Leard wins Democratic nod in 12oth District as write-in candidate
Jun. 4—DALLAS TWP. — Fern Leard, who describes herself as a "pro-union, pro-choice, pro-public school, and pro-environment Democrat," has won the Democratic nomination in the 120th Legislative District as a write-in candidate.
Leard, 37 of Dallas Township, received 586 write-in votes to win the nomination. She will now face incumbent Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Kingston, in the November general election. Kaufer received 419 write-in votes on the Democratic side.
Leard said she is the mother of 11-year-old twin boys, and she graduated from North Pocono High School. She said she has lived in Dallas Township for six years.
On her campaign website — Fern Leard for Pennsylvania's 120th House District — Leard states she is a longtime advocate for healthcare and education.
"I got involved in politics after discovering the treatment my children require for the rare disease they were born with (lymphedema) is often not covered by insurance," Leard said. "I learned of a bill in Congress that would mandate coverage for Medicare patients with lymphedema, then went to D.C. to fight for its passage. It is my hope that Medicare coverage will be the catalyst for a domino effect that triggers other insurance companies to provide coverage. I learned the ins and outs of the political process during the decade I have spent fighting for coverage."
Kaufer, 33, is seeking his fifth two-year term in the legislature.
"As state representative, I have worked hard for strong government reforms, to stand with our workers and small businesses, and to properly fund our schools," said Rep. Kaufer. "I plan to run on my successful record of providing bipartisan leadership that always puts people before any political agenda. I look forward to visiting with Wyoming Valley residents during the campaign and discussing how I have delivered environmentally friendly jobs for our workers and clean energy for our families at a time when we clearly need it most. I will continue to put our families first by securing record funding for local schools while continuing my efforts to eliminate school property taxes and replacing with a fairer system for all residents."
Leard said one of her sons is autistic and when he started school, she began to experience the common issue of fighting for necessary services he needs to receive the free appropriate public education that all students have the right to.
"I believe the lack of oversight in our public school district financing is a large contributor to this problem and a clear view of how districts are distributing funds will reveal why this obstacle exists," Leard said. "The changes we need in order to make sure our children have the best opportunity to succeed must be made by the state, and we need someone who has experienced the problem to work to create and enact the solution."
Leard said she will work for quality healthcare and continue to fight for the educational and environmental setting our children deserve.
"But nothing will change if our legislators continue to work against each other instead of for the people who elected them," she said. "Pennsylvania has what it takes to bring back the respect and ability to compromise needed for our government to work for us, but it cannot be done alone."
Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
