General Election 2018: Voter’s Guide

Election day is here once again.

Tuesday, November 6 is general election day across Pennsylvania.

All polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

CLICK HERE TO FIND YOUR POLLING PLACE

NO identification is needed to vote. The exception is if you are a first-time voter or this will be your first election in a new ward.

If you are looking to write-in a candidate, poll site staff can show you how to add a person’s name.

Problems at the Polls? Contact the Bucks County Board of Elections at 215-348-6154.

Click here to see a sample ballot for Bucks County.

The below candidate information has been provided through an extensive guide compiled by the League of Women Voters of Bucks County.

Candidates

Senator (6-year term)

Bob Casey Jr., Democrat

Education: Holy Cross B.A. 1982 Catholic University Law Degree 1988

Qualifications: Auditor General of Pennsylvania 1997-2005, Treasurer of Pennsylvania 2005-2007, United States Senator 2007-Present

Questions:

Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: The top three issues I am focused on are increasing access to affordable health care, protecting the programs Pennsylvanians depend on, and helping working families get ahead. That means stopping the Trump administration’s sabotage of our health care system, defeating Republican attacks on Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, and fighting to raise wages, protect the rights of organized labor, and eliminate the obstacles holding working families back.

Q: If elected, what will you do to ensure that the voting rights of all Americans are protected and that our elections are accessible and secure from internal and external threats?
A: The right to vote has been called our most precious right, and the “primary right by which all other rights are protected.” I supported The Voting Rights Reconstruction Act of 2015, legislation which would restore the Voting Rights Act, and I oppose efforts to suppress voter turnout, and support measures to make voting easier for people. I oppose voter ID laws, and favor restoring voting rights to people after they have served their sentences. During the Kavanaugh confirmation fight, I have been working to make clear that I expect our next Supreme Court Justice to protect voting rights, and not dismantle the tools by which they are protected. No one should be stop eligible voters from casting their ballot. Earlier this year, I helped to secure $13 million from the Election Assistance Commission to help secure Pennsylvania’s election systems, and I am working in the Senate to
appropriate more funds for election security.

Q: What steps will you take to ensure that the upcoming census is fully funded, accurate, and avoids under-counting?
A: I will fight to ensure that the census is fully funded and I oppose Trump Administration efforts to undercount people in marginalized communities. It is vital that the census is accurate so that Americans are fairly represented in Congress.

Lou Barletta, Republican

Education: Attended Bloomsburg State College (Bloomsburg University) where I majored in elementary education.

Qualifications: As a former small business owner, mayor of Hazleton, and member of Congress, I have a strong record of standing up and fighting for people in my community.

Questions:

Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: My top three priorities are keeping Pennsylvania’s families safe, protecting Pennsylvania jobs, and standing up for the men and women who serve our communities. More than anything, people want someone willing to fight for them, when no one else will. That’s what I have always done, and that’s why I’m running for the U.S. Senate.

Q: If elected, what will you do to ensure that the voting rights of all Americans are protected and that our elections are accessible and secure from internal and external threats?
A: Congress has a constitutional duty to preserve the integrity of our democracy and ensure that our elections are both free and fair. As a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I have worked with my colleagues to make sure our voting systems are secure. I recently voted for increased funding for states to improve their election security, as well as increased funding to counter Russian cyber attacks. I also spoke out against the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision to throw out Pennsylvania’s bipartisan, constitutionally-drawn congressional map in the middle of the election,creating chaos and confusion among voters.

Q: What steps will you take to ensure that the upcoming census is fully funded, accurate, and avoids under-counting?
A: The Census is important to provide legislators with accurate information to make informed policy decisions that are in the best interest of our country. I continue to support efforts to fund the Census and ensure that it accurately reflects our nation’s demographics.

Neal Taylor Gale, Green

Education: Drexel University – Architecture

Qualifications: For the past forty years I have worked in the energy conservation and efficiency fields, currently managing a comprehensive, low-income energy affordability program in conjunction with the six investor owned
utilities, in New Jersey.

Questions:

Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: 1. Remove Corporate, PAC, lobbyist and other special interests’ money from the political process, to end the influence of those groups on specific legislation and the buying of political favors. 2. Generate the political will at the federal level of government to implement a transition from our  existing fossil fuel economy to a 100% renewable energy economy, acknowledging the existential threat that climate change represents. 3. Reform our  economic model to favor all of our citizens, not just the wealthiest 1%. This will include the re-regulation of the financial industries and the recognition that the economy should support a baseline standard of living, below which no one may be allowed to fall.

Q: If elected, what will you do to ensure that the voting rights of all Americans are protected and that our elections are accessible and secure from internal and external threats?
A: I will fight for legislation to make voter registration as accessible as possible for all citizens, reversing unwarranted restrictions on voters. I would like to see election day become a national holiday and I would support federal funding to provide election day transportation for those citizens who would otherwise be unable to reach their polling place. I will support fair districting practices throughout the country, beginning with Pennsylvania. I will also champion the cause of providing resources to bring the latest voting technology into our polling places, replacing the existing, digital screen machines with those that incorporate paper balloting. I will support legislation to demand intelligence resources be assigned to recognize and thwart any attempts to alter our electoral system, by any means, digital or otherwise.

