Rob Gurtcheff
DemocraticQ1 PFAS chemicals are widely used in consumer products but have raised health concerns due to their persistence in the environment and humans, and some Pennsylvanian legislators are considering restrictions on its use, such as in House Bill 2145. Should Pennsylvania restrict PFAS in consumer products? What scientific evidence would you use to inform your decision?
Yes, Pennsylvania should restrict PFAS when they pose a risk to safety. I use peer-reviewed scientific research to inform my decisions about public health. We owe it to the public to keep them safe from chemicals such as PFAS.
I fully support HB 2145 and was glad to see it passed the House in June.
KEYWORDS: Public Health, Accountability, Safety
Q2 Measles vaccination rates in Pennsylvania have declined in recent years, from 95.5% in 2020 to 92.5% in 2025. At the same time, measles outbreaks have emerged across the state, with 62 confirmed cases in PA in 2026. As a policymaker, how do you approach engaging with communities that have concerns that center on infectious disease outbreaks and vaccine safety, and what policies, if any, would you support related to these issues?
Mis- and disinformation around vaccines are alarming. We can not allow decades of progress to erode. Relational organizing can be helpful here, people are more willing to listen to local leaders such as pastors and doctors.
I also think we need more education on this issue so people understand how important vaccines are.
KEYWORDS: Measles, Vaccines, Education
Q3 There have been avian influenza outbreaks in Pennsylvania, with potential impacts on poultry and dairy operations, both industries that provide billions of dollars of economic value to the state. What policies, if any, do you support to strengthen the state’s preparedness and outbreak response? Are there specific strategies you would prioritize to protect farm workers, agricultural communities, and the broader public?
Avian influenza is a serious issue that causes shortages for our farmers, producers, and consumers. We need to invest in preventative measures while also ensuring we have better systems for reporting avian influenza.
I also believe we need to invest in the right equipment to ensure farmers have the resources they need to deal with these outbreaks.
KEYWORDS: Influenza, Poultry, Farmers
Q4 Pennsylvania is the nation’s second-largest producer of natural gas and nuclear energy, as well as the third-largest producer of coal, per the Energy Information Administration. In contrast, PA currently ranks 45th in the country in terms of wind, solar, and hydropower energy production. How do you think these energy sources should be distributed across PA’s energy production portfolio, and what policies, if any, would you support to facilitate this?
Climate change is an existential issue. We need to have an all of the above energy approach and take advantage of renewable energy sources.
I would incentivize these energy sources and ensure there are better plans in place for our state to move to renewable energies in the future. Pennsylvania can and should be a leader environmentally, not lagging behind.
KEYWORDS: Climate Change, Energy, Solar
Q5 Pennsylvania has proposed more reporting, utility oversight, and zoning guidance for large data centers, along with shifting some generation, capacity, and reliability costs onto data center developers rather than ordinary ratepayers. How should the costs and benefits of large data center development be divided between developers and the public, and what requirements, if any, would you support on power, water, and public reporting before a project moves forward?
I support a moratorium on data centers. They consume too many resources, and drive up energy prices in the Northeast.
Existing data centers should have to pass strict standards and ensure they are covering the costs to the communities around them. Technology and innovation are a great benefit to our state, but they must be considered with workers and the environment in mind.
KEYWORDS: Data Centers, AI, Energy