Welcome back to Broad + Liberty’s Candidate Spotlight Series! We reached out to candidates all across the Commonwealth up for election to public office — Democrats and Republicans, incumbents and challengers. Those who choose to respond will have their answers shared on our website.

John George is running for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in district 37, covering parts of Lancaster County, including Lititz, Manheim, and Clay Township. He is a registered Democrat who recently retired from the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units where he served as the Executive Director. 

What is the most important issue impacting Pennsylvania?

In Pennsylvania, ensuring a woman’s right to make decisions about her own body and healthcare is the most important issue for our citizens. I will fight to protect women’s rights to access FDA approved contraception prescriptions, reproductive health services, family planning, and maternal care. I am committed to ensuring that every woman is entitled to the liberty to make her own choices that impact her health, life, and future.

What is the most important issue impacting your district?

The most important issue facing my constituents is the increasing reliance on property taxes to fund education.  The state legislature has abdicated its responsibility for providing an efficient system of public education. Further, it is clear that the legislature has intentionally underfunded public education. Consequently, the majority of the cost of education has shifted from state funding to local property taxes thereby forcing homeowners, including the elderly, to bear more of the cost. This problem has been exasperated by Republican desires to take money from public schools to fund charter and cyber charter schools and private school tuition scholarships. Not too long ago, the state funded more than 50 percent of the cost of public education, today it funds approximately 37 percent.  We can reduce property taxes if the state would stop using public money for private purposes.

What do you consider your greatest professional accomplishment?

While serving as Executive Director at the Berk County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) in 2014, I assumed the position of Acting Superintendent of the Reading School District in order to lead the district out of financial distress.  Working with Republican and Democratic legislators, I organized a coalition that enabled BCIU to run the school district rather than having the district turned over to a private management company. Within one year, the district became solvent while remaining under local control and the state abandoned its plans to take control of the district.

If you could pass one piece of legislation, what would it be and why?

Universal daycare would be at the top of the list. Universal daycare is a long-term investment in our children’s future, providing essential early education that fosters cognitive, social, and emotional development. High-quality daycare ensures that every child, regardless of economic background, is prepared for school and lifelong success. High quality early childhood education has been shown to close the achievement gap and promote equality from the start. It promotes our children’s well-being. In the long term, it reduces poverty and decreases crime, thus ensuring the future prosperity of our nation.

What aspects of state government are you the least satisfied with?

I am exhausted by the political polarization within the state government and the lack of civility displayed by our elected officials. I believe elected officials have a responsibility to model integrity, respect, and civil behavior, and are elected to make their communities better places to live, work, and go to school. I recognize that both parties offer ideas with merit, and I vow to listen, seek to understand multiple perspectives, and work with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents for the benefit of all Pennsylvania’s citizens. I will not be beholden to any political party; nor will I attempt to impose my personal beliefs on our citizens. Rather, I will only be beholden to the people whom I would represent.

What was the best piece of Pennsylvania legislation passed in the last four years?

I would have to say Act 77 of 2019 made the most significant improvements to Pennsylvania’s elections in more than 80 years. Act 77 allows more convenient and secure voting and instituted no-excuse mail voting and eliminated straight-ticket ballots.

What is your favorite thing to do in Pennsylvania?

Experiencing Pittsburgh on weekends when there are Steeler football games, and of course, attending the games and rooting for the Steelers.

The candidate spotlight series series is open to any state office candidate on the ballot in November. Please contact barosica@s46680.p831.sites.pressdns.com for more information.

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