Q: What steps will you take to ensure that the upcoming census is fully funded, accurate, and avoids under-counting?
A: I will review the proposed process to be used for the 2020 census, and introduce legislation that will ensure an accurate, unbiased count throughout the country. This will require a large number of well-trained census workers, canvassing urban areas, and rural districts, where citizens are less available to be counted, or are not comfortable responding to census forms. The entire process will need to be overseen by a competent supervisory team, knowledgeable in the significance and importance of accurate census data, eager to maintain accurate counts and records. I will also include in the legislation, a spending request so that all necessary resources will be adequately funded.

Dale R. Kerns, Libertarian

Education: Widener University – Professional Studies, Project Management Sociology Master Electrician by trade

Qualifications: Founder and President of the Little Angels Foundation. Cabot Creamery Community Celebrity winner for volunteerism. Over 7 years in the non-profit sector in a volunteer capacity. Recently appointed to the James A Masterson Foundation advisory board.

Questions:

Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: 1) We must address the opioid epidemic and end the War on Drugs. When I get to the US Senate, I will sponsor legislation that will fundamentally change how we view drug problems and move our system to one similar to Portugal or Switzerland, where drug addiction is treated as a medical issue. 2) Education is one of the most important issues our nation and Commonwealth face. As a father to two daughters, I am not pleased with the options  or lack thereof) that most parents have. I will vote to abolish the federal Department of Education and return decisions to parents, students, and local communities. 3) Our immigration system is broken. It can take decades for individuals to immigrate to this country legally. We should welcome those who come to the United States to make a better life for their families. Our communities have been built on the hard work of immigrants. I will vote to abolish ICE and to reform our immigration system by making it easier for good people to legally immigrate.

Q: If elected, what will you do to ensure that the voting rights of all Americans are protected and that our elections are accessible and secure from internal and external threats?
A: I would work in the Senate to ensure that those who wish to vote can do so without any  unnecessary hurdles. This would include rigid enforcement of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments and support of early voting and same-day voter registration, as well as opposition to any new voter ID laws. States maintain the right to conduct their elections as they please, but they must also abide by the aforementioned constitutional requirements, which were designed to protect the sanctity of the voting booth.

Q: What steps will you take to ensure that the upcoming census is fully funded, accurate, and avoids under-counting?
A: Like any other government agency, the census should be held to high standards and tight budget restraints. As a U.S. Senator, I will insist that all possible options are explored, and that only the best companies and individuals are selected to partake in the census. This would include a rigorous vetting and screening process. Competition and accountability will vastly improve the results which we receive.

Governor (4-year term)

Tom Wolf, Democrat

Education: Dartmouth College (BA), the University of London (MA), and M.I.T. (PhD)

Qualifications: Business Owner, Secretary of Governor, Governor

Questions:

Q: What are your top 3 priorities in office?
A: Investing in our Kids and Schools: I have made clear my strong commitment to education in Pennsylvania by fully restoring education funding cuts made in the previous administration, providing unprecedented support to high-quality pre-k programs, and ensuring students are college and career ready by expanding opportunities for career and technical education. Grow Jobs and Support Workers: I have eliminated burdensome taxes on businesses like the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax and I am working to grow the economy by moving forward on large projects. I have and will continue to invest in manufacturing, apprenticeships, and workforce  development initiatives. Protect Our Seniors and Access to Health Care: I took immediate action to provide health insurance to more than 720,000 Pennsylvanians by expanding Medicaid, and under my administration the commonwealth’s uninsured rate is the lowest it has ever been. I have also increased opportunities for seniors to age in their homes.

Q: Do you support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen’s redistricting commission? Why or why not?
A: I have long supported a independent citizen’s redistricting commission. We must eliminate partisan politics from the legislative redistricting process by enacting legislation to end gerrymandering by establishing an independent, bi-partisan commission to create future electoral maps. I also stood up to the House State Government Committee Republican majority’s last-minute move to gut and replace House Bill 722, which was intended to create an independent redistricting commission, with a redistricting process that is more politically driven. To rebuild trust in Harrisburg, we must have fair and accessible elections for all citizens from our rural communities to our big cities.

Q: Which voting modernization reforms (such as no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, same day voter registration, additional funding for voting technology upgrades) would you support to ensure that our elections are accessible, efficient, and secure?
A: Yes, I have long advocated for voting modernization. Upon coming into office, I launched online  voter registration and now more than a million Pennsylvanians have used it. I also launched a voter information texting initiative and a program to get high school seniors to register to vote. I also directed the Pennsylvania Department of State to require new voting machines to have a voter verifiable paper ballot or paper record of votes cast. I recently launched a 21st century voting reform plan that includes same day voter registration, automatic voter registration, modernization of absentee ballots, campaign finance reform, and gerrymandering reform.

