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.
County
Washington
Occupation
State Senator
Education
St. Mary’s College of California, B.S. Business Administration and Psychology
Qualifications
Majority Caucus Secretary, Former Local Business Owner
Some of the most pressing issues in the 46th Senatorial District include rising costs and affordability, protecting communities by giving local municipalities real authority over data center development, the need for tax relief, access to health care and child care, and expanding economic opportunity. I am fighting to lower utility costs, unleash Pennsylvania’s energy potential and protect energy jobs, expand access to quality education, health care, and economic opportunities, and lower taxes - especially property taxes. I remain committed to attracting new investment and creating good-paying jobs so Washington, Greene, and Beaver counties are great places to raise a family, start a business, and retire.
I strongly believe in free and fair elections. Participating in our democratic process is essential to ensuring that elected officials truly represent the people’s best interests. I support requiring voter ID as a way to help keep elections fair, transparent, and accessible to every eligible voter. I also sponsored and passed legislation so that individuals experiencing homelessness who cannot afford an ID are able to obtain one for free.
Voters across the political spectrum want to have confidence in our elections and to know that election integrity is being protected.
The state budget process has become far too partisan, with debate feeling more like a fight between enemies than a discussion among colleagues elected to work together and solve problems. That gridlock is a major reason budgets are not completed on time.
I support moving toward a more zero-based budgeting approach and truly living within our means. We cannot keep borrowing from our children’s future by spending more than we take in or pretending to have a balanced budget by taking on more debt year after year. Every department and expenditure should be closely reviewed so each tax dollar is focused on core priorities, not waste, while protecting critical programs for our most vulnerable citizens and rooting out fraud and abuse.
I was proud to co-sponsor SB 1345, which empowers local municipalities to place moratoriums on data centers because I strongly support local control and public input. Data centers should not be able to steamroll our communities. If a municipality does not want a data center, developers should not be allowed to build one.
SB 1345 would allow local governments to set conditional use standards for issues such as power, water, noise, and setbacks so they can protect their residents and neighborhoods. Ultimately, I believe local municipalities, not Harrisburg, should decide whether to allow data centers.
County
Washington
Occupation
Self-Employed
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Administration of Justice, University of Pittsburgh
Qualifications
Business owner, community advocate, bridging residents with essential government resources and childhood cancer support. Presented district priorities directly to state legislators, the Governor's Office, and the European Parliament to champion community health and life-sustaining jobs.
Our district’s top issues are data center growth and long-term economic stability. I support a statewide moratorium on data centers until emissions, grid strain, and neighborhood setbacks are fully addressed. Our families and labor unions deserve stable, life-sustaining jobs in manufacturing and riverfront tourism, not another boom-and-bust industry.
Relief from rising costs for healthcare, groceries, gas, and utilities is my priority for the Senate. I will champion local-first industrial growth, fight to raise the minimum wage, and allow local governments to set wages reflecting their real cost of living.
To enable better access, ensure election security, and support our voting processes, I support opening primary elections to Independent voters and guaranteeing at least two hours of unpaid leave for employees on Election Day. I also support establishing Election Day as a legal holiday to ensure workers have time to go vote.
I would like to see restricting riders to prevent policy changes slipped into hundreds of pages of fiscal bills without public review. During a budget impasse we must continue funding for public schools, emergency and human services so vulnerable communities don't suffer. Lawmakers should not get paid if the budget does not pass.
The state legislature should enact laws to regulate data centers. State level guidance and regulations are necessary to protect our resources, including water, land, site emission standards, and setback distances. The state legislature has the right to establish baseline environmental standards, which is why a state moratorium needs to be enacted. The state government should enact protections that are the floor and then not interfere when any local governments raise the floor. Without state-level regulations, we leave communities of people, largely rural communities, at risk. Baseline state standards will help preserve the rights of local governments to manage local zoning and setback requirements under the Municipal Planning Code.
