Shanna Danielson challenges incumbent Dawn Keefer for 92nd state House seat

Democratic candidate Shanna Danielson is challenging incumbent Republican Dawn Keefer for the 92nd state House seat in the Nov. 6 election.

Keefer points to her experience and depth of knowledge on the issues in seeking re-election. 

Danielson says she has not been involved in politics and wants to bring harmony back to Harrisburg.

The district covers part of northern York County and part of Cumberland County. In York County, the district includes: Dillsburg, Franklintown, Goldsboro, Lewisberry, and Wellsville boroughs and Carroll, Fairview, Franklin, Monaghan, Newberry, Warrington and Washington townships.

More:A voter's guide to the 2018 election in York County

More:Here's what you need to know about absentee ballots in York County

More:Candidate forum set for Oct. 29 in York

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Here is what the candidates have to say:

What are the top issues in your district?

Danielson: As we've been knocking on doors in the 92nd district, voters have been expressing their frustration with the cost of health care, the lack of equitable funding for public education, and the fact that our lawmakers don't seem to pass meaningful legislation that the majority of the people support. 

Keefer: Property taxes, finding qualified employees, state pension liability, opioid epidemic and government reform.

Of all the issues facing Pennsylvania, such as education funding, the opioid crisis, poverty and women's healthcare, what is the No. 1 statewide issue, and what would you do about it?

Danielson: As an educator and a homeowner, school funding absolutely must be addressed in this state. People are paying insanely high property taxes (which often still leaves school districts scrambling to find enough money to cover costs) because the state is not contributing its fair share of funding for our schools. The state share of funding used to be near 50 percent – now it is in the 30-35 percent range, leaving your school district and municipalities no choice but to raise your taxes. Schools should absolutely be transparent and accountable in terms of how they spend their money, but our kids are being shortchanged because our state lawmakers want to tell you they didn't raise taxes (even if it negatively impacts our kids, workforce, and overall future of our economy). A good education is the gateway to a person's future, and we need to invest in our people so they will invest in our state.

Keefer: Property Taxes: 

1.) Establish a law that would not allow the confiscation of a person’s primary dwelling for lack of property tax payment.  A lien would be placed on the property, but the primary dwelling could not be taken.

2.) Implement the fair funding formula on ALL education dollars, not just new monies, as is in current law. This would put school districts on equitable footing.

3.) Rein in regulations that are costly and taking dollars from the actual education of students.

4.) Shift from property tax to an earned income tax, sales tax expansion/increase, or another broad-based tax. Property tax is one of the most regressive taxes we have as it is not based upon anyone’s ability to pay. A shift to a more consumptive/production based tax is more equitable. The revenue generated from these taxes must be placed in a dedicated education fund that’s restrictive in use and dissemination to avoid misappropriations. 

What makes you the best candidate?

Danielson: I've spent my career in education, working to make life better for my students. I feel that now is the time to do the same for my community. I come from a world outside of politics, which allows me to focus more clearly on what the people in our district want. I'm not accepting any campaign contributions from Super PACS or corporations, and I pledge to be transparent and available to my constituents. Politics have become toxic, and I want to bring harmony back to Harrisburg.

Keefer: My experience and depth of knowledge on the issues makes me the best candidate. As the chief of staff for a state representative I worked first-hand on issues and policies effecting businesses and families in the Commonwealth. As a business owner and wife of a business owner, I experienced the gauntlet of state regulatory burdens, the challenges of sustaining and growing a business in a state that's quite hostile and punitive to those claimed to be the backbone of the state's economy, and the frustration of so many barriers to businesses' success.  As a property owner for more than 20 years, I've endured property taxes that have increased by more than 100 percent.  As a mother of three, I've had to serve as the consummate advocate for an education that's not a "one-size-fits-all," and allows me to make choices that fit their individual needs. I've spent a significant amount of time challenging an academic system, dictated by a group of self-proclaimed experts, trying to use my kids as their guinea pigs to test their latest education programming theories, such as No Child Left Behind and Common Core.  And last, in my 21 months as the current State Representative, I've immersed myself in the underlying issues contributing to our budget policy failures, workforce deficits, our state's anemic economic growth, and the deterioration of our civil liberties, and I've worked effectively with my colleagues and stakeholders on legislation.

Candidate biographies

Name: Shanna Danielson

Age: 32

Occupation: Music Teacher - 5th grade band for Cumberland Valley School District

Education: Bachelor's of Music: Music Education (Mansfield University 2008), Master's of Education: Educational Leadership (Edinboro University 2012)

Municipal/school district/county experience: Carroll Township Democratic Precinct Committeewoman

Website: www.ShannaForPA92.com 

________

Name: Dawn Keefer

Age: 46

Occupation: State Representative, Business Owner

Education: BA Government and Politics George Mason University; Graduate Studies: Public Administration, Penn State 

Municipal/school district/county experience: Chief of Staff, former State Rep. Will Gabig 

Website: www.friendsofkeefercommittee.com