Scott Wagner, Republican

Q: What are your top 3 priorities in office?
A: Overhauling governmental impositions is a top priority. On day one, I will employ zero-based budgeting, introducing a transparent budget process that will make sense for taxpayers and investing  in what works to end wasteful and ineffective spending. With over 153,000 regulations and a regulatory authority out of control, meaningful regulation reform must be implemented, such as my current proposal to count, cap, and reduce. Second, I have been all over Pennsylvania and I have heard my mission loud and clear, I will eliminate property taxes as Governor. Many of our children are receiving an outstanding education, but the reality is that too many students are graduating from high school without the necessary skills to be successful in college or the workforce. We must retool and redesign our education system to ensure today’s students are adequately prepared to be tomorrow’s
adults. Without a major overhaul, we will continue to do a great disservice to our children and their educators.

Q: Do you support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen’s redistricting commission? Why or why not?
A: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision to overstep its bounds and override the legislature by drawing its own maps did a great disservice to the citizens of Pennsylvania. In light of this travesty, I would support an independent citizens redistricting commission to ensure that Pennsylvanians will have access to fair and equal elections when it comes time to work on maps after the 2020 census.

Q: Which voting modernization reforms (such as no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, same day voter registration, additional funding for voting technology upgrades) would you support to ensure that our elections are accessible, efficient, and secure?
A: Pennsylvania is among only 13 states that do not use paper ballots or have paper backup systems for electronic voting machines. I support the decision of the Department of State to require counties to replace their voting machines with systems that have paper trails. Pennsylvania has received $13.5 million in federal funding and the state is also required to provide a 5% match to this money. Thus, Pennsylvania has $14.15 million to help counties fund the purchase of these new voting machines. It is critical that state government make sure that counties have adequate funds available to ensure that they can meet their responsibility as it relates to voting systems.

Paul Glover, Green

Education: Degrees in Marketing and in City Management

Qualifications: Taught Urban Studies at Temple University. Taught Ecological Economics at Philadelphia University. Founder of more than a dozen organizations for ecology and justice. Author of six books on community
economic development.

Questions:

Q: What are your top 3 priorities in office?
A: 1. Shift the State budget toward ecology and justice. Aggressively fund energy efficiencies and expand tax credits for solar/wind/ cogeneration, to reduce demand for fossil fuels and end fracking. Move money from prisons to jobs and schools, and from roadbuilding to transit. 2. Fully employ all Pennsylvanians to rebuild cities, suburbs and farms toward balance with nature, partly with regional credits and regional stock exchanges, as described in my book Green Jobs Philly. I will establish the Green Labor Administration (GLAD) to employ 500,000 Pennsylvanians without raising taxes. The larger purpose is to begin the transition from the Middle Class to what i call the Mutual Class. 3. Permit formation of community-based medical cooperatives, to provide a genuinely nonprofit base for statewide universal health coverage that is affordable, democratic, and humane. This is how Canada’s
single payer system began.

Q: Do you support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen’s redistricting commission? Why or why not? A: Support independent drafting of legislative boundaries. Computer-generated drafts should inform the Commission. Meetings should be transparent, with public welcome.

Q: Which voting modernization reforms (such as no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, same day voter registration, additional funding for voting technology upgrades) would you support to ensure that our elections are accessible, efficient, and secure?
A: Favor returning to paper ballots, permitting no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, same day registration. The Green Party has long advocated Instant Runoff Voting, also known as Ranked Choice Voting, to end the “spoiler” argument against minor parties

Ken V Krawchuk, Libertarian

Education: B.S. Physics St. Joseph’s University, Abington Citizens Police Academy

Qualifications: Business Owner, Student of the Pennsylvania Constitution, Distinguished Toastmaster, Inventor with 3 U.S. Patents, Author, Husband, Father, Grandfather, and a good sense of humor.

Questions:

Q: What are your top 3 priorities in office?
A: The theme of the Krawchuk campaign is Death and Taxes. My goal is to reduce both dramatically. Under the two old parties, the cost of government has been rising on average at over 3 times the inflation rate for over 50 years. To end that trend, I promise to veto every tax increase, aggressively use the line item veto, eliminate property taxes and reduce the corporate tax. To reduce deaths, it’s time to end the Opioid Crisis. Four out of five opioid deaths can be prevented by following Portugal’s example and ending the insane War on Drugs. Addiction should be treated as a medical issue, not a criminal one. To help save lives, the right to keep and bear arms should be strongly supported because gun control kills. John Lott, a researcher at the University of Chicago, found that if a woman resists an attacker, she’s twice as likely to be seriously injured. But if she resists with a handgun,
she’s half as likely to be seriously injured. In other words, handguns are a girl’s best friend.

