Biographical Information
County
Cumberland
Occupation
Construction Designer, Community Outreach Director
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, Niagara University, May 2000
Qualifications
Former PA Licensed Home Improvement Contractor, Longtime Community Organizer and Policy Advocate
X Handle
What do you see as the most pressing issues facing Pennsylvanians, and how would you address them?
There is wide consensus across party lines in our communities. Pennsylvanians want good schools, good jobs, affordable healthcare, safe access to reproductive healthcare, clean air and water, and to own homes we can afford to live in through retirement. We can make all that happen this year in the PA State Senate. We have legislation to fund public education, create good-paying union jobs, protect women’s rights over their own bodies, and invest our tax dollars back into our homes and neighborhoods. Our race in the 31st district will decide if we pass that legislation. As a building designer who has specialized in making homes energy-efficient and accessible for older Pennsylvanians, I am excited to help build a PA that works for all of us.
What changes would you support making to Pennsylvania’s voting laws to expand access, ensure security, and support local election officials and processes?
State, federal, and local governments run overwhelmingly free and fair elections in this country. Our votes matter. Contrary to any claims of widespread voter fraud, the real danger now in PA is having our votes discounted on technicalities in the name of election security. We need more of us involved in our electoral processes; some parts of PA still don’t have 50% turnout. Mail voting (done successfully across the country for decades) can be fantastic and is more convenient, informed, and safe for many voters. Bar codes on mail ballots make the process automated and secure. We need legislative clarity to make sure these votes are counted. Currently, unique to PA, a portion of mail ballots are discounted for minor user errors every year.
What legislation would you support to comply with the Commonwealth Court's ruling that Pennsylvania’s school funding system is unconstitutional and must be reformed?
A decade ago, the PA General Assembly established a formula to fund schools fairly across the commonwealth, but its application was severely limited. The legislature instead enacted deep cuts to education, and our state government now contributes less (38%) to our public schools than almost any other state (47% average). This means PA schools rely more heavily on property taxes than anywhere else in the country. We need to pass fair funding, offset losses where necessary, reform vouchers that cost school districts millions, hire and pay good teachers, and invest in full-day kindergarten and after school programs, and all of that investment will also amount to tax relief for homeowners in PA. Everyone benefits when the state pays its share.
What changes, if any, would you support making to Pennsylvania’s abortion laws?
I unequivocally support women’s reproductive rights and autonomy over their own bodies. In the past few years, the PA General Assembly has introduced legislation that is dangerous and puts at risk the life of anyone who might get pregnant in this state–extreme legislation that can affect critical treatment for complications during pregnancy or even fertility choices made between parents and doctors. In light of these recent attempts in Pennsylvania and ongoing attempts in parts of this country to limit reproductive rights and access to critical healthcare, I think it’s appropriate to introduce, and I would support legislation that guarantees a woman’s right to choose without government intervention in Pennsylvania.