WELCOME TO. FOR THE RECORD, I’M SHANNON PERRINE OVER THE COMING WEEKS, WE ARE FOCUSING ON THE UPCOMING ELECTION. EACH WEEK WE WILL HEAR FROM THREE CANDIDATES FOR A NUMBER OF RACES THEY SHARE WITH US THEIR TOP PRIORITIES AND WHY THEY BELIEVE THEY’RE THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB. WITH THE NEW ELECTION SEASON COMES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW FACES AND FRESH PERSPECTIVE. I THINK WE NEED MORE PEOPLE IN OUR LEGISLATURE WHO KNOW, KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO FILL OUT A MEDICAID APPLICATION, WHO KNOW THE TROUBLES OF GETTING DISABILITY SERVICES RIGHT. AND THAT’S NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR LEADERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH A POLITICAL NEWCOMER TELLS US WHAT’S DRIVEN HER TO SEEK A STATE SENATE SEAT AND WHY, IF ELECTED, HER EXPERIENCES WOULD BENEFIT THE LEGISLATURE. PLUS, TWO LONGTIME ELECTED OFFICIALS LOOK TO BECOME PENNSYLVANIA’S NEXT ATTORNEY GENERAL, HOVERING TOP ISSUES INCLUDING CRIME, VIOLENCE, POLICE ENCOUNTERS AND MENTAL HEALTH. I LOCATED OUR NEW POLICE DISTRICT AND I BROUGHT RIGHT NEXT TO IT THE TOP OF THE LINE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER. NOW, WHAT HAPPENS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD? SOMEONE HAS AN INTERACTION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, PRESENTS WITH A MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. THEY NOW CAN GET THE TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED AND TACKLING CONCERNS LIKE ELECTION SECURITY AND PROTECTING THE COMMONWEALTH’S DEMOCRACY. THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY IS ALL ABOUT. IT’S WHAT MY FAMILY CAME TO THIS COUNTRY AFTER FLEEING A NAZI SLAVE LABOR CAMP. THIS IS WHAT WE CAME TO THIS COUNTRY FOR, TO HAVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. I CAN TELL YOU, AS A CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF DELAWARE COUNTY AND WHEN I’M ATTORNEY GENERAL OF PENNSYLVANIA, I’M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO MAKE SURE OUR DEMOCRACY CONTINUES TO SURVIVE. FIRST, WE’RE TALKING WITH MCKENZIE WHITE, A DEMOCRAT RUNNING FOR STATE SENATE DISTRICT 45, THE LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONAL IS HOPING TO REPRESENT A LARGE PORTION OF THE EASTERN SUBURBS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY AFTER, FOR MORE THAN A DECADE IN THE SEAT. LONGTIME SENATOR JIM BREWSTER IS NOT SEEKING REELECTION. WHITE TOLD OUR JANELLE HALL HER BACKGROUND. IN SOCIAL WORK WILL BRING FRESH PERSPECTIVE TO THE LEGISLATURE. TELL US WHERE YOU’RE FROM AND WHAT MADE YOU INTERESTED IN RUNNING? YEAH, SO I LIVE IN BRENTWOOD RIGHT NOW. UM, I LIVED IN EAST PITTSBURGH BEFORE THAT FOR A BIT. SO OTHER PART OF THE DISTRICT, UM, AND YEAH, I’M A SOCIAL WORKER AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AND I DECIDED TO RUN BECAUSE AS I WAS WORKING IN THESE COMMUNITIES EVERY DAY AND SEEING THE ISSUES THAT MY CLIENTS, MY NEIGHBORS, MY FAMILY WAS FACING, AND I FELT LIKE WE NEEDED, UM, LEADERSHIP IN OUR LEGISLATOR THAT HAD DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES AND DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS TO REALLY ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT MOST OF US ARE FACING EVERY DAY. AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE ISSUES THAT YOU THINK ARE TOP THREE ISSUES IN THE 45TH DISTRICT? YEAH. SO I THINK, UM, WORKING AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZER NOW, YOU KNOW, THERE’S A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THIS DISTRICT. WE SEE THE NEWS AROUND THE COKEWORKS PLANTS, STEEL PLANT INJECTION WELL AND PLUM. UM, DOWN TO TO THE WELL PADS. AND ELIZABETH. RIGHT. SO THERE’S A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THIS DISTRICT. I THINK WE ALSO KNOW THAT ABORTION RIGHTS ARE ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR. MORE THAN EVER, PROTECTING THOSE IN OUR STATE AS A SOCIAL WORKER. THAT’S SOMETHING THAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME. UM, AND THEN ALSO OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM. RIGHT. WE’VE SEEN