Christian Coalition Hosts Forum for Legislative Candidates

LOCK HAVEN, PA – It was an amicable two hours at the Clinton County Christian Coalition annual candidates’ forum at the Clinton County Courthouse Tuesday night. There were virtually no points of conflict, conducted with an orderly, masked and socially-distanced audience in attendance. 

Forum participants included Republican state Rep. Stephanie Borowicz and her 76th district state House opponent, Democrat Joe Waltz; Republican state Rep. Chris Dush and his 35th state senatorial district opponent, Democrat Margie Brown; and U.S. 12th district Republican Congressman Fred Keller  and his Democratic opponent, Lee Griffin.

All were in attendance in the large courtroom, other than Borowicz, who submitted a five minute, pre-recorded message. She said because a fellow state House member had come down with coronavirus, she was in quarantine. Borowicz said she strives to be a “stateswoman” and stressed her pro-life and pro-gun beliefs. She called for “less” taxes and state spending and talked of her efforts to get state grant money for public water projects in Monument and Snow Shoe in Centre County. She noted her continuing fight against Democratic governor Tom Wolf, calling him a socialist. 

Waltz, a retired public school teacher from Woodward Township, talked of his central Pennsylvania upbringing and said as he traveled across the district, he listened and said he would take constituent issues to Harrisburg. Waltz said he was a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and against state approval of recreational marijuana. He said he could support a small tax on natural gas in the state, proceeds to benefit schools, senior citizens and reduced property taxes. He said he would “reach across the aisle” to work with members of both political parties.

State senatorial candidate Dush, presently a state representative from Brookville, quoted the scripture in his closing comments, saying the state and federal constitutions are a covenant between the people and God. He claimed that the rights of citizens are being infringed upon by the courts and the governor and said the legislature has to step up. 

Brown, a school teacher from St. Marys, told the assemblage that rural Pennsylvania is not getting its fair share in terms of medical care and job opportunities. She said this “is not the time for partisanship…but the time for common sense.”

Keller, first elected to the U.S. House last year, said 12th district residents “deserve the American dream…free to worship…have freedoms.” He said, “We define our freedoms, not the government.” He pledged to “earn your vote.”

Griffin, a first-time candidate working in logistics with an online company, said the November election comes at “a crucial turning point for the country” and said “our best days are in front of us,” calling for the fixing of the health care system, the virus and the economy.

Christian Coalition Chairman Patrick Robinson moderated the forum. There were an estimated 50 people in attendance and the forum was streamed live on Facebook and was to be made available for later viewing.