Karen Shuey: Primary 2022: 2 competing for Democratic nod in 24th Senatorial District
Apr. 27—Democrats in the 24th Senatorial District will have a choice when they head to the polls.
Former Boyertown School Board member Jill Dennin and former Pottstown School Board member Emanuel Wilkerson are seeking the nomination in the May 17 primary. The winner will go on to face the candidate who emerges with the Republican nomination in the general election.
The post has long been held by Bob Mensch, who announced this year that he would not be seeking reelection. The district includes parts of eastern Berks County and northwest Montgomery County.
State senators serve a four-year term and receive an annual salary of $95,432.
We asked the candidates to respond to four questions:
Jill Dennin
Residence: Douglass Township, Montgomery County.
Age: 59.
Background: Dennin served two terms as a member of the Boyertown School Board. She worked as a substitute teacher in the Boyertown and Daniel Boone school districts and has served as president of the Boyertown Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization, as a member of her local Boy Scout Committee, as a volunteer at her church and as the soup kitchen coordinator for Meals on Wheels. She has a degree in political science and public policy from Goucher College in Maryland.
Website: jillfor24.com
Why are you the best person for this position?
As a lifelong Democrat with over 30 years of experience serving my community, I understand the issues affecting our constituents and have the skills to advocate for them. After receiving a degree in political science and public policy, I worked in federal-state relations and gained an in-depth knowledge of our government. As a former substitute teacher and twice elected school board director in the Boyertown Area School District, I understand the issues facing both students and taxpayers. For the past 10 years I have been volunteering and serving on the board of the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities.
I have seen firsthand the issues surrounding food and housing insecurities and understand the importance of government programs in feeding and housing those most vulnerable in our community. Serving Meals on Wheels and working with the elderly, I have seen the difficulty our seniors have navigating and paying for a complicated health care delivery system. After raising four sons and navigating them through college, I understand the issues surrounding college expenses and the crippling college debt that many of our voters are experiencing. My education, life experiences and leadership skills are what makes me the best candidate in this race.
What do you think is the single biggest problem currently facing Pennsylvanians and what would you do to address that problem?
The single biggest problem facing Pennsylvanians is the gridlock in Harrisburg fueled by special interests and lack of leadership. We must work together to find commonsense solutions to some complicated problems, not just kicking the can down the road. This includes fully funding our schools and giving our senior citizens property tax relief that they deserve by addressing the issues of cybercharter reform. Supporting growth for all our communities in the 24th, with responsible investment in infrastructure and resources for our counties and municipalities and finally expanding access to the ballot box.
Pennsylvania's fair funding formula for education is only used for new state funding, meaning it will likely take years to address financial inequities unless major increases in funding are implemented. Do you believe that such major increases are needed, and where would you suggest the money come from?
As a former school board member, I fought for fair funding for all monies. So yes, I do believe we need to expand the fair funding formula by infusing billion more state dollars in our public education system. The first step I would take is to finally pass cybercharter reform. Millions of taxpayer dollars are being sent to cyber and charter schools with no oversight and accountability. I would support a cap of the amount of money a cyber can charge a school district as a first step. Secondly, I would vote to release the billions of dollars of pandemic money that Harrisburg is sitting on for a rainy day. All of these policies would not only fully fund our schools but give our taxpayers the relief they need.
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Turnout in Pennsylvania elections, particularly in non-presidential elections, continues to be low. How would you increase participation?
I would increase participation by increasing access to the ballot box. Allow same day registration. Encourage groups like the League of Women Voters to sponsor registration drives in high schools. Automatically send a registration form to those turning 18. Expand mail-in voting and increase the number of drop boxes. Put limits on campaign spending so voters are not bombarded with literature, instead supply a voter guide to every voter, similar to what we are doing here. In summary, make it easier for the voter to vote and know who they are voting for.
Emanuel Wilkerson
Residence: Pottstown, Montgomery County.
Age: 24.
Background: Wilkerson has worked as a staff assistant for U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean and as a legislative assistant for state Rep. Matt Bradford. He became the youngest Pennsylvania official in 2015 when he was elected to serve on the Pottstown School Board at the age of 18 when he was still in high school. He served on the board for three years before leaving to study political science at Temple University. He is also an officer of the Pottstown chapter of the NAACP.
Website: emanuelwilkerson.com
Why are you the best person for this position?
Since age 18 when I was first elected to public office, I have served my community. First at the local school board, then in a congressional office and most recently in the office of a state representative. I also run a small business.
Many issues within the commonwealth impact all Pennsylvanians no matter their background, including young people. Yet, most of my peers remain dispirited by politics as usual; few understand how politics work and are unaware of what they can do to help catalyze change. We remain severely under-represented in Harrisburg. For our concerns to be addressed, we need spokespersons who understand the issues. That is a cause for which I am ready.
What do you think is the single biggest problem currently facing Pennsylvanians and what would you do to address that problem?
The continuous shortchanging of our public schools, especially in underserved school districts like Pottstown, is inexcusable. For too long Pennsylvania's backing for public education ranks our commonwealth near the bottom of nationwide rankings. Many incumbents give lip service to this issue but fail to take the necessary actions. This is a moral imperative. I strongly support a fair funding formula that would remedy the gross inequities in education funding.
Pennsylvania's fair funding formula for education is only used for new state funding, meaning it will likely take years to address financial inequities unless major increases in funding are implemented. Do you believe that such major increases are needed, and where would you suggest the money come from?
It is simple. The commonwealth must channel its resources through the fair funding formula without the carveouts for already over-funded school districts. We also require reform of the funding mechanism for charter and cybercharter schools. These institutions increasingly suction desperately needed funds from the school districts most in financial distress.
Turnout in Pennsylvania elections, particularly in non-presidential elections, continues to be low. How would you increase participation?
To facilitate voter turnout, Election Day should be a state or federal holiday as is the case in almost every other country. Absent that, we should stop harassing young people and people of color about their low turnout. Instead, they need more seats at the table. I support making voting easier for working people, students and seniors through mail-in ballots as provided for by Act 77.
