected, families can afford to live, and young people can pursue the American Dream close to home.

If my work helps more people find opportunity here and gives my children and their generation a reason to stay, that will be enough for me.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was with DCS Corporation’s Ballistics Department, supporting the U.S. Navy at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. I worked with weapons data for multiple aircraft and held a Secret clearance. DCS also helped me continue my education through tuition reimbursement. I worked there for a couple of years, and the experience taught me the importance of accuracy, responsibility, and doing work that others depend on.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

One of the hardest struggles in my life was walking alongside my husband, Steve, through his double lung transplant. There were days when we could not know what the future would hold. Our family had to learn to take things one day at a time and accept help from others.

That experience deepened my faith and taught me how much strength it takes to care for someone you love. It also gave me a lasting appreciation for the medical professionals, family members, and friends who show up when a family needs them most. Steve’s transplant changed our lives, but it also reminded me to be grateful for each day we have together.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

The governor and state legislature should work together where they can, while respecting their separate responsibilities. The governor can propose priorities and administer state government. Legislators must represent their districts, write and evaluate laws, decide how taxpayer money is spent, and provide oversight of the executive branch.

A productive relationship requires honest communication and a willingness to find common ground. It also requires legislators to ask tough questions and push back when they believe the governor has exceeded his authority. Both branches should be accountable to the people of Pennsylvania.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Pennsylvania’s greatest challenge over the next decade is whether ordinary families and young people will be able to afford to build a life here. Housing, energy, and everyday necessities are putting pressure on family budgets. At the same time, we need more good-paying jobs and a better environment for small businesses to start, grow, and stay.

We also face important decisions about how to meet growing energy needs, spend taxpayer money responsibly, and protect the rights of parents and local communities. These issues are connected: if costs keep rising and opportunity remains limited, more young people will look elsewhere for their future.

I want Pennsylvania to be a state where our children choose to stay. That means focusing on affordability, reliable and reasonably priced energy, job creation, and a government that is accountable to the people it serves.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes. In a legislature, you need to listen to people who disagree with you and find common ground to solve problems. I would rather make meaningful progress for the people of my district than let a good idea fail because no one was willing to work together.

But compromise requires judgment. I can be flexible about how we reach a goal while remaining firm in my commitment to constitutional rights, responsible spending, and the people I was elected to represent. I would explain those decisions openly, even when some people disagree with me.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

None that I know of.

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

One of the first major historical events I remember is the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. I remember the shock of watching something that represented so much hope end in tragedy.

The event that changed my life most, though, was September 11, 2001. My husband, Steve, was recalled to military service and later sent to Iraq. Our family life changed forever. That experience gave me a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices service members and their families make, and for the freedoms we must never take for granted.