Here’s a look at the candidates for the Pennsylvania Senate. Democrat Jennifer Shukaitis is facing off against Rosemary Brown, currently a state representative.

Jennifer Shukaitis

Town: Stroudsburg

Election website/social media: www.JenniferforPA.com @JenniferforPA

Background: I am the granddaughter of environmental champion and former Monroe County Commissioner, Nancy Shukaitis. I am a health care worker and serve as a Stroud Township supervisor on a bipartisan board for about 20,000 residents. This is the tenth consecutive year Stroud Township passed a budget without an increase in the municipal tax. Township roads are paved, parks maintained, police force funded, and we focus on responsible zoning and preserving open space. I also currently serve on the Brodhead Watershed Association, the Act 137 Affordable Housing Board, and Stroud Regional Open Space and Recreation Commission along with other local organizations.

Top three priorities if elected: My top priorities include education funding and property tax reform, family-sustaining economic development, and affordable housing. Our region’s economy also depends on bolstering our Constitutional right to clean air, pure water and preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and aesthetic values of the environment. I am endorsed by the Sierra Club, Conservation Voters of PA, and PennEnvironment. I will make decisions that provide the foundation for a healthy, productive, prosperous Pennsylvania.

Our senior population is being hit harder than most with the high inflation. Property taxes don’t help. What do you think can be done to alleviate the burden of property taxes: Seniors are losing their homes because they cannot afford their property taxes. My opponent has failed to lower property taxes during her 12 year tenure as state representative and instead diverts funds to private cyber schools. I plan to fund our schools more adequately at the state level so that the burden of property taxes does not continue to fall on the seniors, and those with a fixed income.

Changes, if any, you would make to the funding system for cyber/charter schools: The state’s charter school law funds privately-operated cyber charter schools by involuntarily taking taxpayer money from school district budgets. Not only does this account for higher school property taxes to fill the gap of the public schools, but privately-operated cyber charter schools are not held to the same standards and transparency, lacking accountability for curriculum and educator qualifications.

How you would help improve access to mental health services for residents: One of the biggest barriers is the lack of qualified providers. Three ways to improve mental health care: Physician assistants with specialized training in mental health could bolster the workforce; Integration with primary care, involves adding front-line practitioners and screening processes within primary care practices where patients interact with the health care system; technology-based tools, novel technologies can help make care more efficient and expand the reach of practitioners, including video conferencing and software-based tools.

How would you attract new businesses while balancing the need to preserve the Poconos environment: We can attract new businesses by investing in infrastructure such as broadband, public transit, and improving and maintaining roads and bridges. It will also be essential to invest in education to have a skilled workforce for new businesses to pull from. We also need to ensure that we encourage municipalities to work together on smart zoning, and pass laws to protect the river basin and our environment.

Rosemary Brown

Town: Tannersville

Election website/social media: www.brownforpa.com

Facebook.com/brownforpa

Instagram.com/brownforpa

Background: I currently serve as a PA State Representative where I have earned a reputation as a bipartisan and effective legislator. I bring to that office the perspective of a working mom, taxpayer, daughter of older parents, nearly lifelong resident, and former business professional - a perspective that means I understand the struggles our families face. This perspective is what drives my service as well: focusing on bringing fiscal discipline to government; supporting schools with record funding; working to keep families safe; fighting for property tax relief and elimination; and, securing vital funds for important local projects.

Your three top priorities if elected to office: Combating the inflation caused by liberal government policies. This can be done through fiscal discipline and by helping job creators grow our economy. I voted for record funding for schools. We can do more to improve education through investment, accountability, and by giving parents a stronger voice. Ensuring the safety of our families by supporting law enforcement and fighting drug crime. I am endorsed by our police and the State Troopers Association.

What do you think can be done to alleviate the burden of property taxes: I have long proposed and supported property tax elimination (which my opponent opposes) as well as supported property tax relief programs like a Senior Property Tax Freeze. Just this year, I supported a record increase in the Property Tax Rebate program. I helped pass the bipartisan education funding formula that brings more money to local schools, and supported record school funding - both so the state pays more and local homeowners pay less.

What, if any, changes would you make to the funding system for cyber/charter

schools: I believe this must be changed and have introduced to implement the bipartisan Special Education Funding Commission’s recommendation for applying the same funding principles used to distribute state special education funding to school districts. Doing so will not only improve the accuracy and fairness of funding distribution for charter schools and cyber schools, but also conserve special education resources. I received the “Champion of Public Education” by the Pennsylvania School Board Association for this work.

How would you help improve access to mental health services for residents: I am co-chair of the bipartisan mental health caucus in Harrisburg that successfully advocated for an increase in county mental health funding in the FY22-23 state budget. County mental health services are a key component of optimizing the Commonwealth’s investment in mental health and improving outcomes. The work is far from over and remains a critical priority - we need to increase providers, break barriers to access, and always work to build education and destigmatize.

How you would attract new businesses while balancing the need to preserve the Poconos environment: Environmental protection is an important priority because it will help ensure future economic success for our region, and balancing the need to preserve our environment with economic growth can be achieved from a comprehensive planning approach that brings together all interested stakeholders. We cannot succeed in reaching this balance if we push arbitrary government mandates - such as the RGGI mandate that will kill jobs and increase costs for consumers - rather than working cooperatively.