2 starting in Pa. 11th Senatorial District

Voters in the 11th Senatorial District will have a choice when they go to the polls.

In the November 5 election, incumbent Democrat Judy Schwank will face Republican challenger and Cumru County Commissioner Lisha Rowe.

The district includes 23 municipalities in Berks County, stretching from Spring Township in the southwest through Reading to Maxatawny Township in the northeast.

State senators serve four-year terms and receive an annual salary of $102,844.

We asked candidates to answer four questions:

Judy Schwank

Residence: Ruscombmanor Borough.

Age: 72.

Background: Schwank has represented the 11th Senatorial District since 2011. Prior to her election to state government, she worked as a horticulture agent for Penn State Cooperative Extension, served as director of the Berks County Cooperative Extension Program and was elected the first woman Berks County Commissioner in 2000.

Website: judyschwankforstatesenate.com

Q. Name a single issue facing the district you want to represent and how you would address that issue if elected.

A. Housing availability and affordability are serious issues in the 11th District, as well as throughout Berks County. Most of our housing stock is very old and does not meet current needs. Whether it’s skyrocketing rents, a lack of affordable homes to buy, or families without housing, including children and teenagers, people are being priced out of the housing market.

I supported funding and tax breaks in the current financial year to encourage builders to renovate older homes and build new workforce housing. We can encourage communities to expand housing opportunities without sacrificing land conservation goals. I have been a strong supporter of the Whole House Repair Scheme, which helped homeowners and renters keep their homes in good condition, and I am working to ensure it is re-funded. I support legislation that limits property taxes for seniors so they can remain in their homes and increases the property tax and rent reduction program, as we did in last year’s budget, to help more families pay school property taxes.

Q. What specific actions should the state legislature take to make life more affordable for residents in your district?

A: As a state legislator, I am focused on helping my constituents afford the lifestyles they want and need. The primary way to achieve this goal is to help existing and new businesses create and retain more jobs with fair wages. I have worked with vulnerable families to combat the high costs of utilities such as water, sewer and electricity imposed by corporate entities, and I have sponsored legislation to restrict the privatization of essential services. Supporting local farmers and providing them with resources to reduce production costs and help maintain profitability is key to maintaining a strong local food supply at affordable prices. As chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, I played a key role in developing and implementing these policies.

I am a strong supporter of a statewide health insurance exchange so that people who need to purchase health insurance can do so at a reasonable cost. As mentioned earlier, I support expanded state efforts to build our housing supply at all levels. Child care costs have never been affordable for many families. I support extending childcare subsidies to more families and increasing the pay of childcare teachers as many leave the profession and seek more lucrative work.

Q. How will you collect feedback from the community regarding their needs and concerns?

A. One aspect of my position as a state senator that I truly enjoy is the interaction and communication with my constituents. Good communication starts with active listening. Our population is changing, becoming more diverse and more technologically advanced. We are also getting older and we must be sensitive to the communication needs of older residents. To make people feel heard and receive the information they need, it is necessary to use many methods of communication. It is also important to provide information in other languages.

I sponsor telephone town halls, district-wide in-person seminars, daily social media posts, e-newsletters, and the occasional print newsletter, and I also speak at a variety of professional and community events. My staff and I sponsor booths at many community events, and I try to be as present as possible. I regularly visit businesses, schools, local authorities and non-profit organizations to communicate directly with them and provide the assistance they need. I am very visible in the community and try to recognize so much of the good work that is being done. My role is to celebrate the achievements of dedicated people and thank them for all they do to make our community better.

Q. What inspired you to run for office?

A. I have been fortunate to mentor and work with people who are true public servants. I have observed many selfless leaders in local and state government, health care, business and education who love their communities and want to make them better places to live. They often contribute in ways that are not visible to the outside world but have a huge impact on the lives of so many people. These people and ordinary citizens who do extraordinary things continue to inspire me to strive to serve like them.

Lisha Rowe

Residence: Cumru commune.

Age: 64.

Background: Rowe is a retired chemical researcher and environmental education specialist with various organizations. He continues to teach agricultural science to high school students and environmental education to home school students. He is a member of the Cumru County Board of Commissioners, the Berks County Republican Committee and the Reading Area Transportation Study.

