Chris Pielli
Democrat
What is one life experience you have that voters should know about?
I grew up poor and although we never wanted for the basic necessities, we did without the extras in a community known for its affluence. Right before high school we moved from a small, economically challenged town to this area. Our family needed the assistance of food stamps and free lunch cards at school. As a new kid, I was just trying to fit in, but there was always a sense of embarrassment which affected my high school experience. To keep up appearances I chose to forego a lot of school activities to work a part time job to buy the clothes and sneakers that looked \"acceptable\". It was tough but it instilled in me a lifelong empathy and understanding for the working poor. I also developed a self-reliance that came early in life. I went through college by working and hefty financial loans. Later, I worked full time in a prison and went to law school at night. I had the support of my wife and some help from the GI bill. I struggled through it, but as hard as it was, I recognized many others had it worse. I never forgot this, and it has shaped my outlook on how best our government can promote policies that will help ensure equal opportunities for all Pennsylvanians.
What sets you apart from other candidates?
I'm the only candidate with public service experience starting with serving in the Army to my current service as State Representative. I've been a soldier, a Court appointed Attorney, a teacher, Program Director for Homeless Veterans, a Correctional Officer and more. I'm the only candidate that has successfully overseen multimillion-dollar government agencies. As a West Goshen Twp. Supervisor, I'm proud that we did not raise taxes and maintained balanced budgets and healthy surpluses each year of my tenure. As Recorder of Deeds, we increased County revenue to over $9 million, cut overall fees and improved the department in multiple, cost saving ways. Despite the COVID shutdown, we never stopped sending millions of revenue dollars to our schools and our local municipalities. As a new Representative I passed 3 bills in the House, 1 Resolution and had a bill signed into actual law with bi-partisan support, HB1278 – the Renewal and Amending of the Wiretap Act. In addition, I helped to bring over $7.5 million in grants to our Community. I'm the only experienced, tested and proven candidate, and I'm ready to continue proudly representing the residents of the 156th.
How do you plan to work across ideological lines to achieve shared goals?
We can find solutions to our most pressing problems by taking the commonsense approach that most folks want from their elected officials, fiscal responsibility and social tolerance. During my first year in the House, I worked across the aisle to pass several of my bills with bi-partisan support so I know it can be done. Despite the current divisiveness, we share concerns regarding our families and future. Let's start on what we can agree on. Both republicans and democrats can agree that the middle class is shrinking. For decades our wages and savings have not kept pace with the increased cost of living. Working families find it more and more difficult to put food on the table, find affordable housing, and properly educate their children. It's time to wake up. It's time to seek solutions, not culture wars, not blame, and come together to fight for our jobs, our homes, our future. I believe that Gov. Shapiro's budget with historic investments in our workforce, businesses, and schools, with an $11billion surplus and NO TAX INREASES, is huge step in the right direction, giving us an opportunity to meet on common ground and improve the lives of every Pennsylvanian.
What would be your top three policy priorities in office?
I can't limit it to three. I feel that there are too many policy priorities that have been neglected for too long and must be addressed immediately. Priorities such as Jobs, Infrastructure, the Environment, the Protection of our Voting Rights, Proper Funding for Public Education, Business Development, Common Sense Gun Safety Laws, Women's Reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, regulation and protection from dangerous uses of Artificial Intelligence, a Minimum Wage increase, and the Defense of our Republic and our Constitutional Rights are all in dire need of immediate attention. Despite a one seat majority, our Caucus was able to pass over 200 bills that tried to address most of these issues and more. Unfortunately, of those 200+ bills we passed, 165 of them have been blocked by the State Senate leadership. These are challenging times, and we must fight to ensure the future of our Democracy by promptly taking on all these issues and more. I will try to approach these priorities by employing the following three \"personal\" policies: I will try to seek solutions, not blame, reason not rage, and tolerance not hatred.
The Committee of Seventy has partnered with the Carter Center to promote the Candidate Principles for Trusted Elections (www.principledcandidates.org) to improve the voting process, encourage honest leadership, and promote civic engagement. Do you support the Candidate Principles?
I wholeheartedly support the Candidate Principals. I strongly believe that the biggest choice facing the electorate during this election is whether they support the Constitution and the Republic, for which it stands, or are willing to throw out this beautiful dream of democracy we have been improving and working on for the past 248 years. The choice is clear – Democracy or Demagoguery, Free and Fair elections or Fascism. Long ago I pledged to support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic and I am resolved to make that pledge again to all of you.
