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 House of Representatives consists of 203 members representing one district each, with an equal number of constituents. Representatives must be at least 21 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 House develops budget packages, makes taxation decisions, allocates spending, and passes laws (including redistricting in collaboration with the Senate). The House also has the exclusive authority to impeach public officials. Representatives also serve on various policy committees that may propose legislation.Term: 2 yearsSalary: $113,591Vote for ONE.Note: On Democratic and Republican primary ballots, voters will also choose members of the State and County Committees. We do not list these candidates on Vote411. For information on these candidates, we suggest you contact your local Democratic or Republican Party committee.
County
Luzerne
Occupation
Director of IT
Education
Bachelor's in Computer Science
The current biggest issue facing the area is the push to build data centers without protections in place for communities, the environment, and the people that live here. The biggest thing that could be done would be to pass a moratorium so proper research and impact can be evaluated.
I would support legislation that would make in-person voting a two week event instead of a single day. I believe this would get more people to vote and calm the controversies around mail-in-voting.
I think passing an all-encompassing, single budget is a problem. I think if budgets were passed in smaller more meaningful chunks, it would allow them to be more precise and allow them to be more thoroughly vetted to ensure our tax dollars get spent effectively.
It get's complicated when talking about whether or not the state legislature should handle this. On one hand, the state has more resources to enact real protections, however they aren't always fully in touch with the communities that they are protecting. I think providing protections at the state level, but allowing the local municipalities to override the state protections would be the best approach, so if the state protections fall short, there is a path for the municipality to protect itself.
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County
Luzerne
Occupation
Retired
Education
Bachlors -Misericordia University; MBA- Wilkes-University; Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Delaware; Non-profit Executive Development programming at the University of Notre Dame.
Qualifications
15 years in the Banking Industry, plus 25 years of executive leadership in the non-profit sector including 13 years as President and CEO of the United Way of Wyoming Valley; served numerous Boards of Directors for other organizations. Currently on the Board of Trustees at Misericordia University.
While data center development is a very significant issue in a number of municipalities, the biggest concerns facing our district are the affordability of utilities, property and school taxes, access to good-paying jobs, school funding, and the condition of our roads and infrastructure. Families are feeling squeezed. We need to focus on lowering costs, supporting job growth in the private sector, and making smart, targeted infrastructure investments. Government must prioritize core responsibilities and deliver real relief to working families. That means cutting wasteful spending, reducing regulatory burdens, creating an environment where small businesses can thrive, and putting more money back into the pockets of the people who earn it.
Our elections must be secure, transparent, and accessible to maintain public trust. I support commonsense measures like voter ID, improving the accuracy of voter rolls, and ensuring uniform standards across counties. This includes creating clear rules and consistent procedures so every voter is treated equally, regardless of where they live. Transparency should also extend to campaign financing so voters know who is funding candidates and influencing elections. Strong safeguards, accountability, and fair access are all essential to restoring confidence in our electoral process.
Pennsylvania’s budget process too often relies on rushed negotiations and excessive spending. We need a more disciplined, transparent approach that prioritizes fiscal responsibility and timely passage. Lawmakers should be held accountable for getting a balanced budget done on time and, if the budget is late, lawmakers should not get paid. We need less posturing and partisanship, and more thoughtful engagement and responsible alternatives to move our state forward. Simply voting “no” without offering real solutions is not real leadership. Families, businesses, local governments, and our schools depend on predictability. Our budgeting process should reflect that responsibility.
Yes, the state should enact laws that protect residents and supports municipalities. Data centers can strain water, energy, and land resources, and the state can help by creating clear definitions and offering baseline guidance and technical support to municipalities. That ensures consistency and better-informed decisions. The state should define these as heavy industrial projects that must go into industrial zones,
State regulation should support, not override, local authority under the MPC. Municipalities best understand their infrastructure, environment, and community needs. Any state action must complement, not preempt, local zoning power. The goal should be to empower communities, not take decision-making away from them.
