WHAT HE’S DONE FOR US LATELY.

WHAT HE’LL DO AS COUNTY COMMISSIONER.

TAXES & SPENDING

WHAT HE’S DONE: Eric Roe has consistently held the line on taxes, passing responsible state budgets without reaching deeper into the pockets of hardworking Pennsylvanians. He successfully defeated proposals to increase the sales tax, the personal income tax, hotel taxes, storage and warehousing taxes, and taxes on everyday needs from energy to diapers to daycare. He conservatively stewarded taxpayer dollars, resulting in a “rainy day fund” of $50 million to tap into when the economy slows down. This had not been done in over a decade.

WHAT HE’LL DO: As a County Commissioner, Eric Roe will hold the line on taxes once again. Since Commissioners have the authority to raise tax revenues through property taxation, Eric will promote fairness and market stability by ensuring that no one is unfairly singled out for property tax purposes. Believe it or not, Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation where taxing authorities (school districts, townships, counties) have the power to single out individual property owners for tax reassessments. This means that your school district can show up and force a reassessment upon you, but not your next-door neighbors. Government should not pick winners and losers. Taxation should be fair and predictable, and Eric Roe will ensure that no one is unfairly targeted.

OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION

WHAT HE’S DONE: Lots of candidates talk about preserving open space, but Eric Roe has actually done it. In 2018, Eric cosponsored and voted for HB 2468, later known as the Stoneleigh Law. Upon passage, it was signed into law. This law protects preserved land from being condemned through eminent domain for the ultimate purpose of being developed and built upon. Prior to its enactment, local and state governments were getting around preservation easements by using eminent domain powers to condemn the land and use it for public purposes. Now, those state and local governments trying to build on preserved land via eminent domain will have to prove in court that no alternatives exist, and that condemning the preserved property is a measure of absolute last resort. The passage of the Stoneleigh Law was one of the most significant pieces of land preservation legislation in decades.

WHAT HE’LL DO: County Commissioners are uniquely suited to help municipalities and conservancies preserve open space through County grant programs. By prioritizing and funding these grant programs, the County Government can provide the needed incentives for landowners to preserve their land, rather than selling it to developers. When conservancies and municipalities lack the necessary funds to preserve land, the County can come in and make up the difference. That’s what Eric Roe will do.

If we do not prioritize preservation, we will see our landscapes disappear in exchange for urban sprawl. The small town feel that many of our villages and boroughs enjoy today could vanish and be replaced by more buildings, more concrete, more traffic, and fewer recreational opportunities. Eric Roe will prioritize developing our existing boroughs instead of overdeveloping our otherwise rural townships. 

AGRICULTURE & The penn vet new bolton center

WHAT HE’S DONE: Many local residents do not realize that the nation’s best big animal hospital is located right here in Chester County. Our local farmers depend on it. The Penn Vet New Bolton Center, owned by the University of Pennsylvania, is Pennsylvania’s only veterinary school. It also conducts infectious disease research that protects our horses, cattle, swine, and poultry – including the very items found in our grocery stores and school cafeterias. In exchange for this research and development, it receives some state funding so it can stay several steps ahead of the infectious diseases that could completely disrupt our food supply and supply chains. In 2017, as a brand new state legislator, Eric Roe successfully saved the New Bolton Center’s funding from the chopping block.

WHAT HE’LL DO: As a County Commissioner, Eric Roe will work with the Agriculture Development Council to raise awareness for issues facing our farmers and agriculture professionals. He will also try to help attract the next generation of farmers to our area, so that Chester County’s farms can stay in business and keep producing the things we need to thrive.

DRUGS & ADDICTION

WHAT HE’S DONE: In 2018, State Rep. Eric Roe voted to reform Pennsylvania’s workmen’s compensation law to place reasonable limits on the amount of painkillers covered by it, since ¼ of all opioid addictions stem from an accident at work. He also voted to increase mandatory minimum prison sentences for fentanyl and heroin dealers. Third, Eric passed legislation to prohibit welfare benefits for convicted drug traffickers.

WHAT HE’LL DO: Counties bear the brunt of picking up the pieces when drug addiction takes its toll on our communities. Counties supply social workers and funding for drug treatment centers. The Chester County Department of Drug and Alcohol Services is such an important resource, and Eric will ensure that it receives adequate funding and adequate staffing to assist people in getting the help they need to get back on their feet.  

PARTISAN GERRYMANDERING & REDISTRICTING

WHAT HE’S DONE: As a state legislator, Eric led the charge against partisan gerrymandering. For centuries, politicians of both major parties have been unfairly drawing district boundary lines that dilute the voices of voters. In some cases, these politicians even draw their own district boundary lines. Although this has been a common practice for a long time, it’s wrong.

That’s why Eric Roe introduced House Bill 722 in 2017, a constitutional amendment endorsed by Fair Districts PA, to create a citizen commission of nonpoliticians tasked with redrawing district boundary lines after each decennial census. As several other states have done, this legislation would have taken politicians and lobbyists out of the room when district lines are being drawn for Congress, the PA State House, and the PA State Senate. It would reduce the influence of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, while keeping incumbent legislators from choosing their voters based on party registration and voter data. People should choose their representatives – not the other way around. Sadly, despite having bipartisan support among rank-and-file legislators, the bill was ultimately quashed by both parties’ leaders.

WHAT HE’LL DO: Although County Commissioners are not empowered to create laws or change the state constitution, they are authorized to create local authorities, boards, and commissions to address local challenges. They’re also entitled to appoint qualified people to serve on those local boards. As a County Commissioner, Eric Roe will support the creation of a citizen-led redistricting commission at the county level to create legislative district maps for Chester County that would then be submitted for consideration to the Legislative Reapportionment Commission, the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Although the Legislature and Court would not be required to use the maps provided by our local commission, the commission could still have valuable influence over how Chester County’s districts are drawn.

The creation of this commission would also generate some needed political pressure for party leaders in Harrisburg, as well as the local state legislators here in Chester County who elect party leaders. If party leaders decide to reject the legislative maps drawn (1) by local citizens of both parties and independents, (2) without the use of party registration or other voter data, and (3) in a transparent way, then such a decision would be politically disadvantageous for those party leaders and our local state legislators. Once the local commission’s maps are submitted to the Legislative Reapportionment Commission and General Assembly, it would be Harrisburg’s responsibility to figure out how to fit those proposed maps into the rest of the puzzle of state redistricting.

If Harrisburg won’t fix the problem of partisan gerrymandering, then counties should hold them accountable by proposing their own fair districts every 10 years.

ELECTIONS & VOTING

WHAT HE’S DONE: In addition to improving election integrity by trying to prohibit partisan gerrymandering, Eric Roe also introduced legislation to make it easier for disabled voters to cast their votes in person. Eric’s proposed bill would have allowed voters with mobility issues to cast their votes curbside while sitting in their cars, administered by a precinct’s Judge of Elections. Pennsylvania is one of the states whose election laws do not allow poll workers to bring a voter their ballot to their car if they lack a wheelchair. Even with the subsequent voting reforms of Act 77, voters who fail to obtain a mail-in or absentee ballot may have trouble accessing their polling place on Election Day. This legislation is needed to give voters every opportunity to perform their civic duty to vote, even if they are not physically capable of walking into the polling place themselves.

WHAT HE’LL DO: As a County Commissioner, Eric Roe will ensure that Chester County’s elections are administered efficiently and accurately. With the passage and enactment of Act 77 in 2019, many voters have had concerns about how our elections are administered. Although County Commissioners are not empowered to change state election laws, Eric will work to maintain confidence in our local elections. Chester County is fortunate to have talented and dedicated Voter Services staff who are committed to ensuring that every eligible voter has an opportunity to participate in our elections.

INFRASTRUCTURE

WHAT HE’S DONE: As a State Representative, Eric Roe invested millions of dollars into the state budget for public transportation funding. Locally, he also secured millions for projects and repairs right here in Chester County. From New Garden Township in Southern Chester County to West Goshen Township in the West Chester area and everywhere in between, Eric worked tirelessly to advocate for our fair share of the state pie for infrastructure. Having reliable infrastructure is good for public safety, commerce, and countless public services. It also improves our quality of life, reduces traffic congestion, and attracts businesses.

WHAT HE’LL DO: Although counties in Pennsylvania do not own roads, counties provide funding for the building and maintenance of many bridges. Pennsylvania is known for having some of the most structurally deficient bridges in the nation. Eric will ensure that Chester County stands out from the rest of Pennsylvania’s counties and maintains high quality, structurally sound bridges that you and your family may drive over with confidence every day. From our most rural townships like Newlin and West Marlborough to our most populous townships like Tredyffrin and Uwchlan, Eric will make sure our county-owned bridges are taken care of and maintained to the highest standards.