Election 2024: Democrat Perry Warren For State Representative

Candidates running in the Nov. 5 general election are providing background about themselves and their positions on the issues to voters in these profiles, which will run in Patch individually for each candidate.

BUCKS COUNTY, PA —Incumbent Democrat Perry Warren is running for reelection for state representative in the 31st Legislative District. He is being challenged by Republican Bernie Sauer in the Nov. 5 general election.

Biographical Information

Name: Perry Warren.
Age: 61
Town of Residence: Newtown Borough
Position Sought: State Representative, House District 31, representing the communities of Lower Makefield Township, Newtown Borough, Newtown Township, Upper Makefield Township and Yardley Borough.
Education: Colgate University, B.A. with Honors in International Relations/Political Science and
Minor in Economics; University of North Carolina School of Law, J.D. with Honors.
Are you can incumbent? Yes, I am the incumbent state representative, first elected in 2016, and re-elected in 2018, 2020 and 2022.
Political Party: Democratic.
Occupation: State Representative. Previously, as a lawyer I co-founded, co-owned and built a general practice law firm that grew to ten attorneys, and at the age of 19 I independently
operated and later owned an ice cream truck business.

Questions

What is the top issue facing the Commonwealth and how would you address it?

Maintaining and improving our quality of life in a changing economy and environment, by focusing on high-quality, safe, affordable education, a prosperous and fair economy and preserving our environment, within a governmental system that requires representatives of diverse communities and interests to work together to solve the problems and challenges of the present and our future.

Why are you running for State Rep.?

It has been my honor to serve and work with and for the residents of our communities since 2017 as your state representative, and I am running for re-election to continue to serve our communities. As a father of five, attorney, teacher, business owner, church leader, borough council member and state representative, I have been responsible for and to other people, created jobs and focused my experience, skills and energy to improve the lives of others. I believe my values and interests are reflective of our communities in working to maintain and improve our educational system, our environment and our economy. I have worked in cooperation with other legislators on bipartisan legislation, and with legislative leaders and the Governor to identify and address needs in our communities through grant funding. I travel, attend and participate in events throughout all of our towns - Lower Makefield, Newtown Borough and Township, Upper Makefield and Yardley, and have developed both a knowledge of and a feel for the wants and needs of our residents and communities.

What can you do to keep crime from seeping into the suburbs?

This is a flawed question, premised on misinformation. In fact, the FBI reported that overall violent crime has decreased, including significant decreases in murder and manslaughter, and property crime also has decreased significantly. My universal background check bill for firearms purchases will be a huge step toward preventing gun violence. My bill passed with a bipartisan vote in the House this term but has not received a vote in the Senate. Legislation that increases economic opportunity also will help reduce crime, including the anti-discrimination and minimum wage bills, which also passed in the House this term but have not received a vote in the Senate Perhaps the best way to reduce crime is to elect senators who will join with the House majority in passing legislation to stop gun violence and address the root cause of crime. And, with a Governor and a President who formerly were Attorneys General, crime will be further reduced at the state and federal levels. Further, I support policy and legislation that, by carrot or stick, incentivizes financial institutions and telecommunications and internet companies to protect seniors and others from online and telephone scams. Finally, our police do a great job in keeping our communities safe, and I have voted for and will continue to support police funding.

What can you do to increase funding for our local school districts?

Many of the people who live in the communities I represent live here because of the quality of the Council Rock and Pennsbury public school districts. I voted for the 2024-2025 state budget which makes a record investment in public education, including a $1.1 billion increase in state public education funding. The state budget not only reflects a substantial state investment in public education; but also it helps contain local property taxes. I always have supported and will continue to support state funding for our school districts. In addition, we passed and I will continue to support legislation to encourage our students who wish to become teachers and to provide funding for student teachers.

What are your ideas for improving our state roads?

In my time as State Representative, I worked with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to move up the paving of Big Oak Road in Lower Makefield and Morrisville and Main Street in Yardley, and PennDOT has moved up and will soon begin mechanized patching and then microsurfacing of River Road in Upper Makefield, Lower Makefield and Yardley. I regularly tour the district with PennDOT officials to ensure the state roads are maintained and appropriately scheduled for improvement. I have advocated and received PennDOT approval for crosswalks in Newtown, truck restrictions in Yardley, and traffic and pedestrian safety enhancements throughout our communities. I served on the House Transportation Committee from the date I was sworn into office until this month (when the Speaker appointed me Chairman of the House Human Services Committee), including two terms during which now-Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll served as Democratic House Transportation Committee Chairman. Under Governor Shapiro’s and Secretary Carroll’s leadership PennDOT is a revitalized and vibrant agency, and this summer I toured the state with Secretary Carroll and House Transportation Committee Democratic Chair Ed Neilson and Republican Chair Kerry Benninghoff to advocate for enhanced allocation of state funding for state roads, bridges and transit to better address the transportation needs of our communities and residents.

The 31st House District includes Newtown Township, Newtown Borough, Lower Makefield Township, Yardley Borough, and Upper Makefield Township.