Working Families First
As an active union member and leader for over a decade, I’ve seen the difference that a stable income, affordable health care, and job security can make in people’s lives. In Harrisburg, I’ll prioritize policies that protect working families and go after bold policies to make life more affordable for folks in our district and across Pennsylvania.
Good jobs & Economic Security
I’ll advocate for policies to make life more affordable for working families. An increase in the PA minimum wage to at least $18 an hour is long overdue. I’ll work to expand affordable healthcare in our state, and I'll stand up for practical measures that lower everyday expenses for families, from prescription drugs to child care. I’ll also fight to protect social services like SNAP and Medicaid so no one falls through the cracks when things get tough.
Union Rights
I’ve been an active union member for my entire career as a public school teacher and I know how important the Labor Movement is to economic strength in our region. I will continue to be a steadfast defender of our unions' rights to organize and collectively bargain. I will also defend the right to retire with dignity by protecting pensions and fighting for regular Cost of Living Adjustments for retirees.
Protections for Women and Families
You can count on me to staunchly defend the right to choose for Pennsylvania women and I’ll always fight to protect women’s reproductive rights. I’ll also work for healthcare and childcare policies that support women however they choose to have a family. That means robust paid sick leave and family leave policies, so we can take care of ourselves and our loved ones and state support for high-quality early childhood education, so we can go back to work and not worry about whether we can afford daycare.
Liveable Communities
As a two-term member of council in Dormont, I’ve done the work at the local level with all levels of government to build a strong community, and you can count on the fact that I’ll continue to work in Harrisburg to make sure all the communities in District 42 have the resources they need to thrive. In a time when national and state politics is extremely divided, building connections with our neighbors and stable government services at the local level is essential.
Walkability &
Active Transportation
District 42 is full of charming business districts and walkable neighborhoods. I’ll ensure that the laws and funding at the state level support our municipalities in creating livable communities. We need transit funding that not only sustains what we have, but allows PRT to add new routes and enhance service, and funding for infrastructure that makes walking and biking safer and more pleasant. I’ll also support laws that make transit-oriented development easier so municipalities can build dense, affordable housing where it matters most.
Climate Resilience
We need to work at the state level to support clean energy development and jobs, while supporting municipalities in their work to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Our communities need to build resilience for changing weather events by doing things like burying utility lines, improving alert systems, and managing the urban tree canopy. But municipalities can’t do this alone. I’ll fight for funding from the state to support community efforts in District 42.
Community Presence
Strong communities need leaders who are on the ground, listening to constituents and being present at events in the district. I’ll continue the excellent constituent services that residents in HD42 have come to expect from their state representative, and I’ll be here to hear your concerns. I’ll show up when the community gathers and have a district office with an open door, just like I have for eight years as a councilwoman.
Quality Education
Our schools are the backbone of our communities. In my fifteen-year career as a public school teacher, I’ve seen firsthand how important strong public schools are to creating healthy communities. District 42 has top tier school districts, and it is essential that we support them at the state level so they can continue to deliver an excellent education to all of our children.
Fair Funding
I’ll work tirelessly to be sure that Pennsylvania meets its constitutional directive to fully fund public schools across the Commonwealth. In District 42, that means ensuring our districts have funding to meet the needs of all the students that arrive at our doors. I’ll stand strong against efforts to privatize our public schools that divert funding from where it is needed most. I’ll oppose the vouchers that have failed the students most in need, and will advocate for stricter accountability for charter schools.
Schools of the Future
I envision our schools as not just places of academic success, but the hubs of our communities, with resources to support all of our neighbors. I’ll advocate for funding and support for a Community Schools model that will help bring resources into school buildings, not just to support the students and families attending, but to make the school the center of the community and a place where all residents can come together. Our schools should be places with robust mental health and student services support and modern infrastructure and technology to prepare students and communities for the 21st century.
Schools to Serve Every Child
We need to make sure our schools are places where all students can excel, and that means taking care of our most vulnerable students. In District 42, we need to continue and build on the excellent programs already in place to educate students with disabilities and English Language Developing students successfully with proper staffing, resources and training for teachers. We also need to continue to strengthen protections so that all students are treated with dignity and protected from discrimination in our schools, including immigrants, students of color, and LGBTQ+ students.