Q: Do you support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen’s redistricting commission? Why or why not?
A: I strongly support reforming our redistricting process. Look at any map of political districts and you can plainly see that the legislature has failed horribly in its constitutionally-mandated task to create “election districts of compact and contiguous territory”. An independent redistricting commission would certainly be a step in the right direction, but there is a better, broader solution, not only to redistricting, but also to midnight pay raises, unfair ballot access, illegal gun grabs, and more. That solution would be to re-establish the “Council of Censors” created by Benjamin Franklin. The Council was composed of two citizens from each city and county whose role was to “censure” the legislators by vetoing legislation that was not in keeping with the constitution, calling constitutional conventions, even ordering impeachments. The Council was eliminated a few short months after Franklin’s death; it would honor Pennsylvania’s most famous citizen if it were re-established.

Q: Which voting modernization reforms (such as no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, same day voter registration, additional funding for voting technology upgrades) would you support to ensure that our elections are accessible, efficient, and secure?
A: There are two ways to subvert an election: Stop honest citizens from voting, and stop worthy candidates from running. To make certain voting is honest, I strongly support voter-verifiable ballots. The way they work, when you vote you get two printouts of your vote. One copy is yours to keep as a record, and the other is signed by the voter and kept by the state as the official record and to be used for recounts. The chances for hacking an election vanish. To encourage worthy candidates to run, ballot access for independents and third parties should be made equal to that of the two old parties, as mandated by the Pennsylvania Constitution, not two and a half to thirty-three times higher. For example, this year I needed 5,000 signatures to get my name on the ballot for governor. The statewide candidates from the two old parties only needed 1,000 or 2,000. Is that equal? Is that fair?

Lt. Governor (4-year term)

John Fetterman, Democrat

Education: Albright College 1991 Harvard University Masters in Public Policy 1999

Qualifications: Mayor of Braddock for 13 yrs -drastically reduced food and clothing insecurity – eliminated heat insecurity this year – successfully implemented community policing model Founder of Braddock Redux Director for Out-Of-School Youth Program

Questions:

Q: What are your top 3 priorities in office?
A: I will be a progressive backstop for the Governor, advocate for economic justice and our forgotten communities in Pennsylvania, and utilize and transform the office of the Lt Governor to its fullest potential.

Q: Do you support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen’s redistricting commission? Why or why not?
A: Congressional and legislative districts should be drawn to ensure that candidates and elected officials are held accountable by voters. Boundaries should protect the interests of all voters and protect voting rights, and should not show preference to one political affiliation. We recently had a huge win with redistricting in Pennsylvania. I would certainly support formalized citizen input for a more fair and unbiased redistricting process.

Q: Which voting modernization reforms (such as no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, same day voter registration, additional funding for voting technology upgrades) would you support to ensure that our elections are accessible, efficient, and secure?
A: I support any reform that gets more people to turn out to vote, and makes voting easier. In addition to the above measures I think we should make Election Day a holiday and get more working people to the polls.

Jeff Bartos, Republican

Candidate did not provide information.

Jocolyn Bowser-Bostick, Green

Education: B.A. degree in biology from Temple University

Qualifications: I will excel as a Lt. Gov. because my scientific background and life experiences have prepared me to be a critical thinker, a leader and adept at conducting comprehensive research and reading and intelligently analyzing large amounts of data.

Questions:

Q: What are your top 3 priorities in office?
A: 1. Reduce the future environmental damage and human suffering from climate change and the current ruination of people’s health, safety and property values by banning gas and oil fracking and the building of pipelines that carry gas or natural gas liquids. We must improve energy efficiency, use less energy, and eliminate dirty energy systems of which fossil fuels are the biggest component by becoming 100% reliant by 2050 on clean & renewable energy sources. By adopting laws such as HB2132/SB1140 that reinforce the goal of becoming solely reliant on 100% clean energy we will improve our health, save lives, and create thousands of green jobs. 2.End poverty that forces people to live in unhealthy homes, be homeless, and fear that they or their family members will have to go hungry or do without vital medical/mental health services. 3. Protect the economic, social & political rights of women, racial minorities, believers of any faith & those of any gender identity or sexual orientation.

Q: Do you support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen’s redistricting commission? Why or why not?
A: Yes. Citizens not holding political office should decide because voting is supposed to help maintain a just and orderly society and they should help decide how things should work politically because the quality of their lives will be improved or destroyed based on how these districts are organized.

Q: Which voting modernization reforms (such as no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, same day voter registration, additional funding for voting technology upgrades) would you support to ensure that our elections are accessible, efficient, and secure?
A: There must be online & same-day registration, early voting and an election day as a holiday. The Electoral College should be eliminated but as long as we have it legislation must be passed that forces the votes of these delegates in PA to reflect the popular vote in PA. Our elections throughout PA should be decided by STAR voting and proportional representation. New voting machines must be used throughout PA that have verifiable paper ballots and are not connected to the internet.

Kathleen S. Smith, Libertarian 

Candidate did not provide information.

First Congressional District (2-year term)

Scott Wallace, Democrat

Education: Haverford College, B.A. Villanova Law School, J.D.

Qualifications: Attorney, US Senate counsel for Judiciary and Veterans Affairs Committees, legislative advocate for nonprofits working on criminal justice reform, 15 years running charitable foundation investing in democracy, womens’ empowerment and climate change.

