Olsommer and Skibber discuss the topics

The League of Women Voters of Pike County hosted a candidate debate for Pennsylvania’s 139th Congressional District on September 19 at Wallenpaupack Middle School. Moderated by Amy Widestrom, both candidates had one and a half minutes to answer each question, with a 30-second rebuttal. Incumbent state Rep. Jeff Olsommer (R) and challenger Robin Schooley Skibber (D) began with opening statements about their experiences.

Olsommer has worked in the private sector for 35 years as a small business owner and insurance agent, including 10 years in Sterling Township in Wayne County. He said he helped secure grants and worked on the Sterling Business Tech Park. Skibber, who grew up in Blooming Grove and worked at her parents’ business, Mt. Merchant, has worked with Pike County’s aging population for 23 years, most recently as executive director of the Pike Area Agency on Aging, where she spearheaded efforts to expand transportation for seniors and mental health and emergency services, among other things.

Legislative priorities

As for priorities, Skibber insisted that as a gun owner she would focus on common sense gun laws, while Olsommer said he would focus on supporting small businesses.

Both candidates were asked what changes they would introduce in the 2025-26 legislative years. Olsommer pointed to his experience working across party lines, saying that many good ideas don’t get through due to a lack of bipartisanship. Skibber agreed that there is too much partisanship and he will ask MPs from both sides to support bills.

Choose

Because nearly 1.3 million independent voters in the state of Pennsylvania cannot vote in the primary because it is closed, Skibber suggested opening the primary. Many independent voters who cannot vote because of the closed primary rule are unaware that they can vote in special elections, such as the election for the 139th District seat this spring. Olsommer countered by suggesting that voters change their affiliation and then vote as they would in the primary.

Spongy moths

Regarding the gypsy moth epidemic that hit the county last year, Olsommer said he is working with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and Governor Josh Shapiro to get funding to combat the situation. Skibber agreed, saying she believes it should be a joint effort between state resources and community outreach.

Individual rights

With cultural issues such as book bans, marriage equality and women’s health care at the forefront, the candidates were asked to what extent the government should interfere in such situations. Skibber said there should be no government interference in the private lives of its citizens. Olsommer said he was against book bans and that transgender women should not be allowed to participate in women’s sports. Skibber countered that there should be There were more laws in sports for trans children than for trans students, and Olsommer said at the time that he would follow the will of the people.

Housing

Affordable housing is a growing problem for Pennsylvania residents. Olsommer listed several concerns related to the issue, including sewage, infrastructure, material costs and interest rates. Olsommer suggested Pre-tax savings accounts for first-time home buyers and lower interest rates for builders of multi-family homes.

Skibber said she wants to help older people stay in their homes. She also proposed a co-housing program to ease some of the burden of homeownership and a way to convert seasonal homes in the area to be habitable year-round.

Gun safety

Regarding gun laws, Skibber spoke in favor of universal background checks. Olsommer said that red flag laws, which confiscate guns from people deemed a danger to the public, are too broad and that they fear people could use them to take guns away from law-abiding gun owners. He also spoke in favor of the Second Amendment. Regarding red flag laws, Skibber added that she believes the red flag process would include an investigation and that police would be honest in handling such situations.

Fracking

Olsommer said he believes he supports citizens being able to make money from their own land if fracking is done in a safe and conservative manner. Skibber explained that this is out of the question due to water safety concerns. She was hesitant to support fracking without extensive environmental research, noting that Olsommer does not support solar and green energy legislation.

abortion

In light of state abortion bans nationwide, Skibber said she is firmly pro-choice, reiterating that there should be no laws or government regulation of a woman’s body, and she cannot recall any such laws currently regulating men’s bodies. Olsommer explained that abortion has been legal and protected in the state of Pennsylvania since 1992, and that there are currently no bills before the House of Representatives to restrict abortion.

Training

Olsommer said he voted against Governor Shapiro’s education bill. The majority of the funds went to schools that administered tests at the seventh-grade level, so he does not support giving funds to schools that allegedly underperformed students. Skibber argued the testing over the past four years was not normal circumstances and supports the state’s education budget. She added the bill also includes funding to support student mental health. Olsommer said none of the schools in Pike County received funds because they rank in the top 20th percentile. Both felt cyber schools should be more tightly regulated and believed they should not be funded from the education budget.

Marriage for all

As for House Bill 2269, the Marriage Equality Act, Skibber supported it on the grounds that spousal rights should apply to all and no one should be excluded. Olsommer said a 2015 Supreme Court ruling protects marriage rights for all. Skibber then noted that the Supreme Court ruling is not mentioned in the state’s bill.

Close

In her closing argument, Skibber said she believes the government should be a partner. She said she will work to provide funding for education, public services and agriculture and to work together. Olsommer said he wants to work to cut taxes, ensure first responders receive assistance and improve education.