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
Allegheny
Occupation
Public School Teacher
Education
California University Undergraduate Degree in Education; Duquesne University Master's Degree in Secondary Education
Qualifications
Educator, coach, and mom. 27 year veteran of the Public School system. Served on the Jefferson Hills Borough Council.
1. Access to Health Care & Reproductive Freedom: I would address these issues by supporting measures to ensure access to affordable, quality healthcare and mental health care.
2. The Economy: I would take a number of measures to help those who are struggling to make ends meet, including addressing the rising cost of living by raising the minimum wage, strengthening prevailing wage protections, and protecting workers rights (strengthening unions, paid sick and family leave and public sector OSHA).
3. Public Education: I would push for full and fair funding of public schools, raising educators and education support staff minimum wage, fight vouchers and oppose state funding of failing/unaccountable private charter schools.
Ensuring that democracy is open to all in Pennsylvania is incredibly important to me. I support open primaries, same-day registration, better funded County Elections Departments, permitting pre-canvassing and protecting mail-in-ballots.
As a career public educator from a family of public educators, I am uniquely positioned to advance policies that ensure full and fair funding for public schools. I would oppose vouchers and support policies that prohibit the expansion of cyber charter schools. I would also support policies that ensure that charter schools need to be held to the same standards as traditional, brick and mortar public schools. I would also support the use of tax dollars to fund public schools.
A woman’s healthcare choices should be between her and her doctor – bottom line. That’s why I support policies that would ensure comprehensive access to reproductive healthcare services, including expanding access to contraception, abortion services, and maternal health resources. In addition, I would support removing the onerous hurdles that the Abortion Control Act puts on access to abortions.
County
Allegheny
Occupation
State Senator
Education
Robert Morris University - Bachelor of Science, Business Administration | University of Pittsburgh - Master of Business Administration
Qualifications
United States Marine Corps
On a macro-level, Pennsylvania faces the challenges of many mid-Atlantic states: population stagnation, a flat economy for the vital manufacturing sector, and a general loss of confidence in government’s capacity to address these issues. We still lose too many of our youth to sunbelt states because of an insufficient number of opportunities for meaningful careers. Addressing these issues will require a concerted focus by Pennsylvania’s leaders, including a commitment to economic development that has been hit-or-miss because of special interest agendas. We must embrace our energy sector and encourage new businesses by establishing consistent policies when it comes to regulation and taxation.
Pennsylvania has detailed and workable election laws and regulations. The problem has been bureaucrats at the state level who treat clearly written laws as mere advisories. From disregarding the law governing mail-in ballots to failing to advertise Constitutional Amendments in order to get them on the ballot, Pennsylvania has been ill-served by the office of Secretary of the Commonwealth. Simply put, we have the laws in place. We have only to honor them.
Pennsylvania already is among the highest spending states, per pupil, when it comes to educational subsidy. The inequity exists at the local level, where property taxes -- mostly on homeowners – provide the difference when it comes to school funding. We must find a proper way to equalize funding without causing tremendous increases in taxes on homeowners. I remain committed to seeing that the working families of the 37th District are not taxed out of their homes because of Harrisburg’s failure to meet funding obligations.
I see no pressing need to change current laws governing abortion in Pennsylvania. Our priority should be to support women across Pennsylvania, not change settled law. Protecting women means supporting compassionate exceptions for abortions like in the cases of rape, incest, and protecting the life of the mother. Protecting women means defending the decision to use IVF as a means of family planning with no political strings attached. Elected officials must always remember the important core responsibilities of governing, protecting the people you serve, leading by example, and following the law, and in this case that means not overstepping into the relationship between a woman and her doctor.
