Commonwealth Commonsense released the first results of its “Keystones to Good Government” General Assembly candidate survey, and State Rep. Helen Tai and her challenger, Wendi Thomas, are the only local candidates who have responded so far
By Tom Waring
The Times
Commonwealth Commonsense released the first results of its “Keystones to Good Government” General Assembly candidate survey.
State Rep. Helen Tai and her challenger, Wendi Thomas, are the only local candidates who have responded so far.
They both said they “strongly agree” when asked if they support mandatory electronic filing of campaign finance reports, stricter limits on gifts from lobbyists to elected officials and creating a nonpartisan redistricting commission.
Asked whether they support ending closed primary elections, Tai was neutral and Thomas selected “somewhat disagree.”
On a question of establishing campaign contribution limits in Pennsylvania elections, Tai chose “strongly agree” and Thomas chose “somewhat agree.”
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Bette Midler emailed Pennsylvania MoveOn.org members, asking them to donate money to support state Rep. Helen Tai (D-178th dist.).
Tai faces Republican Wendi Thomas.
Midler wrote, “In May of this year, Helen Tai became the first woman, the first person of color and the first Democrat in 34 years to win the special election in District 178 for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. She won that vote by a razor-thin 96 votes. Ninety-six votes!!!! And now she’s facing the same person she defeated in May in the November 6 election. Helen has begun serving in the Pennsylvania House, and we need her to continue her work on behalf of the residents of her district, as well as all of us who care about cleaning up our environment, eliminating government waste and defending women’s reproductive health.” ••
