Tim Brennan
Democrat
What is one life experience you have that voters should know about?
In 2020, when the eyes of the country were on Pennsylvania, and there was a real threat to our democracy, I was in court fighting and winning against Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump. I worked with Board of Election workers trying to make sure every vote was counted, while Trump and Giuliani were attacking every aspect of their work and our democracy. I also fought to protect the expectation of those that voted by mail that their votes would be counted, or, if their vote was spoiled, they would be given notice of any issue with their ballot and an opportunity to cure. This is consistent with my past work as an election protection attorney for nearly 20 years, working on redistricting reform including drafting a proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution, earning a special certification in law and government in law school and studying the EU commission on human rights and the process of returning the role of law to Eastern Europe.
What sets you apart from other candidates?
Through my education, I studied every aspect of government: the Federalist papers, the US Constitution, the Pennsylvania constitution, the debates from our 1968 Pennsylvania constitution, international constitutions and every aspect of Pennsylvania administrative and state law. I have studied legislation drafting and theory, including working with the current director of the PA Legislative Reference Bureau. In addition to fundamental core competencies gained through education, I have been on the forefront of the fights that have changed our law, protected our democracy and brought about social change for nearly two decades. Whether it is LGBTQ rights, improving flaws in our democratic process, protecting our democracy from threats, fighting for workers as an expert in workers compensation law, standing up for the disenfranchised, supporting local government or fighting to fundamentally change how our society views animals, I have consistently been in the fight and making a difference. Serving as a state representative has been the culmination of a life devoted to public service--and the greatest honor of my life.
How do you plan to work across ideological lines to achieve shared goals?
For Democrats and Republicans to work together, we need more patience and understanding. Government is about process, not expediency. We cannot keep shouting over each other or attempting to shift democratic norms and processes when we do not get the exact result we want. The process matters; I have told my teenage son many times over the years that– “I don’t care what you do, it’s how you do it.” Interacting with each other with character and understanding of the bigger picture is rare these days in politics, but is absolutely necessary for a strong and functioning democracy. As a state rep, I've proudly co-sponsored bills with some of the most conservative House Republicans on issues where we found common ground.
That said, we have to be firm in dealing with the consequences of failing to actively tend to our democracy. There can be zero tolerance for intolerance, misinformation or ambivalence on democratic norms. We cannot deal rationally with those who live in an alternative reality or divide Pennsylvanians based on bias. There is good reason to be uncompromising on some basic principles; to stand up unequivocally for the the values that make this country an example.
What would be your top three policy priorities in office?
I will be unambiguously pro-family, pro-democracy and pro-Justice.
If re-elected, I will prioritize supporting middle class families, by providing better education opportunities and healthcare, by protecting the right for women to make decisions about their own bodies, by fighting for a fair economy, and by creating more supports for working people.
I will prioritize protecting our democracy by creating more access to voting, by ensuring each vote is counted and by making it easier for local election boards to do their work. We also need to take steps to protect and improve our democracy, by supporting the arts and non-profit news sources, investing in school civics and fight for government reform.
I will continue to prioritize improving the quality of Justice for all residents because a truly Just society requires the fair and equal participation of all people. I will fight to level the playing field for all of our residents regardless of their nation of original, gender, disability, sexual orientation, race or religion. In my first term, I was proud to help pass the Fairness Act; I will continue to fight to strengthen PA non-discrimination law.
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?
Yes, without hesitation.