Questions:

Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: Green jobs: Climate change is both a crisis and an opportunity. We must reverse Trump’s cancellation of our domestic and international obligations, and pivot to the huge promise of a clean energy future – with millions of green jobs, carbon-free, in solar, wind, geothermal, and building retrofits for energy efficiency. It’s time for Medicare for All. With less profits for huge insurance and pharmaceutical companies, total costs will plummet, with quality undiminished. I know personally: my wife and I just went on Medicare, and nothing went down but the cost. Money in politics corrupts everything, whether NRA money and guns, Wall Street money and consumer protections, polluters’ money and pollution, or corporate money and a trillion dollars in tax breaks to corporations and billionaires. I won’t take a dime of corporate PAC money. Unlike our current congressional Representative, nobody will ever have to wonder who the heck I’m working for.

Q: If elected, what will you do to ensure that the voting rights of all Americans are protected and that our elections are accessible and secure from internal and external threats?
A: To guarantee voting rights for all Americans, I would work for automatic voter registration – every American is automatically registered to vote when they pay taxes or get a driver’s license. Extend opportunities for early voting. Restore the Voting Rights Act, to prevent discriminatory voter suppression laws. Make it easier to vote, not harder. Ensure a paper trail for all ballots, to allow verifiable recounts, and reliable democracy. Fully document Russian interference in our 2016 elections, and work to make sure it never happens again.

Q: What steps will you take to ensure that the upcoming census is fully funded, accurate, and avoids under-counting?
A: Block Trump’s plan to question people’s citizenship status. Millions of people will be afraid to answer, and the results will be disastrous, including misallocation of federal funding and congressional representation. The census bureau must be led by qualified professionals, fully staffed, and appropriately funded. An accurate census guides everything the government does, and every dollar it spends, for the next ten years. Skewed results will taint every governmental decision, and imbalance the fairness of our democracy.

Brian Fitzpatrick, Republican

Education: La Salle University (BS) Pennsylvania State University (MBA) Pennsylvania State University Law (JD)

Qualifications: A dedicated public servant, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick is not done with his fight to fix a broken Washington and make a difference for our communities.

Questions:

Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: My top three priorities in office are: -Fighting back against the opioid crisis, by expanding access to treatment and providing additional resources (like in my INTERDICT Act that was signed into law) for our law enforcement to stop the illicit flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl into our communities. -Fixing a broken Washington and breaking through the partisan gridlock with a government reform plan that challenges career politicians: term limits for members of Congress, pass a budget or don’t get paid, and balance the budget. -Expanding economic opportunity and creating a regulatory environment where our small businesses can invest, grow, and hire.

Q: If elected, what will you do to ensure that the voting rights of all Americans are protected and that our elections are accessible and secure from internal and external threats?
A: I have supported bipartisan legislation, the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2017, which would fully modernize the original Voting Rights Act to ensure that the sacred right to vote is protected. To ensure that our elections are accessible and secure from internal and external threats, I have supported $380 million in election security funding as part of the Bipartisan Budget Deal earlier this year to replace aging voting machines, implement post-election audits, and provide cybersecurity  training. The bill also provided $300 million to the FBI to counter Russian cyberattacks. Furthermore, I have cosponsored H.R.4884 – Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act to make clear to Russia and other countries that there will be severe repercussions for any future interference in our democratic process. We must protect the integrity of our elections.

Q: What steps will you take to ensure that the upcoming census is fully funded, accurate, and avoids under-counting?
A: I will support continued funding for the Census Bureau and take into account any budgetary request that the agency may have in fulfilling its important role in conducting the upcoming census. I will oppose efforts that would undermine the agency’s mission and operational abilities to conduct an accurate count.

Sixth State Senatorial District (6-year term)

Tina Davis, Democrat

Education: BA, LaSalle University

Qualifications: I am currently a State Representative (D-141) and have served in this position since 2011. Previously, I served as a township councilperson from 2006 to 2010. I was a real estate salesperson for many years and have a BA from LaSalle University.

Questions:

Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: We need better funding for our schools, higher wages for middle-class families, and real protections for women’s rights across Pennsylvania. >Funding for our schools: It is imperative that we find a way to adequately and permanently fund our schools. Pennsylvania cannot continue to strip schools of funding forcing local school districts to raise property taxes on already beleaguered property taxpayers.I believe we need to raise fees on oil and gas companies that drill in Pennsylvania and use these funds to help finance our schools. >Protecting our middle class: I will fight for better wages for our middle and working class families to break from their years of stagnant income growth. > Protecting women’s rights: women’s healthcare is under attack in Pennsylvania and I will ensure that women in Bucks and across the Commonwealth have access to the healthcare services they need.

Q: Do you support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen’s redistricting commission? Why or why not?
A: I am a strong advocate for electoral and redistricting reform Voters should choose their representatives — representatives should not be choosing their voters. We need a fair and reasonable process where the potential for partisan abuse is minimized. Across America, voters have been dismayed by hyper-partisan legislatures implementing unfair redistricting plans. I believe these kinds of political games compromise the integrity of our political system. I support an independent citizen’s redistricting commission to fairly and honestly redraw Pennsylvania’s legislative districts. We need an open and transparent redistricting commission that reflects the will of the people, not the self interests of legislators.

