Q: You are leaving the Pennsylvania House to begin a new role on the Court of Common Pleas. What are you most looking forward to in this transition?
A: The legislative debates in Harrisburg can sometimes feel disconnected from people. While I have enjoyed participating in that process, I look forward to serving the public in a more person-to-person, family-to-family role, where the fair application of our laws can make a real impact on people’s lives.
Q: You served in the House when Democrats were both in the minority and the majority, even serving as majority whip, with Republicans controlling the Senate the entire time. Did those dynamics feel different? And were there examples of common-sense, nonpolitical legislation that still couldn’t get passed — and how frustrating was that?
A: “Common sense legislation” and “nonpolitical” are very subjective terms in the legislature. Even without a partisan lens, reasonable people can disagree on definitions and priorities. There is an art to the legislative process when you must navigate 203 House members, 50 senators and a governor for a bill to become law.
That system was designed to curb political extremes and encourage compromise. There is no doubt that in today’s era of hyper partisanship, Harrisburg can and must do better. I would note, however, that current House leadership on both the majority and minority sides seems to communicate better than in any previous term I served, so I remain hopeful.
Q: Is there legislation you sponsored that best represents your legacy?
A: Last year, we passed my bill to improve urban search-and-rescue capacity in Western Pennsylvania.
It grew out of a conversation with Mt. Lebanon Fire’s former Chief Nick Sohyda, who connected me with Pittsburgh Fire Assistant Chief Brian Kokkila.
We built a coalition to increase state support for this highly technical emergency response work. It was bipartisan, had Senate allies, and benefited from strong outreach by the fire service community. Given the challenges facing fire departments and EMS, I hope this is just the beginning of greater state involvement to support local responders.
Q: You and your staff have organized 12 Disability and Mental Health Summits, with a 13th already planned. What inspired that effort, and do you hope it continues after you leave?
A: As I write this, we are busy planning the 13th Disability and Mental Health Summit, scheduled for May 7. It has been my favorite and, arguably, most impactful event.
With help from nonprofits, government agencies, self-advocates and allies, we have brought thousands of people together and connected them with resources to improve independence and opportunity. While I am confident the event will occur in 2026, it is up to each representative to set their own priorities. I hope disability and mental health issues remain front and center, but that is something constituents should ask candidates directly.
Q: You represented a district many consider politically safe, yet you consistently went beyond the basics with community events, outreach, and published an annual newsletter that you and staff delivered door to door. Why was that important to you?
A: In a typical term, my office hosted about 40 community events of varying sizes and topics. I wanted to engage with the public as much as possible and share information in an accessible way.
Those discussions often deepened my own understanding of issues and better prepared me for votes in Harrisburg. We also chose not to mail newsletters. Instead, we hand-delivered them because it allowed us to meet people where they lived and have personal contact many otherwise would not seek out. While I can’t promise perfection, I am proud of the effort we made to engage directly with residents, and I thank everyone who made the time to communicate with us.
Q: What will you miss most about serving in the House?
A: It’s hard to say, since I haven’t stopped working yet to gain perspective. But I know I will miss friends on both sides of the aisle and in my office. You really get to know people in this line of work, and that includes your staff.
From Lissa Geiger Shulman, Sheryl Cohen and George Nassif, who literally created an office for me out of nothing, to Louise Larkin, Lindsay Flinn and Lisa Wittig, who continue to help people every day, I have benefited greatly from their work, ideas and perspectives.
I would also like to thank Alyssa Stephenson, Kaija Nealon, Jenn Rick, Jenn Wood, Noah Gardner and Aaron Joseph, all of whom are from our district and served tirelessly in my office over the years.
Q: You ran seven House races, often unopposed or winning by wide margins. Is there anything you would like to say to your supporters as you begin this next chapter?
A: I have nothing but gratitude for the opportunity to serve our community for parts of seven legislative terms, along with a term as a Mt. Lebanon commissioner before that. When my family moved to Pennsylvania in 2002, this was never something I imagined.
I thank those who voted for me, took yard signs, and even those who respectfully disagreed with me and shared their views. Perfection was never my goal. I simply tried my best and never forgot where I came from or the people who sent me to Harrisburg. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and wish for nothing but the best for you, your family, our Commonwealth and our country!
