BIOGRAPHY

EDUCATION

Bloomsburg University, Bloomsburg, Bachelor of Arts in Accounting, 1993-1997

iVoterGuide Candidate Profile: Nicky Woods

### MEET NICKY WOODS

Nicky Woods is a lifelong conservative Republican, small business owner, former police officer, and mom raising her family right here in Lancaster County. A Christian who attends LCBC, Nicky believes faith, family, and service to others are the foundation of strong communities.

Nicky Woods for Clerk of Courts- Restoring Accountablility and Leadership - MEET NICKY WOODS

Nicky Woods earned a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Bloomsburg University. She is a mother and attends LCBC.

Nicky Woods - State Representative, District 98 - iVoterGuide

Nicky went on to serve more than 20 years in law enforcement, including work as an undercover officer in a drug suppression unit. During her career, she became the first known female SERT (SWAT) operator in Pennsylvania, serving on an elite tactical team responsible for handling some of the most dangerous situations facing law enforcement.

WORK & MILITARY

County of Lancaster, Clerk of Courts, 2024-2026

The Bark Park, Small business owner, 2008-2026

WORK & MILITARY

The Bark Park, Small business owner, 2008-2026

Northwest Regional Police Department, Police Officer, 2009-2023

WORK & MILITARY

Northwest Regional Police Department, Police Officer, 2009-2023

Lancaster City Police Department, Police Officer, 1998-2007

Nicky Woods owns The Bark Park. She previously served more than 20 years in law enforcement, including serving as a police officer with the Northwest Regional Police Department and Lancaster City Police Department and working undercover in a drug suppression unit.

In 2024, Nicky was elected Lancaster County Clerk of Courts, where she quickly restored accountability and efficiency to a struggling office. Through smart management and cross-training staff, she transformed a disorganized operation into a model of efficiency—saving taxpayers nearly $200,000 annually while improving service to the public.

Nicky was elected Lancaster County Clerk of Courts in 2024.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

Lower Taxes & Responsible Spending
Pennsylvania families are stretched thin. Government must live within its means instead of demanding more from hardworking taxpayers. Nicky Woods supports lowering taxes, reducing wasteful spending, and stopping Harrisburg from shifting costs onto homeowners through rising property taxes.

Nicky Woods for Clerk of Courts- Restoring Accountablility and Leadership (Issues)

Supporting Small Business
Small businesses are the backbone of Pennsylvania’s economy. Nicky will fight for fewer regulations, lower taxes, affordable energy, and a business climate where employers can hire, grow, and stay right here in Lancaster County.

What is your position on the minimum wage?

I support fair wages, but oppose one-size-fits-all mandates. As a small business owner, I’ve seen how they can reduce jobs and hours. We should grow wages through a strong economy and opportunity.

List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.

Audit and eliminate redundant programs; increase transparency and accountability in spending; modernize government systems to reduce inefficiencies; and enforce strict oversight of contracts and grants.

Supports lowering taxes, reducing wasteful spending, and limiting state policies that raise property taxes.

Plans to reduce regulations and taxes and promote affordable energy for small businesses.

Opposes one-size-fits-all wage mandates and favors growing wages through economic opportunity.

Proposes auditing redundant programs, modernizing government systems, and strengthening oversight of spending, contracts, and grants.

- Supports lowering taxes, reducing wasteful spending, and limiting state policies that raise property taxes.
- Plans to reduce regulations and taxes and promote affordable energy for small businesses.
- Opposes one-size-fits-all wage mandates and favors growing wages through economic opportunity.
- Proposes auditing redundant programs, modernizing government systems, and strengthening oversight of spending, contracts, and grants.

Economy

RIGHT TO LIFE

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Strongly Agree

I strongly believe that taxpayer dollars should never be used to fund abortion providers. Every human life is created in the image of God and deserves protection. Public funds should instead be directed toward supporting women, families, and life-affirming services that provide real care and resources.

Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

I believe every life is created by God and should be protected from conception. Elective abortion should not be permitted, with the only exception being when it is necessary to save the life of the mother

What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.

C. Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but I oppose expanding government-run healthcare. I support patient choice, competition, and private-sector solutions to improve quality and lower costs.

The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.

Strongly Disagree

I strongly oppose the creation of government databases tracking individuals’ medical conditions. Personal health information must remain private, and expanding government control over sensitive data raises serious concerns about privacy and misuse.

