Election 2024: Republican Dan McPhillips For State Representative

Candidates running in the Nov. 5 general election are providing background about themselves and their positions on the issues to voters in these profiles, which will run in Patch individually for each candidate.

WARMINSTER, PA —Republican Dan McPhillips is running for election for state representative in the 144th Legislative District against Democratic incumbent Brian Munroe in the Nov. 5 general election.

Biographical Information

Name: Dan McPhillips

Age: 54

Town of Residence: Warminster Township

Position Sought: PA State Representative, 144th Legislative District

Are you an incumbent? No

What towns does your position cover? Warminster, Warrington, Ivyland, and part of New Britain Township

Party affiliation: Republican

Family: Wife, Piyumika

Education: BA LaSalle University, AA Bucks County Community College, Archbishop Wood High School

Occupation: Bucks County Recorder of Deeds

Candidate Questions

1. How can you curb crime seeping into Lower Bucks County's suburbs?

As I did when I was a Warminster Township Supervisor, I would ensure that the local police is fully funded, either through local taxes or supplemented by state grants. I would work with the local departments, as well as the state police, to develop strategies to prevent crime from spreading throughout the county, and I would encourage the District Attorneys to prosecute criminals so we don’t end up like Philadelphia. I am proud to be endorsed by the Bucks County Fraternal Order of Police, the Bucks County District Attorney, and the Bucks County Sheriff.

2. How can you work to get more money for your district in terms of school funding and grants?

The Commonwealth needs to develop a comprehensive plan to address the school funding formula, which guarantees that schools that need funds receive them, regardless of the socioeconomic demographics of that district. I plan to be at the forefront of that discussion. There are two school districts in my legislative district, and the difference in funding and outcomes couldn’t be further apart between them. A child shouldn’t have a different educational outcome just because they live across a district line.

3. Where can improvements still be made to reduce traffic that continues to clog key roads in your district?

Suburban sprawl comes with increased traffic. Inadequate planning of the basic infrastructure to support that excess in population is usually the problem that causes the traffic. At the state level, I would see that PennDOT is fully funded and I would work on a comprehensive plan in my district to assess and improve the state roads, whether through widening or redesigning crucial intersections. I would also urge local planning and zoning boards to ensure that the infrastructure is in place before expanding the building of commercial or residential projects.

4. What do you bring to the district as a change agent in helping your constituents have a better life after years of inflation and rising costs for families?

The majority of inflation is due to overspending by the government, whether at the federal or state level. As a fiscal conservative, I will do my best to reign in the spending in Harrisburg for unnecessary projects and focus on the needs of the people, including education, infrastructure, and the health of the people in the Commonwealth.