Chelsea Oliver pledges to stand up for rural Erie County, restore opportunity

Just like my parents, grandparents, and my great-grandparents, I have lived in rural western Pennsylvania my whole life, mostly in small towns. My story — and my family's story — is very much this region's story. One of getting knocked down and getting right back up. Of getting left behind and learning to fend for ourselves. And while our story is of pain and struggle, it is so much more a story of resilience and perseverance.

I grew up working class in a small, rural town.

My grandfathers were union steelworkers; they knew the promise and possibility of life in rural Pennsylvania with a decent job. My father built his own construction company and my mother worked at the local Christian college, which is the only reason I was able to earn my bachelor's degree, and went on to earn my master's as well. Besides my brother and me, everyone in my family is Republican. We may not see eye-to-eye on everything when it comes to politics, but we share the same values — rural Pennsylvania values.

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It was my family who instilled in me the virtues of working hard, serving your community, and caring for your neighbors. In such a divided time, it's those values that hold us together and have brought me to this race.

After graduating with a master's degree focused on public relations and advertising in 2013, I knew I wanted to dedicate my career to helping businesses grow and communities thrive. For three years, I wrote a column for The Corry Journal about living here as a young person, hoping to inspire people to build community and stay. For six years, I worked as the marketing specialist for Corry Federal Credit Union, winning local, state, and national awards and helping to triple its size. My work with CFCU helped keep money right here in our community. And from August 2020 until December 2021, I was proud to serve on Corry City Council, where I worked on improving our parks and trails, helped our police officers secure a better contract, and never raised taxes.

As a marketing professional and small business owner, I always put my clients first. As your state representative, I will always put our community first.

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My dedication to Corry's development, revitalization, and success runs deep. In addition to previously being on City Council, I have also served as board chair of Impact Corry and am currently on the board of directors for the Corry Area Arts Council, Corry Higher Education Council, and the Northwest PA Trail Association. I was a member of the Corry Strategic Plan steering committee and co-founded the Corry Young Professionals Network. I also volunteered for years as a course instructor with the Corry Higher Education Council, where I helped seniors and small businesses develop digital literacy skills, stay connected, and grow their networks. My hard work was recognized by the Corry Area Chamber of Commerce when they honored me with their Volunteer of the Year award.

I love our rural communities in Erie County. I care for them deeply, and I believe our people and our places deserve to thrive.

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I am tired of seeing our needs ignored by politicians who only care about their corporate special interests. For too long, we have been failed by the same leaders who have only worked to divide us, and no one is holding them accountable.

I want to bring people together, to rally around our small towns and all the good they offer, and to bring back more resources to make them the best they can be. When faced with tough decisions, I will always ask the same questions: What does our community stand to gain? What opportunities does this present for our people? And does this give us more freedom to live full, happy, and successful lives?

Growing up in rural western Pennsylvania taught me to care about people — not just my family, but my entire community. Here, we always help each other. When one of us is in need, our small towns show up to support our own.

But we have a government that doesn’t have our back — that has left us behind. Politics is filled with people who don't get it and have never worried about getting by. That's not me. I know what it's like to struggle to pay the bills. I will carry our stories to Harrisburg and ensure resources and opportunities come back to District 4.

If we elect people who care deeply about our community, who work tirelessly on its behalf, I know we can make rural Erie County a place people want to stay. Where they know they can build a future. That's why I'm running for state representative, and that's why I'm asking for your vote by Nov. 8th.

Chelsea Oliver is the Democratic candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 4th Legislative District, which covers portions of eastern, western and southern Erie County, from Corry and North East, west to Edinboro, McKean and Lake City.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: chelsea oliver pledges to make Erie County a place people can stay in