On The Issues: Webster Vs. Fountain, PA House District 150

With Election Day just days away, we're breaking down candidates and their policy positions in several key races, including the battle for the 150th District in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives. With incumbent Michael Corr (R) choosing not to run for re-election, the seat has been left wide open. Democrat Joe Webster will face Republican Nick Fountain.

THE DISTRICT

The 150th, which spans Collegeville, Lower Providence, and Skippack, as well as parts of both Upper Providence and West Norriton, has been solidly red for 50 years. It's been Republican since its creation in 1969, save for a two-year period from 2001 to 2002 where an incumbent Republican, John A. Lawless, switched parties.

HOMETOWN

Webster: Perkiomen

Fountain: Skippack

>>Everything To Know About The Pennsylvania 2018 Midterm Elections

EDUCATION

Webster: US Air Force Academy - BA in Engineering and Humanities, Wright State University - MA in English Literature, Naval War College - MA in National Security Policy Studies, George Washington University - Ph.D in Public Policy

Fountain: Perkiomen Valley High School, Temple University - BA in Education and History, Eastern University - MA in Special Education

EXPERIENCE

Webster: Webster is a retired Air Force Colonel who worked for 20 years in the Pentago as a liaison between U.S. Congress and the Air Force. He founded Convergence Music Productions, aimed at creating local music events, and is currently the VP of Mission Services at Accenture.

Fountain: Fountain is a student in Eastern University's Master's in Special Education program. He was named president of Skippack Historical Society, and he's worked as a junior kindergarten teacher for eight years. He was elected to the Skippack Township Board of Supervisors since 2013.

ON EDUCATION

Webster: "Smart and fair investing in our schools boosts the economy, reduces crime, and fosters equality and mobility."

Quality schools are an early key indicator for economic well-being. Pennsylvania ranks close to the bottom in the nation in terms of state funding for education. We need to fix educational funding and support our schools and our educators."

Fountain: "Make sure our schools are fully-funded so our students get the very best education while enacting policies that will keep our children safe in schools and our community."

ON TAXES

Webster: "When property taxes are eliminated big businesses get a tax cut while the burden of paying for public schools, of which property taxes are a major source, falls on older and working Pennsylvanians, and on small business owners, in the form of higher income and sales taxes. I support property tax reforms that will ease the burden on older residents and working Pennsylvanians, the people who need it most, and not corporations."

Fountain: "Ensure our area remains affordable for families and seniors by working to reduce and even eliminate property taxes."

ON MARINER EAST 2

Webster: "If we are going to produce non-renewable shale oil and gas in Pennsylvania, it should be taxed to offset the cost to deal with the effects of extraction."

Fountain: "I support the United States’ effort to become energy independent. I also support Pennsylvania jobs and with that the booming natural gas industry across the Commonwealth."

ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Webster: "We must protect the health of our creeks and the Schuylkill…our water supplies and the beauty of Pennsylvania is vitally important."

Fountain: "I believe climate change is real and I believe we must do everything in our power to reverse it for future generations. In Skippack Township, we have addressed this by preserving hundreds of acres of open space. We must continue to research renewable energies and limit our carbon footprint."

ON HEALTHCARE

Webster: "Increased access to healthcare promotes a healthy workforce and economic growth. We need to expand healthcare access, not restrict it."

Fountain: "For far too long, our elected officials and community leaders have turned a blind eye to the opioid crisis. When my wife, Nancy, was just six years old, she lost her mother to an overdose. Twenty years later, Nancy’s father lost his battle with opioids. My family, just like millions of others, has been directly affected by this epidemic and now is the time to address it. First and foremost, we must start the discussion. We have to take the stigma off and begin talking about it at school, at home and in the community. We must ensure the resources are available to those who are suffering. We must make sure insurance companies cover the costs for recovery and we must make sure the lifelines are out there for those who have recovered. We cannot afford to continue kicking this can down the road."

ON GUN VIOLENCE

Webster: "As a veteran, I have handled military style weapons and I know first-hand they don’t belong on our streets or in our homes… They belong in the armory. As a public policy analyst, I know there’s only one variable in all the research, in all the statistics that distinguishes the US and its litany of mass shootings from all the other countries that don’t have this problem. It’s not mental illness, it’s not immigration, it’s not poverty… It’s the numbers and the military capability of these weapons. And you don’t need a PhD to know that.

Fountain: "In order to address our nation’s gun violence, we must address our nation’s mental illness. Much like the opioid crisis, mental illness has taken a back seat because no one wants to talk about it. As State Representative, I will change that. My stance on mental illness mirrors that of the opioid crisis."

Patch is partnering with ProPublica’s Electionland project to report on problems voters encounter at the polls on Nov. 6 and we want to know if you see any shenanigans. Here’s how you can report what you see to Electionland:

• SMS: Send the word VOTE, VOTA (for Spanish) or 投票 (for Chinese) to 81380 (standard text message rates apply).
• WhatsApp: Send the word VOTE, VOTA (for Spanish) or 投票 (for Chinese) to 1-850-909-8683.
• Facebook Messenger: Go to m.me/electionland.
• Submit a tip through this form.

Image via Fields and Mensch campaigns