I know what you are thinking: This is just another piece of political propaganda. Please keep reading, I assure you it is not.
I want you to understand my sincere impression of Anna Payne, who is running this year as a Democrat to be the Pennsylvania State Representative for the 142nd District. If she wins, she will represent her constituents well in Harrisburg next year and help preserve the razor thin Democratic majority in the Pennsylvania State House. After you finish reading my words here, you will see her not as just another would-be politician running for office, but as a kind, compassionate, competent experienced public servant who is passionate and eager to serve all her constituents in the community where she spent her entire life.
I don’t even live in the 142nd district. But a good friend of mine invited me to his house where he was having a gathering of his neighbors to meet Anna. I asked him if there was an entrance fee as is usual in these kinds of meetings. There was none. It was simply a chance for Anna to tell her neighbors who she was, why she was running and what she stood for: democracy in action!
I had seen Anna at other crowded political events and spoken to her occasionally, but really didn’t know her well. I did know that she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth and had struggled to overcome this challenge. And recently she struggled with colon cancer. Having run for office myself, I was so impressed that Anna was embarking on such an arduous task. That decision told me something about her character so I was curious to learn more about her.
About a dozen neighbors gathered at my friend’s house and Anna spoke to the group, not like a politician, but as a “regular” person. She told us of her leadership experience as chair and member of the Middletown Township Board of Supervisors. She told us that she had already knocked on over 1,000 doors to meet her future constituents. But since she spent her entire life in this community and graduated from Neshaminy High School, several of the people she met at the doors had already known about her (some had even gone to high school with her) and were eager to vote for her. I was impressed with her boundless energy and her local roots.
INTERVIEW: Middletown Township Supervisor Anna Payne Is Ready to Fight for Bucks County in Harrisburg
Anna then spoke about why she was running for office. She had priorities that would help her community get stronger and prosper. And she had the determination and energy to get things done, as she had done throughout her life. Community safety was one priority she had in mind and had already addressed this in her township supervisor job. She had fought for budget increases for both the police and fire departments. Having firsthand experience with health issues, she understood how critical it was for all women to make decisions for themselves about the health of their bodies. She was always, is now, and always will be an advocate for women’s reproductive rights and freedom. Anna also understands the economic concerns of workers who are struggling with the cost of living. That is a major reason why she is a strong supporter of unions which enable workers to get better wages, affordable health insurance and cost of living raises which is so essential in dealing with inflation. As a township supervisor, she sees careful expenditures not as burdens, but as investments that make life better for all her constituents.
Anna was able to express the importance of this election without tearing down her opponent. She did not descend into the ugly mudslinging of our current political climate. I had to press her with questions about areas where her opponent made some poor decisions in his less than two years on his new job. She expressed concern that he voted against a gun bill that the police department had supported! Obviously community safety is her priority. Anna also expressed disappointment that her Republican opponent Joe Hogan had flip-flopped on the issue of women’s rights. Anna’s support of women’s rights is solid as a rock. She will not waver. She is afraid if her opponent waffled once, he could waffle again.
Anna answered every question from everyone in the room. She answered them intelligently and with conviction. She spoke about her plans to continue to run a vigorous campaign right up to election day. She hopes people can help her write postcards to voters, plant lawn signs, and go door knocking to spread her message and priorities. And briefly, of course she said donating money would be helpful. Already her race has been designated an important Type 1 contest since less than 100 votes determined the last election where another Democratic candidate lost. This designation should provide her with more support and hopefully inspire even more people to help her candidacy.
I know I was impressed with her determination, her competence and her compassion. I hope that those who are reading this letter understand, if she were elected to the Pennsylvania State House, what an asset she would be to her community in the 142nd District and to all of Pennsylvania since she could be the key to maintaining or extending that slim Democratic Pennsylvania State House majority. Please support her candidacy if you can. Anna will not disappoint you.
Steve Cickay, Newtown
Senator Bob Casey Will Fight for Women’s Reproductive Freedom
Two years ago the Dobbs decision, overturning a woman’s constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy, thrust millions of women’s lives into danger. Too many women in America can no longer rely on access to safe and appropriate reproductive healthcare.
For decades, we took for granted a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body. But now that Roe v. Wade has fallen, this fundamental right will be on the ballot.
Pennsylvanians will be given a choice between Senator Bob Casey, who is fighting to enshrine the right to reproductive healthcare, and Republican David McCormick, who is pursuing a dangerous anti-choice agenda.
As a practicing OB-GYN before Dobbs, I provided essential reproductive care to thousands of women, and I understand the importance that access to appropriate care is never jeopardized.
McCormick represents a grave threat to the rights and freedoms of Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth.
McCormick celebrated the fall of Roe v. Wade, He used the fallout from the Dobbs decision to make clear that he intends to support a national abortion ban if he is elected to the Senate.
He had said he supports an abortion ban without exceptions for rape or incest. This shows his belief that politicians somehow have the knowledge and right to make our healthcare decisions.
Doctors such as OB/GYNs, must be able to continue providing care in collaboration with our patients. Politicians, like David McCormick, cannot be allowed to make these decisions with dangerously out-of-touch views. He must be rejected in November.
Sherry L. Blumenthal (MD, MSEd., FACOG), Abington
GOP Rhetoric on Freedom Contradicted by Actions
It’s evident: Republicans tout freedom and limited government, but their actions contradict these principles.
In Florida, amid a climate crisis where it is now cost prohibitive for homeowners to buy hurricane insurance, the State legislature spends time making it illegal for educators to discuss climate change!
School censorship runs rampant everywhere in the U.S., thanks to the GOP thought-police. Across GOP-led states, laws dictate what educators can teach, stifling accurate discourse on history, race, and rights.
The “Stop WOKE” Act in Florida suppresses free speech, which a court deemed an unconstitutional law. Reproductive freedom is under siege, alongside LGBTQ+ rights and voting access.
Despite cries against government intrusion, Republicans enact regressive policies. Their hypocrisy is exposed. Republicans aren’t champions of freedom. They want to take away your rights and impose their beliefs on you through the power of Big Government.
Vote them OUT.
William Rothwell, State College