THAT WITH THE COURT’S RULING IN PENNSYLVANIA THAT OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS NOT FAIR. I THINK THIS DISTRICT REALLY SHOWS THAT. AND WE REALLY NEED TO CHANGE HOW WE’RE PROVIDING AN EDUCATION FOR, FOR OUR RESIDENTS. SO IF SOMEONE WERE TO SAY, WHAT MAKES YOU QUALIFIED, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY? YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK WE DON’T HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR LEGISLATOR THAT ARE SOCIAL WORKERS. RIGHT? AND I’VE SPENT THE LAST TEN YEARS WORKING IN THIS COMMUNITY AS AN ORGANIZER, AS A SOCIAL WORKER AND A PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. AND I’VE SEEN FIRSTHAND, BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY, THESE ISSUES. AND I THINK WE NEED MORE PEOPLE IN OUR LEGISLATOR WHO KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO FILL OUT A MEDICAID APPLICATION, WHO KNOW THE TROUBLES OF GETTING DISABILITY SERVICES. RIGHT. AND THAT’S NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE A LOT OF OUR LEADERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH. I WAS READING ON YOUR WEBSITE, YOU SAID WHERE YOU LIVE SHOULD NOT DETERMINE IF YOU LIVE. IT’S A STRONG STATEMENT. TELL ME WHAT DROVE YOU TO SAY THAT AND HOW YOU THINK THAT APPLIES TO YOUR DISTRICT. IF IT DOES, YEAH, I FIRST HEARD THAT WHEN I WAS IN GRADUATE SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH. I HAD A PROFESSOR WHO SAID THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH CLASS AND THAT REALLY STUCK WITH ME. AND IT APPLIES TO A LOT OF THINGS. UNFORTUNATELY. RIGHT. IT APPLIES TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THIS DISTRICT, SPECIFICALLY, WE SEE A 20 YEAR LIFE EXPECTANCY DIFFERENCE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE DISTRICT BECAUSE OF WHERE PEOPLE LIVE. IT ALSO APPLIES TO OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, RIGHT? WE KNOW BECAUSE OF THOSE THAT COURT DECISION THAT OUR KIDS ARE NOT GETTING EQUAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES. AND THAT’S COMING DOWN TO ZIP CODES AND AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE AFFORDED. SO I THINK THAT’S AN UNFORTUNATE TRUTH FOR A LOT OF ISSUES. AND THAT’S WHY I DECIDED TO RUN, BECAUSE I FELT LIKE WE NEED THAT SHOULDN’T BE THE CASE, RIGHT? PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LIVE AND HAVE A GOOD JOB AND HAVE A GOOD ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND TRANSPORTATION AND HEALTH CARE AND ALL THOSE THINGS. AND IT SHOULDN’T MATTER WHAT ZIP CODE YOU’RE IN. TALK A LOT ABOUT JOBS IN THE ECONOMY. BIG CHANGE COMING TO THAT AREA OBVIOUSLY INVOLVES THE SALE OF US STEEL TO THE JAPANESE COMPANY. UM, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT’S GOING TO IMPACT THE AREA? WHAT KIND OF PLANS DO YOU HAVE TO HELP WITH ECONOMIC ISSUES? AND I THINK IT’S A HUGE CONCERN FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. AND I, LIKE MANY, AM DISAPPOINTED AT HOW THEY KNOW THE SALE WENT ABOUT IN TERMS OF JUST NOT HONORING, YOU KNOW, TALKING TO THE UNION WORKERS ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON. UM, AND I THINK WHEN WE TALK TO PEOPLE ON THE GROUND IN THE COMMUNITY, THERE IS A LOT OF CONCERNS WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. BUT PEOPLE ALSO WANT GOOD UNION JOBS, RIGHT? AND WE CAN HAVE CLEAN AIR AND GOOD UNION JOBS, BUT WE NEED TO WORK WITH OUR COMPANIES AND WE NEED TO FIND BETTER WAYS TO, UM, GIVE THOSE UNION JOBS TO PEOPLE LOCALLY HERE. AND THAT’S WHAT SOMETHING I WANT TO ENSURE IS THAT THIS SALE ISN’T TAKING AWAY JOBS AT ANY LEVEL FROM LOCALS, AND ALSO MAKING SURE WE’RE LEVERAGING THIS SHIFT TO A GREENER ECONOMY. RIGHT. THERE’S A LOT OF FEDERAL MONEY AVAILABLE. HOW ARE WE INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITIES? HOW ARE WE BRINGING GREEN JOBS AND GREEN COMPANIES BACK TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND ALSO EDUCATING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE SO THEY CAN HAVE THOSE KIND OF JOBS? WHEN WE TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT POLITICS, SOMETIMES THEY EXPRESS THEIR FRUSTRATION ABOUT