Candidate Spotlight Series: Melissa Dicranian

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 responded will have their answers shared on our website.

Melissa Dicranian is running for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in district 167, covering parts of Chester County. She is a small business owner and a registered Republican.

What is the most important issue impacting Pennsylvania?

Open borders. A primary role of our government is the protection of our citizens from threats both foreign and domestic. Pennsylvanians, due to the open borders, have been living amongst crime and a massive drug crisis brought upon the citizens, their families, and communities. 

What is the most important issue impacting your district?

The economy. The District 167 economy is suffering in a strong recession. The government needs to come onboard and work with the communities, efficiently, in supporting the needs of our district, as well as all of Pennsylvania; as we are interdependent to one another. The resources of our citizens and the businesses cannot continue to sustain the inflation already high and continually increasing. In District 167 we need a strong plan to address the gap in our workforce, which is down over 12 percent in 16- to 24-year-old participants, while our aged workforce is large and moving into retirement. The barriers of regulation and taxation need to be adjusted to a pro-business environment. District 167 wants to work,and  we need to make this happen.

What do you consider your greatest professional accomplishment?

Historic farm property restoration. My husband and I purchased a farm as a family project, to teach our children the many self-reliant skills we learned growing up. The property we purchased was bank owned and had been vacant for over three years. We spent the next six years recovering the property; over ninety percent of items purchased for the restoration are made in the USA, many are made in Pennsylvania. The farm is now named “Wellspointe,” after the Wells Family who lived on the farm for over 197 years.

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

Rather than add another piece of legislation, I prefer to promote the education of citizens as to their individual rights, freedoms, and liberties. Our government was created to maintain and secure these rights, and should be accountable to do so today.

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

Unconstitutional government regulation. Legislation that includes language such as ‘government-mandated staff ratios,’ or requirements ‘participation in a government run auto-IRA,’ is an overreach of government. Legislation of the people is founded in a framework that supports and empowers the people in their pursuits. Currently our state government is moving along with legislation that refuses to account for the reality that we are in a recession — our communities and businesses are now and have been struggling. Here, legislation should be assisting; possibly capping surcharges and additional fees to consumers and reducing regulatory barriers.

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

Limit on Governor’s overreach. The two Constitutional Amendments, present on the ballot and voted on in May 2021, limit the power of a Governor’s overreach with the use of emergency powers. Pennsylvania had experienced this abusive overreach of power, particularly during Covid.

What is your favorite thing to do in Pennsylvania?

Learning about nature. I really enjoy learning about the natural environment — be it flora or fauna, all of nature is amazing.

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

Broad + Liberty is a nonprofit media endeavor dedicated to sharing voices and stories that are shut out of other media outlets. @BroadAndLiberty