Ron Ruman
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?
I believe we do need to restrict PFAS chemicals in consumer products. I would listen to the opinions of scientists and medical professionals on the impact of PFAS on our health, and to their recommendations on how to keep residents safe.
KEYWORDS: Restrict, medical, health
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?
I would work with medical professionals to educate the public on the importance of vaccines to everyone’s safety. The amount of distrust and outright disinformation regarding many issues which impact all of our health is disturbing.
To the extent possible, we should dedicate state resources, through our Health Department, to get experts trusted by various communities to get the correct information to these communities.
KEYWORDS: Medical professionals educate
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?
We need to adequately fund and support the field work of the PA Department of Agriculture to monitor and when needed, take quick and decisive action to limit the spread of avian influenza.
I am not an expert in this area, so I would rely on the recommendations of agriculture and medical professionals to protect farm workers and the public.
KEYWORDS: Montior, decisive action
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?
We should return to incrementally increasing the amount of energy generated by renewable sources under the Pennsylvania Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard. To meet our growing electricity needs, we must use natural gas, nuclear, wind, solar and hydro.
Natural gas does contribute to climate change, but less so than coal, and provides economic benefits throughout Pennsylvania and helps hold down energy costs, as we increase energy produced by renewable sources.
KEYWODS: AEPS, renewable, economic
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?
Data centers are needed to power our technology economy. But we must require data centers to either provide or pay for the electricity they use, adhere to state environmental and water conservation standards, follow local noise and lighting ordinances, and be open in dealing with local governments and the public.
Data centers will provide good jobs, during construction and operation, and significant local and state tax revenue to pay for important services. Data centers must become part of our communities, not overrun our communities.
KEYWORDS: communities, open, revenue