Election Profile: Gary Spillane For State Representative

Pennsylvania's primary election is June 2. Gary Spillane is a Democrat running for State House Representative of the 144th district. He is uncontested in the primary and will move on to face Republican incumbent Todd Polinchock in the General Election in November.

Spillane shares why he is running for office:

Age (as of Election Day): 61

Position Sought: Pennsylvania State House of Representatives District 144

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Family: Married for 33 years to my wife Anne. Together we raised two daughters who live locally.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?: No

Education: Honors graduate of Boston University, BA

Occupation: Retired business owner and CEO, building products distribution 1996-2018

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: N/A

Campaign website: electgaryspillane.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

Our district deserves real, independent leadership. As a successful businessman and father, I will bring the discipline and planning that has been missing in our state House of Representatives. We will work to protect our futures by adequately funding education and healthcare. The challenges of pandemics, economic distress, addiction, and abuse have been ignored and underfunded for decades. Harrisburg has allowed our water and air to be polluted, our roads and bridges to fail, and our veterans and seniors to struggle with inadequate health care. We will build financial responsibility and fairness in Harrisburg.

The single most pressing issue facing our state/nation is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Getting back to work safely and rebuilding our economy will take experienced leadership. Together we will re-order the priorities of our state government so we strengthen our social safety nets and infrastructure.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

While my opponent advocates for the real estate business, I will represent all the residents and businesses in our district. We will place people over profits by protecting our rights to economic opportunity, reproductive healthcare, and gender equality.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the incumbent failed the district?

My opponent has voted against fair school funding, against reproductive rights, against gender equality, and against the preservation of our open spaces, and the rights of communities to determine their own zoning and development guidelines.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Addiction continues to ruin families and claim lives here in our district. The state can lead our response here. Our schools and pensions are inadequately funded by the state, forcing ever-increasing local property taxes. Employers can legally discriminate because of sexual orientation or gender identification. The state must protect workers’ rights. By putting families first, we will lead us to recovery and a strong, sustainable future.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have started, owned, and operated businesses here in Bucks County, providing living wages, affordable health care, and safe working conditions. Working as partners, our employees, customers, and suppliers weathered recessions, storms, and illnesses to succeed and prosper. I have seen first hand how training, benefits, and opportunity create productive, loyal teams. We can take these lessons learned in small business management to Harrisburg and create positive change.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

Work hard and find the best in people. Success will follow.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I'm a family man and I'm a businessman. My wife and I have been married 33 years and we raised two daughters and a rescue dog. I've started and run small businesses here in Bucks County where I hired, trained, and promoted dozens of people. I've signed the front of more paychecks than the back. And all of this is about Providing, Preserving, and Protecting.

We need to PROVIDE affordable healthcare, PRESERVE our beautiful Bucks County environment, and PROTECT our futures by planning for the challenges that come: pandemics, financial breakdowns, addiction, and abuse. We need to reinforce our schools, our health care, our police, firefighters, and emergency personnel. We are seeing how important our front line workers are. Paying a living wage and providing affordable health care secures everyone’s future.

Failing to plan is planning to fail. We need to make real and lasting changes in Harrisburg for real progress in Pennsylvania for decades to come. Thank you.