Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District, the longtime stronghold of Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts of East Marlborough, has opened up after his 10 terms in that seat. Pitts announced his intention not to pursue another term late in 2015.
The 16th District covers a large portion of southern Chester County, most of Lancaster County, and a sliver of Berks County, including the city of Reading. The 16th stretches from the southwestern suburbs of Philadelphia in the east to the Susquehanna River in the west, and north to include areas around Reading.
Running for the seat this election cycle are Libertarian Shawn House, Democrat Christina Hartman and Republican Lloyd Smucker. The election is Nov. 8.
Democrat Christina Hartman
Christina Hartman, 39, lives in Lancaster. She received her undergraduate degree at George Washington University and her master’s degree at Fordham University. She is a human rights advocate who has worked in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia working for democracy, organizing citizens and recording instances of human rights violations with Freedom House and Madeline Albright’s Democratic Institute.
Given that the 16th District is diverse and employs immigrant labor in many businesses, Hartman said immigration is an economic issue. “This is a country of immigrants. Congress has to make sure the labor is legal or find a way for them to get a legal status,” she said.
In view of the gridlock in Congress and between the Republican Party and president, she said she recognizes that there are many diverse voices in America, and some in power have gone too far to the left or right. She said she would like to see more moderate voices like her own heard.
On the issue of Obamacare, Hartman said overall the result has been that coverage has been extended to just about everyone, including young adults. She agrees, however, that the plan still needs some work because of the burden of significant increased insurance costs it puts on some people.
While many candidates are talking about the “shrinking middle class” Hartman said the government must work hand-in-hand with businesses to keep away barriers to expansion and creating new jobs.
In a related thought, she said many people in this country are feeling that the government is stacked against them.
When she talked about education, she said first that the PSSAs (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests) have crushed the spirit of teachers and students.
Overall, Hartman said her favorite issues are foreign policy and women’s rights. “We need new energy and new ideas in Congress to come forward. I’m offering those new ideas,” she said.
Republican Lloyd Smucker
Lloyd Smucker, a state senator who lives in West Lampeter, said he is running for Congress to make certain that anybody who works hard and plays by the rules can achieve the American Dream. He said he will support clear, comprehensive plans to destroy ISIS, al-Qaida and any group that threatens our way of life.
In his community, Smucker said he has surrounded himself with skilled men and women to build a local construction company. His team grew to over 150 people. He attended Franklin and Marshall College and Lebanon Valley College part-time while managing his business. He is 52 years old and a married father of three children. He is currently the state senator from Pennsylvania’s 13th Senatorial District.
As a small business owner, Smucker said he knows what it takes to create jobs.
Smucker said he believes we must first focus on securing borders. After our borders are secure and we learn the true scope of illegal immigration, we can develop realistic and compassionate plans to address those here illegally, he said.
In addressing political gridlock, Smucker said that as a state senator, he has a track record of bringing people together to get things done. He championed the reform of the state’s school funding system by focusing on solutions.
Smucker said Obamacare should be repealed and replaced with a market-based system that drives down costs and keeps reasonable consumer protections in place like covering pre-existing conditions and allowing children to remain under their parents’ health care coverage until age 26.
On the issue of the “shrinking middle class,” he said Americans want to work but government policies, ranging from one of the highest business tax rates in the country to unbalanced trade deals, have put us at a disadvantage. Smucker said he will work to reform the tax code to spurn the growth necessary to put Americans back to work with family-sustaining jobs.
Libertarian Shawn House
House, 53, lives in Columbia, Lancaster County. He is a 1982 graduate of Octorara High School and a graduate of DeVry University with a major in instrumental information. He is employed in the hemp industry, a crop that has many uses including textiles, paper, rope, bedding, oil and cannabis (marijuana). He is also chairman of the Pennsylvania Libertarian Party.
“I want to speak for the individuals,” he said, and added that it includes the right to grow marijuana in their yard and control their own use of it.
He acknowledges the size and diversity of the 16th District, which includes small businesses, agriculture and industry, many of which employ immigrant labor. While the issue of immigration looms large on the national scene, House said, “We are a country of immigrants… Let them come in and apply (for documentation)…I’m not into building walls.”
When House looks at the political gridlock between political parties and the president in Congress, he said there are too many “Coke and Pepsi issues.” He said he wants Congress to have the authority to control military force, but there are other matters that should be in the hands of individuals. He said too many decisions are made by representatives who are hooked up with pharmaceuticals and other businesses.
He added that if individuals had more money to control themselves rather than supporting the Social Security and taxes, they would be more able to save for their own retirements as they chose.
In addressing the threats of enemies on the international scene, including ISIS, he said, that the United States has created its own enemies.
As for education, House said he likes the classics and advocates for children to learn to solve problems. He favors the abolition of the federal Department of Education and likes the idea of home-schooling.
In summary, he said legalizing hemp and cutting out government waste are his major issues.