Q: Which voting modernization reforms (such as no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, same day voter registration, additional funding for voting technology upgrades) would you support to ensure that our elections are accessible, efficient, and secure?

A: I support any reform that will widen voter participation while still protecting our voting system from being compromised by foreign governments or other bad actors. We need to invest in technology upgrades to ensure that our electoral system is secure from the problems that we faced in 2016. At the same time, we need to remove barriers to voting that plague many Americans. Every American should enjoy the right to vote. These reforms should include same-day registration, no-excuse.

Robert Tommy Tomlinson, Republican

Education: Bachelors of Science, West Chester University, 1970; Mortuary Science, Miami Dade University, 1971

Qualifications: PA State Representative,18th District 1990-1994 PA State Senator, 6th District, 1994-Present

Questions:

Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: As Senator of the 6th district, I have always focused on creating jobs and spurring economic growth. I authored legislation that has created over 22,000 jobs across the Commonwealth, including over 2,500 local jobs in Lower Bucks County. As the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, I voted to support the Transportation Bill, which created thousands of jobs, while improving our infrastructure. My second priority is the pension liability. This debt will continue to haunt future generations of Pennsylvanians. I voted for SB 1, which will help protect taxpayers while saving over $15 billion. In addition, I sponsored a Severance Tax on Natural Gas and will use that money to lessen burden on taxpayers. Finally, I’m committed to providing a safe environment for a good public education for our children.I have supported record funding to Basic Education, while voting for $60 million to help fund Safe School grants in order to protect our children.

Q: Do you support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen’s redistricting commission? Why or why not?
A: Absolutely. I have been a co-sponsor of SB22 since 2017. I believe when you look at what has occurred in Bucks County, that is a perfect example as to why we need a change in the current law. Between the changes in the 141st Legislative District, which removed a portion of Middletown to pick up the Boroughs of Hulmeville and Penndel; and, the changes in the 31st Legislative District, where a Republican majority of Upper Makefield was removed for a more Democratic municipality of Morrisville, which had serious effects on the election in 2016. I am proud to represent a Senate District that is 13 WHOLE and CONTIGUOUS municipalities. In addition, there is an overwhelming Democrat voter registration advantage. I believe when you represent the people, instead of a party or
ideology, the voter registration doesn’t matter.

Q: Which voting modernization reforms (such as no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, same day voter registration, additional funding for voting technology upgrades) would you support to ensure that our elections are accessible, efficient, and secure?
A: I believe that Voting is our most precious right and it must be protected at all costs. I think the Commonwealth has done a fantastic job with the Voter Registration online system, that has enabled masses of citizens the ability to register. I am always open for conversation regrading some other modernization reforms; however, I do believe that some of these reforms could have unintended consequences. After several talks with members of the League, I am open to support increased funding to ensure our elections are secure; I believe we must look for a proper way to fund this initiative, and I look forward to working with the League on this issue.

10th State Senatorial District (6-year term)

Steve Santarsiero, Democrat

Education: B.A., Tufts University J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School M.Ed., Holy Family University

Questions:

Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: My top three priorities are rebuilding our economy, strengthening our communities, and protecting our democracy. The key to more jobs, better jobs and higher wages is education. It starts in early childhood, continues through the primary and secondary levels and runs through college and job training. Great communities don’t just happen; they require hard work. We need to support our state and local police who are on the frontlines of protecting us every day and make sure that the resources are there that support law enforcement, such as treatment for mental health and addiction and, once and for all, a system of universal background checks on all firearm purchases to help prevent gun violence. For our democracy to work, its institutions have to function. We need to end gerrymandering and create a non-partisan commission to decide congressional and state lines; we need campaign finance reform; and we need to make it easier for people to vote.

Q: Do you support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen’s redistricting commission? Why or why not?
A: We need to stop the practice whereby elected officials pick their voters. It’s supposed to be the other way around. I support the creation of a non-partisan commission to decide congressional and state legislative lines.

Q: Which voting modernization reforms (such as no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, same day voter registration, additional funding for voting technology upgrades) would you support to ensure that our elections are accessible, efficient, and secure?
A: Let’s make it easier for people to vote, not harder. I support early voting and voting by mail. Both have worked in other states; they can work here too. I also support no-excuse absentee voting, same day voter registration, and additional investments into upgrading out voting technology and security.

Marguerite Quinn, Republican

Education: St. Joseph’s University, B.A. International  Relations; Archbishop Wood High School

Qualifications: As a State Representative, I have a proven record of putting aside partisan politics and working with everyone to achieve real results and pass legislation to make a positive difference for the people I serve, our local community, and Pennsylvania.

