Description of office: The General Assembly is the legislative branch of government in Pennsylvania. It is composed of two houses: the Senate is the upper house, and the House of Representatives is the lower house. A majority vote in both houses is necessary to pass a law. The PA Senate consists of 50 members, representing one district each, with an equal number of constituents. Senators must be at least 25 years old, have been a citizen and a resident of the state four years and a resident of their respective districts one year before their election, and shall reside in their respective districts during their terms of service. The Senate develops budget packages, makes taxation decisions, allocates spending, and passes laws (including redistricting in collaboration with the House of Representatives). In addition, the Senate tries officials impeached by the House and authorizes executive appointments. Senators serve on various policy committees that may propose legislation.Term: 4 years Salary: $113,591Vote for ONE.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
County
Lebanon
Occupation
Farmer
Education
Purdue Graduate
Qualifications
Business Owner, Youth and Community Leader
The most pressing issues facing SD-48 are the rising cost of living, property tax burdens, and a lack of accountability in government. As a small business owner, I see how inflation and the "death tax" threaten our family farms and homeowners. I will fight to eliminate the death tax and property taxes to ensure residents aren't taxed out of their own homes.
I will advocate for absolute election integrity through paper ballots and stricter oversight to restore trust in our democratic process. Finally, I will protect parental rights in education and stop the overdevelopment that threatens our rural way of life. I’m running to be a change agent, not a career politician.
Restoring trust in our democratic process is essential. I will demand election integrity by returning to the use of paper ballots, which provide a physical, auditable trail that voters can trust. I support implementing universal Voter ID requirements to ensure that every vote cast is legal and verifiable. This is a common-sense measure supported by the vast majority of Pennsylvanians.
Furthermore, I will advocate for stricter oversight of our election processes to eliminate vulnerabilities and move away from the "establishment" status quo. Our elections must be secure, transparent, and beyond reproach to ensure that every citizen’s voice is accurately heard without interference or technical doubt.
The state budget process is broken. For too long, "establishment" politicians have supported bloated budgets that spend far more than our commonwealth can afford, leading to the inflation that crushes our families. To ensure on-time and fiscally responsible budgets, I support enacting a Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR).
This would legally mandate that state spending increases do not exceed the rate of inflation, forcing Harrisburg to live within its means just like every Pennsylvania household must do. We must stop the backroom deals and prioritize eliminating burdensome taxes, like the property and death taxes, rather than funding special interests. Accountability and grit are the only ways to fix this process.
I support state-level guardrails to ensure data centers pay their fair share for energy and water, preventing costs from being shifted onto Pennsylvania families. However, these laws must prioritize accountability without stripping power from local communities. I strongly oppose state mandates that bypass the Municipal Planning Code or preempt local zoning.
Our municipalities know their land best. State regulation should offer guidance, but never interfere with a township’s right to protect its rural character through local ordinances. I will fight to ensure Harrisburg does not use tax carve-outs or "streamlined permitting" as an excuse to run over the rights of residents and our generational farms.
County
Lebanon
Occupation
Insurance Agent
Education
B.A.
Qualifications
State Senator -since 2021
The cost of goods and services is the issue I hear about most often from residents of the 48th District. Prices are too high, and it’s getting harder for people to make ends meet. There are several things I am doing in Harrisburg to address this. I authored legislation to enact the largest tax cut in Pennsylvania history. My bill, which passed the Senate, would cut the Personal Income Tax and eliminate the tax residents currently pay on their utility bills. I’ve also introduced a Constitutional Amendment to abolish burdensome school property taxes, once and for all. I will continue to fight for lower taxes and fewer government regulations during my time in office.
To secure our elections and ensure the outcomes are fair and accurate, we must enact Voter ID. Anyone who casts a ballot should have to provide identification. That’s not burdensome, it’s simply common sense. That’s why a vast majority of Americans support this requirement.
The state budget process is broken. During my time in office, Democrat Governors have continuously proposed bloated budgets that spend far more than the state can afford. To fix this, we need to enact a Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR). Such a law would mandate that state spending does not increase by more than the rate of inflation each year. This measure would go a long way to ensuring on-time and responsible state budgets.
The state needs to ensure that data centers pay for the water, energy, and land they use. This cost should never be borne by residents or other businesses. Ultimately, local governments and community members are in the best position to decide on the suitability of data centers in their area and it is critical that we maintain local control of those decisions.
