The Pocono Mountains and their surrounding environment represent our greatest asset. We cannot take our clean air, clean water, and open spaces for granted. I am an advocate for nature and the environment and will continue to protect our natural resources.
Claudette Williams
Office
Running for State Representative, Pennsylvania, District 176 (2018)
Biography
I am Claudette Williams, a mother, veteran, and Democratic candidate for the 176th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2018. Let me tell you a little about myself.
I am President of the Mount Pocono Borough Council, a Police Commissioner, Chair of the Monroe County Democratic Committee, and a 30-year US Army Sergeant Major (Retired).
I was born on the beautiful island of Jamaica and immigrated to Brooklyn, New York at an early age. I worked hard to provide the best life for myself, my family, and those closest to me, and I enlisted in the US Army Reserve to serve my country. However, at a certain point, I realized I wanted more.
As a single mother of four children (three of my own and one extended family member), I expanded my horizons and moved out of New York to Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania in 1998. I wanted to be in a new environment, with the best resources for schools, a strong community, and a home I could call my own, hoping it would be the best and last move of my life.
Three years later, in the wake of 9/11, I found myself at another major crossroads. As a member of the US Army for over 30 years, I met a lot of challenges, but the 9/11 attack was a turning point personally and professionally, as I wondered what I could do for my family and my country.
In 2003, I was called to active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and was faced with my biggest challenge. As a single mother who had to think about serving and protecting my family, I answered the call to serve and protect my country. I realized that by answering my country’s call, I would ultimately be protecting my children’s safety, so I embarked overseas. With the help of my family, friends, and community, I found the necessary care for my children and sacrificed missing some of their most formative years to protect our country, legacy, and freedom.
People ask me: “Claudette, after putting your life on the line under fire in Iraq, why do you want to bother with a mess like Harrisburg?”
My answer is simple: As a retired veteran, I realize that my duty as a citizen and leader has not ended. I feel the need to serve my community in a new capacity, which is why I want to make my mark as a legislator. I want to continue giving back to this great commonwealth in the House of Representatives with the same dedication I gave to the US Army.
I know the drill. I taught the soldiers under my command that their lives depended on trusting each other and working together. That message carried me and my troop very far overseas. I know I can thrive in Harrisburg with the same qualities.
I say that Harrisburg is not a mess. I say it’s an opportunity to raise a new voice and fix issues that have gone unaddressed for far too long. I plan on being the leader and voice for those who often go unheard. I know I can work to get things done in the State House because I’ve done it on battlefields and theaters of operation. Ultimately, we need something new for Pennsylvania. With the right leadership and support, there’s nothing we can’t do together.
Source: Claudette for The People
Priorities
Economy
Creating better-paying, highly-skilled jobs for our residents will be one of my top priorities. I support fair living wages, workers’ rights and benefits, and workplace safety. Too many families in our area are struggling financially even while working hard. I’ll work to attract new industries and services to the district while protecting our beautiful environment, the key to our thriving tourist trade.
Public Education
Our public schools, colleges and universities are bedrocks of our democracy. These institutions are pathways to opportunity for all Pennsylvanians. The Commonwealth must take greater responsibility to assure our schools are adequately funded. We must reduce the burden on local taxpayers and tuition-paying families who are taking on massive debt.
Untapped revenue is available. Pennsylvania has given the natural gas industry a virtually-free ride. Many other states wisely use the revenue generated by natural gas extraction taxes, and so should we.
Healthcare
Children without health insurance are less likely than insured children to have a regular healthcare provider and receive care when they need it, putting them at greater risk of hospitalization. While employer-sponsored health insurance benefits are declining, and most low-wage and part-time workers lack employer coverage, public health insurance has resulted in increased coverage for children during the past decade. I will fight to make sure children remain covered and more become covered, as having health insurance can protect families from financial devastation when a child has a serious or chronic illness and helps children remain healthy, active, and in school.
Environment
Senior Citizens
My parents have worked extremely hard throughout their lives and contributed to Social Security. I will certainly keep them in mind as I fight for quality services for all our parents and grandparents who have helped build this country. Senior citizens must have access to medical care unhindered by income deficiency and economic insecurity. I will be the voice to ensure their rights and resources are not affected and their contributions to our country and state are not in vain.
Immigration
Every fall in the Pocono Mountains, every hill and valley is ablaze with colors from the changing leaves… a truly beautiful sight. People come from far and wide just to see the spectacular scenery that makes our part of Pennsylvania famous and special. But if we celebrate the assortment of colors in our natural landscape, shouldn’t we also respect the different colors among our diverse population? Some politicians feed off dividing us by creating suspicion about every person who is “different” or making every immigrant into an enemy. However, except for Native Americans, aren’t we all immigrants? If being a country of immigrants is what made “America the Beautiful”, let’s stop the divisiveness and fear now. Let’s get back to being who we always were as a nation and a commonwealth.
Community Concerns
I want to be responsive and prioritize the issues that are most important to you as I run to be your State Representative. Please use the “Contact Us” tab to tell me what you care about and how I can best serve you.
Source: Claudette for The People.com
Claudette Williams
...
Office
Running for State Representative, Pennsylvania, District 176 (2018)
Biography
I am Claudette Williams, a mother, veteran, and Democratic candidate for the 176th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2018. Let me tell you a little about myself.
I am President of the Mount Pocono Borough Council, a Police Commissioner, Chair of the Monroe County Democratic Committee, and a 30-year US Army Sergeant Major (Retired).
I was born on the beautiful island of Jamaica and immigrated to Brooklyn, New York at an early age. I worked hard to provide the best life for myself, my family, and those closest to me, and I enlisted in the US Army Reserve to serve my country. However, at a certain point, I realized I wanted more.
As a single mother of four children (three of my own and one extended family member), I expanded my horizons and moved out of New York to Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania in 1998. I wanted to be in a new environment, with the best resources for schools, a strong community, and a home I could call my own, hoping it would be the best and last move of my life.
Three years later, in the wake of 9/11, I found myself at another major crossroads. As a member of the US Army for over 30 years, I met a lot of challenges, but the 9/11 attack was a turning point personally and professionally, as I wondered what I could do for my family and my country.
In 2003, I was called to active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and was faced with my biggest challenge. As a single mother who had to think about serving and protecting my family, I answered the call to serve and protect my country. I realized that by answering my country’s call, I would ultimately be protecting my children’s safety, so I embarked overseas. With the help of my family, friends, and community, I found the necessary care for my children and sacrificed missing some of their most formative years to protect our country, legacy, and freedom.
People ask me: “Claudette, after putting your life on the line under fire in Iraq, why do you want to bother with a mess like Harrisburg?”
My answer is simple: As a retired veteran, I realize that my duty as a citizen and leader has not ended. I feel the need to serve my community in a new capacity, which is why I want to make my mark as a legislator. I want to continue giving back to this great commonwealth in the House of Representatives with the same dedication I gave to the US Army.
I know the drill. I taught the soldiers under my command that their lives depended on trusting each other and working together. That message carried me and my troop very far overseas. I know I can thrive in Harrisburg with the same qualities.
I say that Harrisburg is not a mess. I say it’s an opportunity to raise a new voice and fix issues that have gone unaddressed for far too long. I plan on being the leader and voice for those who often go unheard. I know I can work to get things done in the State House because I’ve done it on battlefields and theaters of operation. Ultimately, we need something new for Pennsylvania. With the right leadership and support, there’s nothing we can’t do together.
Source: Claudette for The People
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Priorities
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Social