Lauren Lareau – Candidate for State Representative

We were pleased to welcome Lauren Lareau who is the Democratic candidate for the 146th District seat in the state legislature.

Lauren introduced herself as a Pennsylvanian, "My family is from Pennsylvania: I was born in Johnstown, the grandchild of a Philadelphia police officer who raised his family in East Falls after he served in the Navy, and I've never forgotten where I came from. When it came time to raise my own family, I moved to Langhorne to make a life for myself, and my son, Lucas.

Education is my life's passion: I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education with a Master's Degree in Human Development, ahead of schedule and with honors. I am a small business owner, and have dedicated my career to helping high school students prepare for success in college and beyond. There's no greater thrill in my life than helping kids realize their potential"

She continued by sharing her reasons for running, although never having sought elected office before, "My commitment to education is one of the major reasons I'm running to be your State Representative. Public education is essential to the foundation of our society, but for too long, our local representatives have only been paying lip service to maintain it. We can't afford to put off paying for our children's education– our future is riding on it!

I'm also committed to protecting the environment, and I was appalled to learn that Pennsylvania is the only state in the country that doesn't have an extraction tax, and 90% of what gas companies extract is sold out of state. We are destroying our land for this resource, without compensation, while gas companies make a fortune. We need an extraction tax, and I will fight with my fellow Democrats to achieve this goal. We can use the proceeds to invest in renewable energy, so we can finally begin the transition to a green energy economy, with cleaner air and water for our community. 

Furthermore, as a small business owner, I know how important small businesses are to the local economy. I will work tirelessly to keep taxes low, and ensure that entrepreneurs have the necessary investment and guidance through the municipal bureaucracy to become successful businesses that hire members of our community.

My core values are determination, character, and commitment. If those sound like the things you want from your state rep then vote for me, Lauren Lareau on November 6th."

Unlike some candidates on teh national scene, she was gracious when speaking about her opponent whom she decribed as avery nice person and great fire chief. However, she felt that new blood and new ideas were needed in Harrisburg, stating, "It's been too long since Pennsylvania's 142nd House District had representation that shared our core values, and fought for the things that truly matter to us."