Website: lisharowe4pa.com

Q. Name a single issue facing the district you want to represent and how you would address that issue if elected.

A. There are many issues in the 11th District that impact the diversity of our residents, such as the high cost of groceries, high gas prices, lack of affordable housing, and high crime. However, what I hear most often is about high and constantly increasing property taxes. Consider this: According to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, more than 10,000 Pennsylvanians each year lose their homes to sheriff’s sales, and many more are forced to sell to avoid foreclosure due to nonpayment of property taxes. Out-of-control property taxes are destroying Pennsylvania’s economy and driving out residents. Entrepreneurs are discouraged from establishing new enterprises that would create jobs.

Eliminating the property tax would lead to true homeownership, help prevent foreclosures, restore the value of overtaxed properties, stimulate the housing market, attract businesses, increase personal wealth, create a huge stimulus for Pennsylvania, and generate jobs. Eliminating property taxes could stabilize school funding. House Bill 76 and Senate Bill 76, the Property Tax Independence Act, provide public schools with a predictable, stable and equitable revenue stream. No tax should have the power to make you homeless.

Q. What specific actions should the state legislature take to make life more affordable for residents in your district?

The biggest problem for people is inflation and the high cost of living. Agriculture is the number one economy in Pennsylvania, but it struggles with high operating costs and regulations. Farmers are going out of business and farmland is disappearing. All of these things affect our food supply and drive up food prices. Pennsylvania’s great diversity of businesses has a major impact on the economy. They are assaulted by high energy costs, high taxes, excessive regulation and permitting bureaucracy. As a result, companies are leaving Pennsylvania for more business-friendly states.

Pennsylvania is blessed with abundant natural energy resources. Opening up these resources will help these industries and our economy. When we lead in energy production, Pennsylvanians thrive. Natural gas and oil activities are trickle-down and contribute directly to our economy, driving manufacturing, banking, logistics, construction, agriculture and more. The reduced costs incurred by these industries are passed on to consumers. We need effective permits and consistent policies at the federal and state levels that encourage investment, support manufacturing, infrastructure and millions of skilled workers.

Q. How will you collect feedback from the community regarding their needs and concerns?

As an elected official, being an active part of your community is key to understanding its needs. The 11th arrondissement is home to many people of varying incomes, businesses, organizations, schools, faiths, landscapes, families, values, and more. Being available for questions, comments, complaints and requests is a fundamental duty of a public official. Outreach is an essential part of democracy, shaping political life, engaging underrepresented communities, facilitating dialogue and increasing community participation. When local officials actively engage residents in local decision-making processes, they gain new knowledge and perspectives from the community. Integration promotes policies that are tailored to the real needs of communities and take into account society’s concerns. Community engagement allows for a sense of transparency, trust and partnership between government and citizens.

Methods of reaching your audience would include:

• Public information can be posted on websites, in the newspaper or in presentations.

• Social media.

• Public participation offers dialogue to formulate group recommendations and ideas.

• Interactive government websites.

• Digital forms and applications.

• Public consultation by soliciting information and opinions through public hearings, telephone polls or surveys.

• Free community events.

• Meet and greet events.

• Building coalitions.

These and other methods can help create a cohesive community culture and shared vision.

Q. What inspired you to run for office?

A. Many people in our community have expressed concern about the current far-left senator’s voting record in Harrisburg and consider it a threat to our medical freedom, girls’ sports, secure borders, businesses and energy independence. Let’s take a look at her voting history. In 2021, she voted against Senate Bill 618, which would have prohibited government entities and state-funded universities from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination. In 2022, she voted against House Bill 972 to protect girls-only sports in public schools. According to the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the current senator voted against growth and business policies 69% of the time. My opponent stood up for the interests of undocumented immigrants by voting against Senate Resolution 234, which called on President Joe Biden and our federal officials to help secure our border and provide the necessary resources to protect American citizens. In 2021, she voted to keep parents in the dark about what their children are learning in school by voting “no” on House Bill 1332.

Our district needs common sense decisions to be made.