2020 Candidate Profile: Jessica Benham, State Rep., 36th District

Jessica Benham

Age (as of Election Day)

29

Position Sought

Pennsylvania State House of Representatives 36

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

I live in the Southside Slopes with my husband, Karl, our two cats, Ravi and Neal, and our dog, Winston.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

I have B.A. degrees in Political Science and Communication Studies from Bethel University, an M.A. in Communication from Minnesota State University, and an M.A. in Bioethics from the University of Pittsburgh.

Occupation

Director of Development, Pittsburgh Center for Autistic Advocacy

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

n/a

Campaign website

www.benhamforpa.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I felt called to run for state legislature after consistently hearing from my neighbors that our community is ready for a representative that will fight for real solutions to the disparities impacting our neighborhoods. I’m running to build on my background as a community organizer and healthcare policy advocate to fight for access to quality healthcare for all, for critical investments in our infrastructure and in education, and for solutions to the opioid epidemic. I look forward to continuing to listen to my community and more deeply understand their concerns and ideas for how we can build a brighter future together.
The single most pressing issue facing our state/nation is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

There are two critical issues facing Pennsylvanians and they are rising costs of healthcare and crumbling infrastructure.

On healthcare, I will fight to enshrine the protections of the Affordable Care Act into law on the state level so that, no matter what happens federally, Pennsylvanians are protected. I will work to protect the Medicaid expansion that has benefited over 3,000,000 Pennsylvanians. I will address rising costs of medications through prescription drug reform. No one should go bankrupt seeking medical care.

On infrastructure:

In District 36, the Saw Mill Run Watershed covers the majority of the district, including parts of Mt. Washington, Brookline, Carrick, Mount Oliver, Overbrook, and Brentwood. As the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority notes, “The valley's steep slopes, the high density of impervious surfaces and the stream's close proximity to the highway lead to frequent flooding along the stream channel. Flooding and nonpoint source pollution have been major problems for more than 50 years along the stream and its tributaries.”

While the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, various municipalities, water and sewer management authorities, community partners, and other organizations have worked together to study and develop plans to address the impacts of past flooding and decrease the likelihood of future flooding, they deserve a partner at the state level who is willing to fight for the necessary funding to complete much needed infrastructure updates.

The residents of district 36 deserve a solution to the flooding that impacts their daily lives. They are tired of constant studies and plans that don’t materialize. If elected, I promise to be a leader in the fight to save people’s livelihoods, restore their quality of life, and enable the Route 51 corridor to be a beautiful, shining example of the impacts of water management infrastructure on a local economy.

Demand for public transit in Allegheny County continues to grow, at a time when decreasing funding means that the Port Authority must make service cuts. Most recently, this included eliminating a number of stops along the routes traveled by the 51 and 48, which service much of District 36. There are a number of reasons why the Port Authority’s budget has declined, but, in part, this is due to receiving a decreasing share of state funds. The University of Pittsburgh’s Institute of Policy Infrastructure Policy Committee reports that this is due to a growth in central PA transit systems.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am uniquely positioned to address the concerns facing residents of District 36 because of my background in public policy (particularly in healthcare policy), my existing relationships with elected officials, unions, and community partners, and the experience I already have addressing problems throughout the community.

I have worked with elected officials at all levels of government - federal, state, and local - to draft and pass legislation that has improved healthcare outcomes for people with disabilities and seniors. Many of these elected officials have come out in support of my campaign. I can leverage these existing partnerships to ensure that our communities get the investments we deserve.

Multiple unions, including the Operating Engineers, have endorsed my campaign. The ability to work together with the unions that represent the workers who build, maintain, and improve our infrastructure is a crucial skill that I would bring to this job. Because of my background as a union organizer, I have developed key relationships with organized labor.

As a core member of the board of the Zone 3 Public Safety Council, I have consistently attended community meetings throughout much of House District 36, developing relationships with stakeholders and community partners, and working together to address the problems our community faces. For example, in the Arlington neighborhood of the city of Pittsburgh, there has been an ongoing issue concerning the amount of empty storefronts. I have worked together with local business owners, identifying what types of businesses we need to bring to this growing business district, and leveraging my relationships in the community to help people develop plans to open businesses. We will celebrate the opening of a new coffee shop in Arlington later this spring.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the incumbent failed the district?

n/a

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

The other key issues central to my campaign can be viewed on my website: http://www.benhamforpa.com/issues.html

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

The job of a state representative is two-fold - to go to Harrisburg and work with other elected officials to write and pass legislation and to bring money and investment back to the district while providing excellent constituent services.

I already have significant experience writing legislation and working together with state legislators. Most recently, I worked with State Senator Lindsey Williams to develop a bill that would create a drivers' license code identifying folks with communication differences, like Autism. The code would go on the back of the drivers license, next to where you'd typically see the notation for needing corrective lens to drive. The goal is to increase awareness from first responders and help them develop the skills necessary to identify and interact positively with people with disabilities.

I have already written grants that have brought money back for projects in my local community, particularly around improving our streetscapes and parks. I would look forward to working with community partners to continue identifying grant opportunities to bring state money back to our neighborhoods.

Through my work as block watch captain and on the public safety council, I have demonstrated my skills at solving problems. For example, there is a problem property, St. Henry's Church, in a nearby neighborhood. I have worked with our inspectors, our local magistrate, our city council people, and our state elected officials to resolve the problems with the property and hold the property owner accountable for the damage he has done in the community.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

The best advice ever shared with me was that what we build is more important than the words we say. I look forward to building a future for house district 36 that is better and brighter and partnering with all of you to accomplish that goal.