County
Lehigh
Occupation
Teacher; Minister
Education
Emmaus High School, Kutztown University, Mankato State University, Asbury Theological Seminary, Rawlings School of Divinity
Qualifications
Community Organizer; Service-Learning positions in Higher Education; PA Service Corps and AmeriCorps Alumnus.
The most pressing issues facing PA House 187 residents are our rising living costs, increased development clogging local infrastructure, and the threat of proposed data centers taking our natural resources and thereby raising prices. I would work to create and pass legislation to cap natural gas, propane, heating oil, and electricity costs; stop grocers from charging more for necessities; permanently lower PA's gasoline tax; and expand PA's Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion to reduce municipal property taxes. I would also push the Lehigh Valley Transportation Improvement Program to work on roads our multiple communities share; and work to block the construction of any data centers not on previous industrial land already cleared for use.
Pennsylvania already has a process in place whereby local residents are elected as Judges of Elections and Majority & Minority Inspectors, or appointed as Interpreters and Clerks, to manage the processes of all local polling places, with local Constables providing security. Lehigh County, an all-paper ballot county, also has its own Voter Registration Department, which handles all voting processes, including In-Person, Absentee and Mail-In Ballots, as well as all voter-related details, including personal names, addresses, phone numbers, polling place locations, and other relevant information. I am confident that this system already gives us everything we need to have excellent access, security, and impartialness in our elections.
Speaking as a PA public schoolteacher who has seen the impact of this issue up close, there should be a Constitutional Amendment put in place that requires the Commonwealth of PA (i.e. state legislators) to create and pass a state budget by April 30, one and a half months before the end of the academic school year. This would guarantee that School Districts don't have to play their annual guessing game as to what they should budget for the next year, having to choose either to overbudget and then cut back, or underbudget and lose out on increased funding, plus take out loans to cover operational costs for the new year. We must do everything we can to equitably and excellently serve all of our students to the best extent possible.
Yes the State Legislature should enact such laws...but let me go on the record and say that I am opposed to the building of any and all large Data Centers, unless they would be built on previous industrial land that has already been cleared. As a former whitewater rafting guide in the Poconos and casual railfan for over 20 years, I'm aware of several former railroad yards and repair facilities which meet this criteria. Basically, the proposed Data Centers are part of an investor boom which is based on speculation regarding future wants, and not on a current demonstrated need. As such Pennsylvania should be crystal clear that none of them should be built unless on the land described above. Put our People and their needs First.
County
Lehigh
Occupation
Business and Customer integration lead
Qualifications
Rachel Cuevas brings experience coordinating cross-functional operations, Human Resources, and logistics in manufacturing while working closely with local partners and small businesses. She is active in community engagement across District 187 and focused on practical, transparent government.
Residents across District 187 are facing rising costs, pressure on farmland and open space, infrastructure needs, and access to good-paying local jobs. I support policies that lower everyday costs for families, invest in roads and bridges, protect farmland, and strengthen workforce pipelines with career and technical education. I will work with municipalities, unions, small businesses, and farmers to ensure state investments reflect local priorities and support sustainable growth that benefits our communities.
Pennsylvania voters deserve elections that are secure, transparent, and accessible. I support consistent funding for county election offices, clear standards for ballot processing timelines, and expanded access to early voting options. We should also ensure poll workers have the training and resources they need. Protecting election integrity while making voting convenient strengthens trust and participation in our democratic process.
The state budget should be predictable, transparent, and passed on time so schools, municipalities, and service providers can plan responsibly. I support earlier negotiations, clearer revenue projections, and stronger collaboration between legislative leaders and stakeholders. Budget decisions should prioritize education funding, infrastructure, workforce development, and property tax relief while maintaining fiscal responsibility for taxpayers.
Data centers can support economic growth, but their impacts on water use, energy demand, and land development must be carefully evaluated. I support reasonable statewide standards that protect resources while preserving local authority under the Municipal Planning Code. Municipalities understand their communities best, and state policy should complement—not override—local planning decisions.
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