Opposes public funding for abortion providers and favors directing funds to services supporting women, families, and childbirth.

Opposes elective abortion except when necessary to save the pregnant patient's life.

Opposes expanding government-run healthcare while supporting Medicaid, Medicare, patient choice, competition, and private-sector solutions.

Opposes government databases that track individuals' medical conditions, citing health-information privacy concerns.

- Opposes public funding for abortion providers and favors directing funds to services supporting women, families, and childbirth.
- Opposes elective abortion except when necessary to save the pregnant patient's life.
- Opposes expanding government-run healthcare while supporting Medicaid, Medicare, patient choice, competition, and private-sector solutions.
- Opposes government databases that track individuals' medical conditions, citing health-information privacy concerns.

Healthcare

Parental Rights & Educational Choice
Parents—not government—should decide what is best for their children. Nicky supports educational choice, strong academic standards, and removing unnecessary state barriers so families can choose public, private, charter, cyber, or homeschool education without being penalized.

EDUCATION

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Strongly Agree

Education decisions are best made at the state and local level, not by federal bureaucracy. Returning control to states and communities allows parents, teachers, and local leaders to better meet the needs of students.

Supports education choice and reducing state barriers to public, private, charter, cyber, and homeschool options.

Supports eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and shifting education control to states and communities.

- Supports education choice and reducing state barriers to public, private, charter, cyber, and homeschool options.
- Supports eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and shifting education control to states and communities.

Education

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

Reliable energy must come from a mix of sources, including natural gas, nuclear, and other domestic energy production. We should prioritize energy independence, affordability, and reliability to meet growing demand.

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.

Strongly Disagree

We should be responsible stewards of the environment, but I oppose policies driven by fear that harm American jobs and energy independence. We need practical, balanced solutions that keep energy reliable and affordable.

Supports a domestic energy mix including natural gas and nuclear power, prioritizing energy independence, affordability, and reliability.

Opposes environmental policies that she says harm jobs and energy independence; favors approaches that keep energy reliable and affordable.

- Supports a domestic energy mix including natural gas and nuclear power, prioritizing energy independence, affordability, and reliability.
- Opposes environmental policies that she says harm jobs and energy independence; favors approaches that keep energy reliable and affordable.

Energy & the Environment

Law & Order
Communities are safer when criminals are held accountable and law enforcement is supported—not second-guessed. With more than 20 years in law enforcement, Nicky Woods will stand with police, strengthen public safety, and ensure victims’ rights come first.

Defending the Second Amendment
The right to keep and bear arms is a constitutional freedom—not a privilege. Nicky will defend the Second Amendment and oppose policies that burden law-abiding citizens while failing to address violent criminals.

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

Law-abiding citizens have a constitutional right to own firearms, and that right should be protected. Rather than placing additional restrictions on responsible gun owners, we should focus on enforcing existing laws, keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals, and supporting law enforcement efforts to improve public safety.

Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.

Strongly Agree

Protecting children from online sexual exploitation must be a top priority. As someone committed to public safety, I believe we need strong laws, enforcement, and accountability to ensure those who prey on children are aggressively prosecuted.

Plans to support police, strengthen public safety, and prioritize victims' rights.

Opposes additional restrictions on responsible gun owners and favors enforcing existing firearms laws and keeping guns from criminals.

Calls for strong laws, enforcement, and accountability to prosecute people who sexually exploit children online.

- Plans to support police, strengthen public safety, and prioritize victims' rights.
- Opposes additional restrictions on responsible gun owners and favors enforcing existing firearms laws and keeping guns from criminals.
- Calls for strong laws, enforcement, and accountability to prosecute people who sexually exploit children online.

Public Safety

ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

As someone who works within the court system, I believe accountability and verification are essential. Requiring photo identification is a simple, common-sense way to protect the integrity of our elections and ensure public confidence in the results.

Supports requiring photo identification to vote.

- Supports requiring photo identification to vote.

Voting & Elections

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Nicky Woods

Nicky Woods for PA State Representative/ 98th District/Lancaster County

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- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws, including introducing tax bills. 
- State representatives and their staff respond to constituent concerns and questions through emails, phone calls, and website announcements. 
- State representatives oversee the executive branch and can vote to overrule a veto by the Governor.  
- They are elected to two-year terms and have a salary of $106,000, with a 1-3% annual increase

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives