Reed to run for state legislator
The mayor of Connellsville has added her name to the growing candidate list of those seeking to fill the seat being vacated by a state legislator. Judy Reed, a Democrat, has announced her candidacy for the 52nd Legislative District position now held by state Rep. James E. Shaner (D-Dunbar), who is retiring at year’s end.
If elected, Reed, a former educator, said that she would utilize the experience she gained through her time in public office to serve the district’s residents.
Prior to becoming the city’s mayor, Reed, who was elected in November to a second term, served two years as a member of city council and 20 years as a member of the city Health Board of Directors.
“I will work as a public servant for the best interest of this district at all times,” she said, noting her myriad of initiatives she said have benefited the city. “Creating jobs, reducing property taxes and affordable, easy to understand health care are the primary needs for our region.”
Through her leadership, Reed said that the city has been the recipient of funding through state and federal programs, including a $400,000 federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME grant that will be utilized by first time homebuyers, a $200,000 state Home Town Streets and Safe Routes to School grant to make improvements along state-maintained roadways, a $107,540 federal Department of Homeland Security’s Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness and the U.S. Fire Administration’s Assistance to Firefighters grant for the city’s New Haven Hose Volunteer Fire Co. to purchase equipment. She also noted several grants to aid the city police department, including funding associated with the Cops In School and Tobacco Compliance programs.
During her administration, Reed said that she has played a role in restricting withdrawals of water from the Youghiogheny River, negotiated a contract with HUD to purchase a home that netted the city $50,000, worked with Fayette County Housing Authority officials to guarantee that all taxes owed on Section 8 housing are paid and assisted the Fayette County Drug Task Force in the apprehension of drug dealers based in Connellsville and throughout the area.
Ongoing initiatives, said Reed, include working with the Governor’s Community Action Team (CAT) to hold property owners accountable and responsible for property maintenance, participating with the Blue Print Community panel in its plan to construct Habitat for Humanity homes, negotiating with financial institutions to demolish burned structures at no cost to the city and establishing a long-range comprehensive plan to set a direction for the city and better use of its resources.
If elected, Reed said that she would be a proponent of open records and campaign finance reform that would enable the public to access financial records, lobbyist activity and pending legislation, action that now is employed at the local level.
“I have insisted and directed that all information be made public,” she said. “There are no city secrets.
“There is no reason information should not be shared. The more people know, the more support and input you receive.”
Reed said that she would advocate all legislative meetings be held in public to allow constituents to be informed what is taking place at the state level.
“The state Legislature should follow the same regulations has it has established to be carried out at the local level,” she said.
Reed said that if revised legislation did not require the state representatives to detail all financial records tied to the position, she would opt to make the information public.
“Rest assured that anything that I do will be proven to the public,” she said.
In addition to her membership on the governor’s Blue Print Community panel, Reed also is a volunteer for the 84 Lumber Golf Classic, member of the South Connellsville Road and Gun Club, Fay Penn Economic Council, Rivers of Steel Heritage Foundation, Mountain Watershed Association, Pennsylvania Association of Gifted Education, the Pennsylvania Club, Friends of the Library and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 21 Ladies Auxiliary.