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: $106,422 Vote for ONE.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
County
York
Occupation
State Representative
Education
BA George Mason University
Qualifications
small business owner 25+ Years of public and private sector experience
1. Government Growth - adopt a constitutional amendment that prohibits state government budget increase, is greater than the rate of inflation. Require the removal of two regulations for each newly adopted regulation.
2. Election Integrity - consolidate the state election code, codify systems of internal controls, clean up the voter rolls. by clarifying the process in statute, dictate in statute consequences for government actors violation of election law.
3. Unfair Education Spending: divide the money appropriated for education into vouchers for each student to choose an education that best fits their specific needs
consolidate Pennsylvania’s election code which currently exists in various sections of state law, and contradicts language in the varying sections. establish clear the role maintenance requirements in statute and require counties to clean up voter rolls without state interference., Implement very specific systems of internal controls through statute to provide full accountability, transparency and the ability to audit, require voter ID each time a person votes, Require all ballots to be canvassed at their corresponding precinct so voters who change their minds and wish to vote in person, or who never received their ballot are not disenfranchised, codify consequences for government agents who knowingly violate election law as written.
Eliminate antiquated, hold harmless laws. Fund students NOT systems. Create a new funding formula that divides education funding dollars by the number of pupils with multipliers for cost of living, disabilities, and poverty.
Eliminate administrative bloat in schools,
Assure tax dollars are not used for the termination of life. Do not allow the termination of a fetus after 18 weeks.