Questions:

Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: 1. I have always made education my top priority and delivered more funding for basic education than ever before. We must continue to adequately fund schools, move away from reliance on standardized testing, and support proven, innovational tools to prepare children for success. 2. As Representative, I have brought fiscal discipline to state government by focusing on priorities and spending wisely instead of simply spending more to protect taxpayers while still meeting the goals of the state. I have also supported measures like a fair natural gas severance tax, public pension reform and more to help us reach a strong financial foundation for state operations. 3. Protecting our quality of life by addressing the myriad of issues our communities face. From supporting measures that deal with gun violence, to combating the opioid epidemic, to addressing environmental concerns, to
improving our healthcare system,and more. I have a proven record of results, and a smart plan for the future.

Q: Do you support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen’s redistricting commission? Why or why not?
A: I do support this reform, and I am a co-sponsor of legislation, supported by Fair Districts PA, to create an independent redistricting commission to help remove politics from this process.

Q: Which voting modernization reforms (such as no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, same day voter registration, additional funding for voting technology upgrades) would you support to ensure that our elections are accessible, efficient, and secure?
A: My first goal with any possible voting reforms is to ensure the sanctity of the ballot and security of our voting systems. Because of this, I will carefully examine any proposal to avoid any unintended consequences that could result in fraud or ballot insecurity. I do agree with recent changes allowing voter registration on-line; I also would vote to allow 17 year olds who will be 18 by Election Day to pre-register to vote, and would support absentee ballot changes that make it easier for people to vote by mail. I also believe we must allow counties to add paper trails to electronic machines to ensure that we have tangible items that can be referenced in cases of recounts or disputes.

140th State Legislative District (2-year term)

John Galloway, Democrat

Candidate did not provide information.

141st State Legislative District (2-year term)

Tina Davis, Democrat

Education: BA, LaSalle University

Qualifications: I am currently a State Representative (D-141) and have served in this position since 2011. Previously, I served as a township councilperson from 2006 to 2010. I was a real estate salesperson for many years and have a BA from LaSalle University.

Questions:

Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: We need better funding for our schools, higher wages for middle-class families, and real protections for women’s rights across Pennsylvania. >Funding for our schools: It is imperative that we find a way to adequately and permanently fund our schools. Pennsylvania cannot continue to strip schools of funding forcing local school districts to raise property taxes on already beleaguered property taxpayers.I believe we need to raise fees on oil and gas companies that drill in Pennsylvania and use these funds to help finance our schools. >Protecting our middle class: I will fight for better wages for our middle and working class families to break from their years of stagnant income growth. > Protecting women’s rights: women’s healthcare is under attack in Pennsylvania and I will ensure that women in Bucks and across the Commonwealth have access to the healthcare services they need.

Q: Do you support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen’s redistricting commission? Why or why not?
A: I am a strong advocate for electoral and redistricting reform Voters should choose their representatives — representatives should not be choosing their voters. We need a fair and reasonable process where the potential for partisan abuse is minimized. Across America, voters have been dismayed by hyper-partisan legislatures implementing unfair redistricting plans. I believe these kinds of political games compromise the integrity of our political system. I support an independent citizen’s redistricting commission to fairly and honestly redraw Pennsylvania’s legislative districts. We need an open and transparent redistricting commission that reflects the will of the people, not the self interests of legislators.

Q: Which voting modernization reforms (such as no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, same day voter registration, additional funding for voting technology upgrades) would you support to ensure that our elections are accessible, efficient, and secure?

A: I support any reform that will widen voter participation while still protecting our voting system from being compromised by foreign governments or other bad actors. We need to invest in technology upgrades to ensure that our electoral system is secure from the problems that we faced in 2016. At the same time, we need to remove barriers to voting that plague many Americans. Every American should enjoy the right to vote. These reforms should include same-day registration, no-excuse.

Anthony J Sposato, Republican

Education: Some College. Over 33 yrs as a Retail Manager, Business Owner, Real Estate & Life Ins Licence.

Qualifications: Knowledge of Economics, 4 yrs on Neshaminy School Board. 2012-16 myself & dedicated members made tax payers & students #1. No politics. We added: All day kindergarten, ended Teacher strike, Built new school+STEM, Razed Bond & district rating & more.

Questions:

Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: Act as a Fiduciary for taxpayers with their money. Try to get support for addressing the Pension Crisis in the Commonwealth. Try to solve Funding disparity between Charter Schools and Public Schools. Public Schools have State Mandated requirements that private schools do not. These Disparities need to be fixed. Help to facilitate more and better jobs in our Lower Bucks Community. Try to promote awareness of the programs offered by our Commonwealth for the unemployed & under employed. Do what ever I can to be a cheer leader for our district and the businesses that chose to locate here. I realize that I have an aggressive agenda but we need to make life better in Pennsylvania.

Q: Do you support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen’s redistricting commission? Why or why not?
A: Yes.Personally I would like to see everyone register independent, with one vote in the primary to pick the best candidate. They could vote Republican or Democrat in the primary but make only vote once. If that was possible there would be no way to predict what they would do. I believe there would be less pandering. Yes I would, I would like to see members of every political party represented on that commission. The idea to me of which gang do you belong to is keeping us from doing the work of the people.

