Question 1: What talent, experience, and expertise would you bring to the office of state representative?
The most important thing I bring is deep experience working in government. I have served in multiple high-ranking government positions, including with the Pennsylvania Senate. I have progressive values but I also understand how the legislature works. I also have a firm understanding of the state budget process, as I was the Director of Communications for the Democratic Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee for nearly 5 years. I have also worked as an advocate, but my government experience is unique among the candidates who are running for this position.
I have also lived in the district for more than a decade. During that time, I have served as a Democratic committee person as well as on the board of the neighborhood civic association. I have also been an activist and organizer in the local progressive movement for over two decades. I also have experience as a business owner. I own a Center City PR firm that primarily works with progressive business owners, nonprofits, and elected officials. I am also the publisher of a progressive media outlet in Bucks County called the Bucks County Beacon.
Question 2: What is your plan to win this election with regards to fundraising, field, and votes?
In an open seat with no incumbent, we estimate that we will need to raise at least $150,000 and garner around 5,500 votes to win this race. My campaign will knock on every door in the district while building a coalition of committee people, labor, and grassroots activists. We have an aggressive fundraising plan to fund paid voter contact with a focus on mail and digital.
Question 3: What endorsements do you have or are you seeking, if any?
I currently have the endorsements of District Attorney Larry Krasner, State Rep. Morgan Cephas, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, and Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez. I also have the endorsement of Reclaim Philadelphia.
I am seeking the endorsements of many other progressive organizations, elected officials, and labor unions.
Question 4: What would be your three highest priorities as a legislator?
My first priority as a legislator is ending this pandemic. Republicans in Harrisburg have completely disregarded public health experts and have implemented policies that have increased the toll that COVID has taken on Pennsylvania. When this pandemic ends, we will need a just recovery. Our neighborhoods need massive investment from the state and federal government. But it must go beyond simply restarting our economy. We must also reduce poverty, fund public schools, and put resources in neighborhoods that are suffering from increased gun violence. I will fight to make sure that our diverse set of neighborhoods in the PA 182nd gets its fair share of state funding across the board.
We’ve seen Republicans in Harrisburg hard at work to undermine our democracy. From denying the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election, to implementing restrictive “Voter ID” laws, and repealing popular measures such as vote-by-mail, the GOP will stop at nothing to impose their authoritarian worldview in Harrisburg. That’s why protecting our democracy is one of my highest priorities in Harrisburg, and why I will stop at nothing to resist these attacks and confront other forms of authoritarianism in our state government.
Question 5: What actions should the Pennsylvania legislature take regarding PK-12 school funding in the Commonwealth?
In Pennsylvania today, the quality of a child’s education is almost entirely dependent on zip code, and Philadelphia schools, which serve a high proportion of students of color, have been literally left in the cold as our school’s infrastructures crumble around them. That’s why I will fight for a fair funding formula so that we can reduce the extreme disparity between our public schools and ensure that our children are given the resources they need to succeed in an environment that will keep them safe.
Question 6: What is your position on fracking? Please address whether you support a ban on fracking or support a tax on fracking.
I support a complete ban on fracking in Pennsylvania. However, we must ensure that those workers who rely on fossil fuel extraction to support themselves and their communities are transitioned into well-paying, union jobs creating green energy infrastructure as a part of a Green New Deal for Pennsylvania. I believe that a Green New Deal is the only way to make sure we can end fracking and simultaneously revitalize local economies and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Additionally, we should be providing tax incentives for wind and solar energy, not letting natural gas drillers get away with destroying our environment while failing to pay taxes.
Question 7: What would you do as a state legislator to address housing needs in the homeownership and rental markets?
I support increasing funding for affordable housing in all parts of PA. That means making sure that there are the resources available in every budget to expand affordable housing. It also means adjusting state law to require large developers to include affordable units in major developments. We need to work to make sure that state funds, especially RCAP, are not being used to develop projects that undermine affordability or cause gentrification in our neighborhoods. Finally, I will fight for rent stabilization and funding for home repairs, especially for our elders and those on fixed incomes.
Question 8: What is the legislature’s role regarding reproductive healthcare?
I believe that healthcare is a human right. Therefore, access to all forms of reproductive healthcare is a human right. I will fight unequivocally in Harrisburg to protect and expand the reproductive rights of people in this state, and oppose any and all legislation that seeks to curtail those rights in any way.
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 hope that the new legislative maps will ungerrymander the Pa. state legislature and result in a Democratic majority in Harrisburg. I believe this is unlikely this year but possible within a few electoral cycles. If Democrats control Harrisburg, there is going to be a lot that we can get done together.
That said, I believe that no matter the partisan makeup of Harrisburg, there are always levers you can pull and leverage that you have. For example, some parts of the budget and appropriations process require two-thirds of votes and is thus a place of possible leverage for Democrats. In my work with State Sen. Vincent Hughs and the Democratic Senate Appropriations Committee, I saw firsthand how Democrats were able to get things done and deliver for their constituents despite a Republican General Assembly and at times even a Republican governor. I know that because of my experience in the Capitol and my knowledge of both the budget and legislative processes, I’ll be able to get things done in Harrisburg regardless of who controls the General Assembly.