Question 1: What talent, experience, and expertise would you bring to the office of state representative?
I am currently running for a third term in the PA House of Representatives as a proud and passionate fighter for the 175th legislative district. Prior to serving as state representative, I worked as a staffer in the PA House Democratic Caucus for 12 years, working on a range of issues from constituent services to drafting bills to bringing home resources. This past year, I was honored to be ranked the Least Conservative Member in the House and also was ranked first in the entire state for bringing home state funding to my district.
As a person who believes that policy can push social change, I have introduced over 40 bills this session, taking on issues from charter school reform to an economic bill of rights to pay range disclosures to environmental initiatives to local regulations on gun control. I serve on the Environmental Resources, Education, and Liquor Control Committees in Harrisburg and am also Vice Chair of the Democratic Policy Committee and Democratic Chair of the Community College Caucus.
Question 2: What is your plan to win this election with regards to fundraising, field, and votes?
My win number for the 2022 Primary Election is 8, 304 votes. I have currently raised over $130,000 and have $114,000 on hand. I plan to fundraise $180,000 total this election cycle. My campaign strategy to win this election is a combination of doorknocking, phonebanking, direct mail, digital buys, safe and socially distanced in-person engagement, messaging, and social media.
Question 3: What endorsements do you have or are you seeking, if any?
I have previously been endorsed by Emily’s List, Represent PA, Pennsylvania NOW, Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club, PennEnvironment, Clean Water Action, Conservation Voters of PA, PFT, AFL-CIO, AFSCME, HumanePA, 18th Ward Democrats, 5th Ward Democrats, Philadelphia Democratic City Committee, LEAP FORWARD, IBEW, Sheetmetal Workers, Transportation Workers, Firefighters Local 22, UFCW 1776, Liberty City, PGN, Mom’s Demand Action, and Governor Tom Wolf.
Question 4: What would be your three highest priorities as a legislator?
Education funding, raising the minimum wage, and transitioning Pennsylvania to a green economy have been legislative priorities of mine since I was elected in 2018. However, in the immediate future, I will be advocating for the release of the rainy days funds that the Republicans have appropriated into our reserves when they should have been appropriated into funding workers and initiatives across the state that were already struggling before the pandemic.
Additionally, I will be fighting to address the growing shortage of teachers, bus drivers, school nurses, paraprofessionals and education support personnel ; ensuring health care facilities and nursing homes are adequately staffed ; investing in our workforce to keep our supply chain strong ; making much-needed improvements and investment in the childcare sector ; providing hazard pay for essential workers; repairing our school buildings and the toxic hazards too many of them pose; and fixing the broadband gap and access to internet so that children can access a quality education no matter where they live.
Question 5: What actions should the Pennsylvania legislature take regarding PK-12 school funding in the Commonwealth?
I have stood at podium after podium and will continue to fight for not only an expansion in funding for PlanCon, but also for emergency funding for the building conditions of Philadelphia Schools. I am a founding member of the PFT’s Fund Our Facilities coalition as well. Republicans in the PA House have constantly blocked legislation which would enable the full education budget to go through the Fair Funding Formula. They only allow each new revenue source per budget year to go through the revised formula which shortchanges school districts like Philly. While I am a strong advocate for the entire budget going through this formula, I do believe that it will take gaining the majority to make significant reform. Many Republican campaigns are funded solely by charter schools and their votes are bought and sold.
I serve on the Education Committee and I am constantly pushing for legislation to hold the Board of Education accountable and have been very vocal in the need for reforming charter schools and stopping our tax money from flowing into corporate education. No one should profit off of Philadelphia’s children having to learn in classrooms in which it is literally raining. I am a full supporter of charter school reform with a specific focus on cyber charter schools. I have actually introduced legislation to address charter school reform, funding and methods through a study. I am not a proponent of corporate education and I am sick of charter schools not being held to the same standards and accountability as our public schools. I have visited cyber charter schools in which they are selling curriculum to public schools that was paid for by state funding that should have gone to educate our children in public schools and I have received brochures for cyber charter schools that are literally gilded in gold. While a tax credit program exists for private school benefits, I have voted against any expansion of the program and would rather see those funds go to the public education system.
Question 6: What is your position on fracking? Please address whether you support a ban on fracking or support a tax on fracking.
