As part of our commitment to informing voters ahead of the November election, The 228 Times is providing both candidates the opportunity to share their positions. The following seven questions are being presented equally to all declared candidates for Pennsylvania’s 12th District. Responses will be published verbatim to ensure fairness and transparency.
- District Priorities
What are your top three priorities for residents of the 12th District in your first year if elected?
Restore Election Integrity, Oppose Shapiro’s liberal agenda, Lower taxes and restore affordability
- Accountability
How will residents know you are effectively representing them? What does accountability mean to you as a state legislator?
Accountability means access. I intend to be visible, approachable and engaged in the community. By providing easy access to your State Representative, I trust the community to hold me accountable for my decisions.
- Government Structure
Pennsylvania has one of the largest state legislatures in the country. Do you support reducing the size of the Pennsylvania General Assembly? Why or why not?
Absolutely. Our State Government is bloated, inefficient and the size makes it easy for fraud to occur. We would be better served with a leaner and more efficient General Assembly.
- Education Policy
Do you support school choice legislation? How would you balance parental choice with protecting funding for public schools in suburban and rural districts like ours?
I strongly support school choice. As a Catholic who sent my children to Catholic School, I resented having to pay ‘twice’ for their education. I want all parents to have a choice. I want competition in our education system to drive excellence.
- Election Administration
Under the U.S. Constitution, elections are primarily administered by states. Do you believe election administration in Pennsylvania should remain under state and local control, or should the federal government have a greater role? Please explain your position.
I believe States should administer elections – but I also agree with a National Federal Standard that all States must comply with. I strongly support the SAVE act and hope the Senate passes the bill for President Trump to sign.
Follow-up:
What specific policies would you support to ensure elections are secure, transparent, and trusted by voters?
Voter ID and make election day a holiday.
- Route 228
What is one issue specific to the Route 228 corridor or southern Butler County that you believe is being overlooked at the state level?
We waited 30 years for 228 to be widened – only for developers to inundate the community with new housing that will immediately render those efforts moot. I welcome growth in the community, but the infrastructure to include 228 must come before further growth. Moreover as a result of the congestion – people are driving on roads not designed for high volume resulting in additional congestion and road deterioration. Franklin Road is currently unsuited for driving in my opinion.
- Cost of Living / Taxes
Many residents in our area are concerned about rising property taxes, reassessment, and overall cost of living. What specific actions would you support at the state level to help reduce the financial burden on homeowners and families… taxes, reassessment, and overall cost of living i.e. gas, food etc. ?
As I have stated elsewhere, I intend to work to use the natural resources within PA – specifically coal and natural gas, to make life more affordable. Energy, and energy production is at the root of the cost of everything. By expanding energy production we can use that revenue to lower taxes. By expanding energy production, the cost of energy itself is reduced. Lower energy costs will directly lower cost of living items such as food and gas. Other states use their natural resources to lower or eliminate taxes. Florida for example uses it’s resource of tourism. In Pennsylvania we have energy. We have to unleash it’s potential and use it to all our mutual advantage.
