Biographical Information
County
Lancaster
Occupation
State Representative
Qualifications
Former Sales and Service Manager for an International Agriculture Company, Township Supervisor, County Planning Commission, County Agriculture Preservation Board, Welsh Mountain Preserve Board, Insurance Company Board Chairman, etc
What do you see as the most pressing issues facing Pennsylvanians, and how would you address them?
Economics, many people come to my office at wits end. They cannot pay rent, pay their utilities or buy groceries. They need answers from State Agencies on things like unemployment, drivers license etc. Some need a job. Some need help navigating the judicial system, or the school system, business owners and farmers are over burdened with regulations and need releif etc. etc.
People, our businesses, our farms need common sense policy in place, good laws, responsive state agencies, fair tax policies, trieving business who provides our jobs, productive farms to assure the food supply, etc. etc.
What changes would you support making to Pennsylvania’s voting laws to expand access, ensure security, and support local election officials and processes?
Currently many do not trust our elections. When polling is done election integrity polls among the highest. Something as simple as voter identification would go a long way in building trust. Many of the senior County election officials have quit their job the past few years. We have lost much experience due to changes, confusion, uncertainty and less then clear rules.
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?
This is a difficult one. More then forty percent of the Pennsylvania State budget is school funding. We have a huge disparity between the 500 school districts across the State. Some receive 30 percent or less and others receive 70 percent or more from state taxes. In addition property taxes continue to rise and make it difficult for seniors to keep their homes and young couples to afford a home. With these realities more and more families are not satisfied with the public school system and are finding ways other then public education to teach their children.