I am in full and strong support for a ban on fracking. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has concluded that shale gas drilling has contaminated hundreds of drinking water wells. Wastewater spills, which can contain heavy metals, radioactive material and toxic hydrocarbons like benzene and toluene, have contaminated surface water. Wastewater impoundments have also leaked, leading to groundwater pollution. Hundreds of lawsuits against the industry, citing illness among children and animals, have been settled out of court. Pennsylvanians have a right to clean drinking water and we must do everything we can to preserve our state’s recreational and natural resources and ecology – and everything includes a ban on fracking.
That being said, if a ban cannot be passed in the Republican controlled legislature, I will support a tax on fracking over nothing at all. If it is going to be allowed and a ban cannot be enacted, it must be taxed.
Question 7: What would you do as a state legislator to address housing needs in the homeownership and rental markets?
The housing crisis came into full view for far too many people during this pandemic as we were all told to shelter in-place – to shelter in homes in which far too many people do not have or cannot afford. One of the first pieces of legislation I introduced during the first few weeks of the pandemic was a bill to halt evictions during a state of emergency and I was proud to co-author that bill with Rep. Summer Lee. I have been a proud supporter of affordable housing in my district through grants to build and manage affordable housing to organizations like NKCDC. I also have introduced and moved legislation to protect homeowners from unfair property tax increases under the “assessment process” in Philadelphia that often forces long-time homeowners and renters to move in areas that are rapidly gentrifying. Further, I have also introduced a bill to require all property assessors in Philadelphia to be certified so that a home or property is appropriately assessed by a trained professional that must follow certain requirements for increases.
I am also the prime sponsor of legislation to stop predatory harassment for homeowners, primarily seniors, for being harassed into selling their homes. My bill is modeled after legislation that passed in Chicago to keep developers from preying upon the most vulnerable citizens with offers of cash payments and false promises. On a larger scale, I am supportive of increasing investments statewide in affordable housing units, implementing a rent control standard, revitalizing public housing through investment and renovation, and expanding eligibility programs to more households and families.
Question 8: What is the legislature’s role regarding reproductive healthcare?
Since I have been elected, I have protected a woman’s right to choose as well as strived for better access to reproductive services. I will not support any abortion bans or legislation that restricts a woman’s right to bodily autonomy. The legislature should never come in between patients and their doctors. The number of healthcare clinics that provide reproductive services has decreased significantly in recent years, with the majority of clinics being located in southeastern Pennsylvania, making it hard to access these services for women living in rural areas and without access to transportation.
Abortion is healthcare and access to abortion is a constitutional right. And, I am thankful for Governor Wolf recognizing that time and time again when he has vetoed legislation that would force women to endure nine months of pregnancy and labor against their will. The threat to abortion access is not just in the South and it is not just in Pennsylvania – it is nationwide as conservatives and supposed pro-lifers try to overturn Roe V. Wade – an act that is irreconcilable with human rights laws across the globe. We must stop the bans and we must stop them now.
Question 9: A small fraction of bills sponsored by Democrats move out of the House. What would be your strategy for getting things done in a highly partisan General Assembly?
I will never stop working to turn Pennsylvania blue and regain the majority in the PA House, however, it is imperative as an elected official to work within the current environment and continue to advance legislative victories however big or small they may seem. Republicans have been in the majority since I was elected and I am consistently seeking initiatives in which both parties can come together to create a better present and future for Pennsylvanians – be that in working to release the rainy day funds that were meant to be COVID19 relief for the state or recently passing the no surprise medical billing act.
I firmly believe that many of the issues facing Pennsylvanians today are not partisan and I continue to reach across the aisle to work on legislation that could change lives. Most recently, I introduced two bipartisan bills to address carjackings and catalytic converter thefts – an issue that might seem small to some, but has financially impacted many working families in my district and others as well as caused increased rates of violence and trauma. This bill is currently on track to be considered in committee and brought to the house floor due to the broad coalition of support I have helped build around it. Other bills I have worked across the aisle for and authored are protections for lactating pupils and safeguards against the unwanted electronic submission of sexually explicit images that Bumble is now starting to advocate for across the country. Another bill that is also scheduled to be brought up in committee is a building construction initiative related to sheriff’s sales that is meant to address unsafe and reckless development in neighborhoods and rapidly growing areas.