Letter: Andrew for state rep

Posted by ChaddsFordLive on October 30, 2018

In Pennsylvania’s 160th Legislative District, it’s time for a change. I believe that Anton Andrew, a first-time candidate from Kennett Square, is the right choice to serve as our representative. Anton lives in Kennett Square, and I’ve been proud to call him my friend for the last 7 years.

Here’s a brief summary of Anton’s background and career: He served as a public defender, helping those who had no representation. He created and led a non-profit that helped women- and minority-owned small businesses. And he helped create the Land Conservancy for Southern Chester County.

But what I think is even more important is that Anton has signed a “No Nonsense Pledge.” He was actually the first candidate in Pennsylvania to sign it. That pledge includes to not take gifts and to support legislation to ban gifts to legislators; to work with transparency and across party lines to pass a fair budget; to support legislation removing the responsibility for the redistricting process from the partisan inclinations of the legislature and to deliver it to a nonpartisan citizens commission.

Anton’s opponent Steve Barrar has not signed this pledge. In fact, Barrar helped to preserve partisan gerrymandering in Pennsylvania. He voted against House Bill 722 — which would have ended gerrymandering in Pennsylvania — from getting out of committee.

Anton is also a sponsor of the bipartisan American Anti-Corruption Act. That act would make it illegal for politicians to take money from lobbyists, and also make it illegal for politicians to become lobbyists. Again, Steve Barrar is not a sponsor.

We need to restore ethics and integrity to politics. Anton Andrew has spent his career helping people who needed to have their voice heard. And his actions as a candidate make me think he’ll keep doing that in Harrisburg.

I encourage you to vote for Anton Andrew for State Representative this Tuesday, Nov. 6.