In June the NAACP of Bucks County and the League of Women Voters invited the 20 candidates running in Bucks County for those seats (10 incumbents and 10 challengers) to participate in a open forum on the topic of education. It was going to be the first of its kind event slated slated for September 12th, at Bucks County Community College’s Newtown campus- with the college’s longtime social science faculty member, Bill Pezza, posing questions solicited from the public.
There isn’t a candidate or elected state Rep who hasn’t at one time or another, talked about the importance of education locally and at the state level during this election cycle.
“This is an exciting and extraordinary opportunity to hear Pennsylvania State Representative candidates discuss their views about education,” said Karen Downer, President of the NAACP Bucks County Branch. “Our members as well as the public in general always want to know more about who their candidates are and what their thoughts are on issues that are important to them and their families. Education is a critical topic in the Bucks County community.”
“The mission of the League of Women Voters is to empower voters and defend democracy,” said Liz Fritsch, Candidate Forum Chair, League of Women Voters of Bucks County. “One of the most effective ways of empowering voters is to provide them with non-partisan, unbiased information about where candidates stand on the issues. This event allows voters hear from the candidates themselves about the important issue of education.”
Downer and Fritsch expressed their disappointment about the education forum never comin to fruition . They sent invitations to 20 candidates and received six responses they said in a September Op-Ed submitted to Bucks County media publications in which Lower Bucks Source (LBS) was included. \
Credit: Joanne Ames – LBS
rior to the submitted Op-Ed LBS was tipped off that the proposed education forum was not going go as planned due to lack of response by the invited candidates.
“We have candidates hiding in plain sight. Only willing to respond to constituent questions and questions from local media in very controlled environments,” said a more than well connected local politico.
In late August and early September LBS went one step further then the Bucks NAACP and the League of Women Voters seeking answers as to how candidates responded to the education forum invitations. The publication directly asked Joyner and Fritsch and Bucks County Community College officials about who responded and what did those responses contain. The NAACP and League provided the numbers but declined to share the names of the candidates accepting invites and candidates who did not.
After reaching out to each of the 19 candidates only three responded; current state Rep’s Joe Hogan (R) 142nd District; Jim Prokopiak (D), 140th District; Brian Munroe (D), 144th District; and candidate for the seat in the 145th District Vera Cole responded. Cole is challenging state Rep Craig Stats in a upper county race.
Credit: Bucks County Community College – Newtown
Prokopiak, who is apparently comfortable answering direct questions from local press told LBS in person at a campaign event that Cabanas his opposition also agreed to participate in the forum. Prokopiak said that participating in the forum was something he looked forward to, especially since issues focusing on education were of special import to him after serving two years on the Pennsbury School Board. “I was really looking forward to the forum, he said, now with it cancelled, an important opportunity for the community and candidates is lost”
“Considering that public education funding is the largest debated part of the annual budget, I think it would’ve given a good opportunity to let the community know the nature of what we do as state representative,” said state Rep Brian Munroe in response to LBS’ inquiry. Munroe added ” Being very pro-public education, I have advocated for increased funding without tax raises for our public schools. For these reasons, I have had well over $500,000 already spent against me just in this last 18 months by anti-public school billionaires.”
Candidate Cole said “I am disappointed by the cancellation. Education plays a central role in our community, starting with our children and their future. Education is a major employer, driver of property taxes, significant factor in property values, and key to lifetime opportunity through higher education. I believe voters deserve to know where candidates stand on all aspects of education policy. I said yes as soon as I was asked. I appreciate the League of Women Voters of Bucks County, NAACP Bucks County Branch, and Bucks County Community College for their admirable initiative to put together this bipartisan candidate forum.“
Which brings us to the last response, LBS received, coming from Hogan. If you don’t remember, he was elected to his first term two years ago winning the seat once occupied by now state Sen Frank Farry, by 76 votes over Democrat Mark Moffa.
Hogan, who declined to participate in the forum, however, replied to the publication’s questions said, “I did not believe a conversation on such an important topic was well served with the proposed format.” He was the only candidate to go on the record with a “No” response.
He did not side step the question. Hogan performed one of the simplest yet valuable functions law makers have in the commonwealth. He responded to a complicated question from reporters about an election-related topic.
The same can not be said for the remaining 17 candidates on the Election Day 2024 ballot (s).