Q: Which voting modernization reforms (such as no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, same day voter registration, additional funding for voting technology upgrades) would you support to ensure that our elections are accessible, efficient, and secure?
A: First, I think we need to have serious Voter ID laws. The rest is important but we need to be sure of the integrity of the vote.

142nd State Legislative District (2-year term)

Lauren Lareau, Democratic

Education: MSEd from PennGSE, BA Psychology from Florida International University

Qualifications: This is my first time running for political office. I am a single mother, and have managed my own tutoring business for 10 years, and earned my master’s degree in education from UPenn. I’m also a member of my township’s Environmental Advisory Council

Questions:

Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: My first priority is to increase state funding for public schools, and support the Pennsylvania Promise. Not only does the state need to provide more support for K-12 public schools, but Pennsylvania also needs to help more students get a college degree. Another top priority of mine is to protect the environment, especially the air and water, from fracking and other forms of environmental pollution. Healthcare is also a top priority; as a beneficiary of the Affordable Care Act and the CHIP program, I fully support funding these programs to help more families afford healthcare. Another major priority is to keep taxes low for families and small businesses, without sacrificing funding for education. I agree with the PA Budget and Policy Center’s proposal for paying for the Pennsylvania Promise.

Q: Do you support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen’s redistricting commission? Why or why not?
A:Absolutely. I support an independent commission to redraw the electoral map. It’s the only fair way to ensure the democratic process. When districts have been gerrymandered, they discount the voices of some, and unfairly weight the voices of others. I was elated that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in favor of the League of Women Voters’, and agreed that the congressional districts had been gerrymandered for political gain. I’d like to see the state assembly districts given the same attention. How poetic, that almost 100 years after women fought for democracy through the right to vote, women are still fighting for democracy through fairly drawn districts. I will support legislation that allows an independent commission to draw the electoral map. One person should be entitled to one vote in a democracy, and an independent commission will ensure that each person’s voice counts the
same.

Q: Which voting modernization reforms (such as no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, same day voter registration, additional funding for voting technology upgrades) would you support to ensure that our elections are accessible, efficient, and secure?
A: Voting is the most important fundamental right of any citizen in a democracy. I support no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, same day voter registration as well as additional funding for voting technology upgrades. It’s important for students away at school, or service members away on military duty, to have easy access to vote via absentee ballots. Early voting is an important way to ensure that all members of a community will have the ability and time to vote, given their busy schedules with work and family obligations. Same day voter registration is important, because in today’s society, there’s no reason why a resident with proof of their address in the district should be denied his or her right to vote in an election, simply because of a missed deadline weeks before. Finally, voting technology, like any other technology, needs to be upgraded to accommodate the developments that ensure accurate and secure voting processes.

Frank Farry, Republican

Education: BS in Economics, Wharton School, U of Penn, MS in Public Policy and Law Degree, Rutgers

Qualifications: Lifelong resident of the district. 29 year decorated vol firefighter including 18 yrs as Fire Chief. Former Asst. Township Manager, Middletown Township. Author or coauthor of 19 laws enacted by both Dem and Rep Governors.

Questions:

Q: What are your top three priorities in office?
A: First and foremost we need to focus on our schools. The first step is continuing to invest money into our public school system. We have passed budgets with record numbers of education funding, all without having to raise taxes. We need to keep our investments in public education growing. We also have to secure and protect our kids. I co-authored the law that created a school safety tip system and ultimately included $60 million in school safety grants. We also must enact common sense ideas to keep guns out of the hands of mentally ill and/or violent individuals.. Lastly, we must continue to give support to our first responders. As a fire chief I see everyday the risks people take to protect our community. We must support police, fire, and ems and I am looking forward to being one of the loudest advocates for those who serve.

Q: Do you support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen’s redistricting commission? Why or why not?
A: I do and I am a co-sponsor of the bill to do just that. I think that it is imperative that we get the partisanship out of redistricting. For too long politicians have had too much influence in the drawing of their districts. The end result has been a government run by people elected by the extremes of each party. The incentive is to make your side happy, not to work in a constructive way to solve the problems facing Pennsylvania. We need people elected to office who want to solve problems and work together, not partisan bulldogs looking to do nothing more than score political points. I am a problem solver that has worked across the aisle to attract jobs, protect working families, and to put the needs of our community first. I believe non-partisan redistricting could help Harrisburg work again.

Q: Which voting modernization reforms (such as no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, same day voter registration, additional funding for voting technology upgrades) would you support to ensure that our elections are accessible, efficient, and secure?
A: Obviously, I think that we should be looking for ways to increase voter participation. I believe we must also protect the integrity of the process of voting, so we can have confidence in the system. I support upgrading technology and making sure that the use of technology is as secure as possible. No excuse absentee ballot voting also makes sense to me as does early voting. One other idea that I believe deserves more study are more open primaries – either letting independents vote in the primary of their choice or a totally open system. I think either of these reforms would lead to candidates more focused on solving problems.