2024 Candidate Profile: Simone Collins, PA State Rep, 150th District

AUDUBON, PA — Election Day is just around the corner on Nov. 5, and Patch is covering races at the local, county, and state level across the region.

Candidate profiles include identical forms sent to each candidate a given race, and include background information and questions on major issues which have both local and global impact.

Name: Simone Collins

Office sought: State representative, 150th legislative district

Age: 36

Town of residence: Audubon

Education: Master's in Technology Policy from the University of Cambridge, Bachelor's in Business from The George Washington University

Occupation: Entrepreneur and Activist

Campaign website: https://collinsforpa.com/

Has development gotten out of control in the district, and how do you plan to handle the growing traffic problem in the region at large?

There is no sweeping right answer regarding development and traffic. If given the opportunity to serve, I would look at the opportunities at hand and optimize local quality of life.

The PA legislature has long been deeply divided. What would you do over the next several years to bridge the partisan divide and recurring stalemates?

I would give special attention to less politically charged issues on which everyone can agree that will materially help our state. If we focus on non-partisan, no-nonsense matters (fixing outdated systems and legislation, finding room for efficiency gains, etc.), we can meaningfully improve government services and reduce our state's financial burden without stepping on any partisan third rails.

Does state government have too much power or not enough power in Pennsylvania?

While I believe power should be localized as much as possible, I also believe in efficiency. We must strike a balance between the two: If a particular issue cannot be properly managed locally with efficiency and low cost, then it is best managed on a state level. I would love to invest time if elected in building infrastructure that empowers cities, townships, couties, etc. to assume more agency.

Do you find it worrisome that most voters only have a choice of two candidates in most races?

Absolutely. Competition and variety are crucial and we're dealing with a flawed system.

Was there a defining moment or experience that drove you to first run for elected office?

I attended a seminar on running for office that felt more like an MLM meeting than a civic engagement opportunity. This motivated me to run despite the odds being against me because perhaps I can suss out some low-cost campaign tactics that I can share with others going forward, enabling people to run without raising tons of money, becoming heavily beholden to others, and subsequently wasting it on ads and other services that don't ultimately make that much of a difference.

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

Most of us end up in jobs for which we weren't formally trained; what makes professionals capable is how they take on new challenges. I've taken on tasks ranging from illustrating ophthalmic medical device manuals to orchestrating a multimillion dollar acquisition of multiple businesses across two countries and managing an online community of over 30,000 people. In each case, I thrived, not because I'm smarter or more connected than others, but because I simply outwork them. While Pennsylvania's state legislature is a new form of challenge for me, I am absolutely equipped to take it on (and hopefully my master's in technology policy helps)!.