By Beth Strauss

Voting is a fundamental and basic part of assuming political responsibility. It is key to participating in the political process, Roberta Winters, president of the Radnor Township League of Women Voters, said in an interview.

“Without being informed through a non-partisan source, voters have difficulty acting on issues and selecting candidates that reflect their values and beliefs,” said Winters.

The League of Women Voters (LWV) conducted a Virtual Candidate Forum for the Pennsylvania Senate 17th District candidates to address voters and their issues, on Sept. 16.

The forum allowed candidates Democrat Amanda Cappelletti and Republican Ellen Fisher to answer questions from the public in a moderated, non-partisan backdrop and address issues relevant to their district. The 17th District serves parts of Delaware County and Montgomery County.

Winters said the forum was designed to help inform voters about the candidates and their position on key issues.

Questions covered a range of topics.  Each candidate had an opportunity to hone in on what they believed to be the most pressing issues for their constituents.

Fisher, a lifetime resident of Havertown who has been involved in organizations focusing on education, small business and gender diversity, said she decided to run for office out of frustration.

“I am frustrated, incredibly frustrated, by the extremes in both parties,” said Fisher. “We are living through a period of extremism.”

Agreeing with opinions from the left and right, she said both parties need to put forward moderate candidates.  She felt a responsibility to offer that to the community.

Fisher said she does not fit the box of what a Republican is, stating, “Democrats are confused that I’m a Republican, and Republicans are confused that I’m a Republican.”

Her opponent, Cappelletti, studied health policy in Law School and holds a Master degree in Public Health.  She is an advocate for progressive values and has fought for Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Pennsylvania.

Always looking for a platform and method to help people, Cappelletti said the “lift as you go mentality” is what motivates her, which involves lifting people up and mentoring others along the way.

Cappelletti said she was drawn to politics because of the 2016 election, and that she could not sit on the sideline anymore, feeling a need to be involved that led to her running for local office in East Norriton township.

When approached to run for state senate, Cappelletti sought advice from her Temple Law School mentor, who told her, “A woman is asked seven to nine times more than a man, before she says ‘yes’ to running for office.”

It only took a single “ask” for Cappelletti.

Fisher said, “Repairing the damage done by COVID is our number one priority,” because if businesses cannot operate, then people cannot work.

With the 17th District in such close proximity to the many academic medical institutions of Philadelphia, Fisher would like to see the state have clinicians evaluate ways for business owners to reopen safely for both employees and customers.

Cappelletti’s priority issue also revolves around COVID-19 but is more specifically related to health care, a topic that was always among her top issues but now is in an even brighter spotlight because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cappelletti said because of COVID-19, people lost their jobs and with that, their health care.  People end up with the choice of either receiving care and facing bankruptcy or debt, or putting off health care altogether.

She said the pandemic brought out health care inequities and made clear the need for a public health care option that all people can access.

“Health care is a right. If we’re going to function and succeed as a society, then we need to provide for healthcare.”

Both Fisher and Cappelletti agree that insurance companies currently have complete control over what a patient will be charged and if they can get the care they need.

Fisher said the universal health insurance approach just changes decision-making from the insurance company to the government.  After Pennsylvania’s poor response to unemployment compensation, she said, “Do we really want to have the state take care of health care?”

She said health care needs to mean more than just health insurance. “Health care means healthy lifestyle choices and actually growing a healthy nation. That is a much bigger conversation.”

Both Fisher and Cappelletti said the 17th District’s schools are a critical issue.

Fisher said the most pressing issue for schools is reopening after the COVID shutdown. Schools have been working without any guidance when it comes to this issue.

Children are not learning at the same capacity and special needs children are not getting the services they need, she said.

“To think about a superintendent having to figure out airflow technology in a classroom to keep it safe for everyone, students and teachers.  It’s not really what they learned in their doctorate program.”

Fisher said schools need to be reopened and the state needs to think creatively rather than just blame or look for “bumper-sticker” solutions to get it done safely.

Cappelletti said the pandemic put a spotlight on the inequities in the 17th District’s school systems. Some were able to pivot to online learning while others struggled with how to feed students that rely on school meals.

She said her main concern is inequitable funding of district schools. This problem is not remediated by allowing school choice. It must be fixed by increasing funding and the state budget.

The southern end of the 17^th District ranks in the top 50-100 in the state.  Norristown, a primarily low-income area with a large community of color, has been the exception and has been hurt by the way the state funds schools, Cappelletti said.

“Children are being actively harmed by the way we fund our school systems and we need to fix that because our children deserve better and, constitutionally, should be getting better.”

Another priority issue for Cappelletti is concerns facing the environment, a topic drawing in many young people, stating that young people want a planet they can thrive in.

When put in terms of dollars and cents, “Pennsylvania is seventh in the nation in money people spend in outdoor recreation,” said Cappelletti. Outdoor recreation is a real economy making it even more important for the state to protect.

Cappelletti supports the Green New Deal.  According to an article in the New York Times, the Green New Deal is a plan to move away from reliance on fossil fuels and to lower greenhouse gas emissions. It looks to create new high-paying jobs in the clean energy sector.

Fisher is a supporter of protecting the environment, stating that the state needs to move to alternative energy and must rely on the natural gas the state has.

The Green New Deal is “a feel-good tax,” she said.  She prefers giving a tax credit to businesses that are actively doing something to help the environment, such as installing solar panels and using alternative or cleaner energy.

Fisher said Pennsylvania is the second largest producer of natural gas, which is an inexpensive form of energy. To rebuild the economy, the state needs inexpensive energy.

She said Pennsylvanians need to focus on alternative energy and take personal responsibility to lower gas-pump use.

Fisher said the 17th District’s top priority is repairing the damage done by COVID-19. The state cannot afford a $15 minimum wage when trying to recover from a pandemic.

She said the district cannot afford many of the things on the “progressive wish list” right now.  Right now, people need time to heal.

She said she is the moderate candidate and will take in “blue” and “red” points of view.  “That’s why my campaign colors are purple.”

Fisher will focus on what unites, not divides constituents.

Cappelletti said, “Our schools are hurting, our environment is hurting, our neighbors are hurting.”

Cappelletti will put her constituents first as she looks to address health care affordability and access, inequitable school funding and issues surrounding the environment.

She said she will continue to focus on reproductive rights, racial and social justice issues.  And she is committed to working across the aisle.

Fisher said she supports having women in government.  “No matter what, we’re going to have a woman state senator this year.”

LWV President Winters said the League’s purpose is to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government and to act on selected government issues.

Susan Carty, co-president of the Chester County LWV, served as moderator for the event.

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