THE DIVIDE BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. HOW WOULD YOU REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND WORK WITH REPUBLICANS TO TRY TO GET THINGS DONE, AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT YOU THINK THAT REALLY WHERE YOU THINK THAT REALLY NEEDS TO HAPPEN? HAVING WORKED THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AS AN ORGANIZER IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SPACE, I’VE WORKED WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE OF ALL DIFFERENT POLITICAL BACKGROUNDS BECAUSE I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, NO ONE WANTS THEIR HOUSE TO BLOW UP. EVERYONE WANTS THEIR KID TO BREATHE CLEAN AIR AND NOT HAVE ASTHMA. AND I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ALL OF THESE ISSUES, IT’S STARTING WHERE WE ALL AGREE ON THINGS, BECAUSE I DO THINK THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE ALL AGREE ON. AND STARTING FROM THERE, AS OPPOSED TO STARTING FROM WHERE WE DISAGREE, I THINK THAT’S WHEN WE GET MORE WORK DONE. YOU KNOW, AS A SOCIAL WORKER, THIS IS WHAT I DO. I BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, I WORK WITH PEOPLE, WE BUILD COALITIONS. AND THAT’S WHAT I THINK WE NEED FROM OUR LEADERS, IS THAT KIND OF APPROACH TO TO OUR POLITICS. ON DAY ONE, WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST THING YOU WOULD LIKE TO TACKLE IF YOU’RE ELECTED? UM, THAT’S A GOOD QUESTION. I THINK, YOU KNOW, JUST REALLY TALKING TO THE COMMUNITIES ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT. WE HAVE A LOT OF LEADERS THAT, UM, THINK THEY KNOW WHAT COMMUNITIES WANT. AND OUR GOAL WITH THIS CAMPAIGN IS TO ASK THE COMMUNITIES WHAT THEY WANT AND BRING IT TO THEM. UM, SO THAT WILL ALWAYS BE MY GOAL ON THE CAMPAIGN AND AFTERWARDS IS TO NOT NOT THINK I KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS, BUT TO SHOW UP AND SAY, WHAT DO THE COMMUNITIES ACTUALLY NEED? AND HOW CAN THEY HELP US BRING THOSE SOLUTIONS? BECAUSE AS I THINK THE COMMUNITIES HAVE SOLUTIONS THEY NEED, WE JUST ACTUALLY NEED LEADERS WHO ARE GIVING US A SEAT AT THE TABLE TO WORK TOGETHER ON IT. SO THAT’S ALWAYS GOING TO BE MY GOAL IS HOW DO WE SHIFT THAT NARRATIVE AND BRING COMMUNITIES FIRST? DID YOU THINK YOU WOULD EVER GET INTO POLITICS? NO, REALLY. UM, I MEAN, I REALLY LIKE POLICY AND I’VE WORKED A LOT ON THE POLICY SIDE IN TERMS OF I’VE WORKED WITH LEGISLATORS IN OFFICE ON DRAFTING POLICY AND WRITING POLICY. SO I’VE ALWAYS ENJOYED THAT SIDE OF IT. UM, BUT FOR ME, IT’S NOT REALLY ABOUT THE THE POLITICS. IT’S JUST ABOUT HAVING BETTER POLICY AND LEADERS WHO REPRESENT OUR COMMUNITY BETTER. WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK. WELCOME BACK. TO, FOR THE RECORD, A FOCUS ON COMMITMENT 2024. NOW WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT TWO CANDIDATES ON THE BALLOT FOR PENNSYLVANIA ATTORNEY GENERAL. CURRENT AG MICHELLE HENRY IS NOT RUNNING. THERE IS QUITE A FIELD OF CANDIDATES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. SO LET’S GET TO KNOW STATE REPRESENTATIVE JARED SOLOMON, THE DEMOCRAT FROM EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, SAT DOWN WITH OUR JANELLE HALL. HE TOLD HER THERE’S ONE SPECIAL PERSON IN HIS LIFE WHO INSPIRED HIM TO BE WHO HE IS TODAY. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHO YOU ARE, WHY YOU DECIDED TO GET INTO POLITICS. YOUR YOUR PATH INTO POLITICS AND WHY YOU THINK YOU’D BE A GOOD CANDIDATE. SURE. SO I’M FROM NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA, WHICH IS THE MOST DIVERSE COMMUNITY IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA. I WAS RAISED THERE BY A SINGLE MOM SPECIAL ED PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER. SHE ACTUALLY RAISED ME ABOVE MY GREAT GRANDPARENTS BUTCHER SHOP. SO MY MOM REALLY DIDN’T HAVE MUCH IN TERMS OF MONEY FOR US GROWING UP. BUT WHAT SHE HAD WAS A TREMENDOUS FIGHT AND WORK ETHIC, AND I REALLY WATCHED THAT UP CLOSE. I WENT ON TO SWARTHMORE COLLEGE, VILLANOVA LAW SCHOOL, I WENT IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY, SERVED AS AN OFFICER THERE IN THE RESERVES. AND I’M STILL SERVING IN THE NATIONAL GUARD. I ALSO TOOK THAT BITE AND ENERGY AGAINST CORPORATE CHEATS IN MY ROLE AS A SECURITIES AND ANTITRUST LAWYER, TAKES ON THE BIGGEST CORPORATIONS WHO WEREN’T REALLY SERVING US IN PENNSYLVANIA. WHAT’S THE BIGGEST ISSUE YOU THINK RIGHT NOW THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHOULD BE TACKLING, AND ONE THAT YOU PLAN TO TACKLE IF YOU’RE ELECTED? I REALLY THINK THAT. OUR RIGHTS ARE UNDER ATTACK IN PENNSYLVANIA WITH TRUMP AS THE LIKELY NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT. ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, TRUMP, HE DOESN’T COME ALONE. HE BRINGS ALL OF HIS SPECIAL INTERESTS WITH HIM TO PENNSYLVANIA. AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS, THOSE SPECIAL INTERESTS. AND TRUMP AND MAGA REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO BE THREATENING OUR MOST FOUNDATIONAL, FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, LIKE ABORTION ACCESS, THE. VERY SACRED RIGHT TO VOTE. AND WE NEED AN ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO IS TESTED AND IS STOOD UP TO THOSE SPECIAL INTERESTS EACH AND EVERY TIME I AM THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL, BECAUSE BECAUSE I’VE DEMONSTRATED THROUGH MY WORK IN FIGHTING AND REVITALIZING HOUSING, BRINGING BACK MY NEIGHBORHOOD, IN TAKING ON THOSE CORPORATE ACTORS, IN MY ROLE AS A SECURITIES AND ANTITRUST LAWYER, TAKING ON POLITICAL CORRUPTION, POLITICAL ELITES, POLITICAL POWER BROKERS, NOT ONLY IN PHILADELPHIA BUT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE STATE. AND OF COURSE, FIGHTING FOR OUR NATION, OUR COUNTRY. IN MY ROLE IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND NATIONAL GUARD, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VIOLENCE AND GUNS, I’VE READ A LOT ABOUT ON YOUR WEBSITE ABOUT HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO TACKLE SOME OF THESE ISSUES. WE WANT OUR POLICE TO DEAL WITH THE HIGH TICKET BIG ISSUES, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING DRUG PREVENTION, ADDICTION, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, THAT SHOULD BE WE SHOULD DIVERT THAT TO THE REAL PROFESSIONALS. THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSION. SO WHAT I DID IS I LOCATED OUR NEW POLICE DISTRICT AND I BROUGHT RIGHT NEXT TO IT THE TOP OF THE LINE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER. NOW, WHAT HAPPENS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD? SOMEONE HAS AN INTERACTION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, PRESENTS WITH A MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE. THEY NOW CAN GET THE TREATMENT THAT THEY NEED. THAT’S ON THE ENFORCEMENT SIDE. ON THE INVESTMENT SIDE LOCALLY IN PHILADELPHIA, UNIVERSITY OF PENN HAS PUT OUT A STUDY ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO, YOU CAN GET 20% TO 22% REDUCTION ON A BLOCK PLAGUED BY GUN VIOLENCE, BY MAKING MODEST INVESTMENTS IN TERMS OF PICKING UP THE TRASH, LIGHTING UP A BLOCK, CAMERAS FIX HOUSING, UH, FIXING HOMES THAT HAVE FOLLOWED THAT, THAT THAT ARE NEED REPAIRS. IF YOU DO ALL OF THESE COLLECTIVE ONLY 22% REDUCTION YET WE HAVEN’T REALLY EMBRACED THIS MODEL THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH. I HAVE, FOR INSTANCE, I TOOK A BLIGHTED PARCEL REPURPOSE IT, TRANSFORM IT INTO A BEAUTIFUL NEW SPARKLING COMMUNITY PARK OVER NIGHT, CRIME WENT DOWN BY 37%. SO WE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE, CAN BEGIN. TO PUSH THESE INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT PENNSYLVANIA TO REDUCE CRIME. AND ON THE ENFORCEMENT INVESTMENT, UM, AND ON THE PROTECTION FROM SPECIAL INTERESTS. THAT’S SO CRITICAL. GUN MANUFACTURERS, WORKERS WHO MANUFACTURE GHOST GUNS VIOLATE PENNSYLVANIA LAW EVERY DAY. I’VE STOOD UP TO THEM IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WORK TO PUSH $2.5 MILLION INTO THE GUN VIOLENCE TASK FORCE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE LOCAL DA AND ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND WE DROVE RESOURCES TO THAT TASK FORCE TO REMOVE ILLEGAL GUNS OFF OF OUR STREETS. WE NEED TO DO THAT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE COMMONWEALTH. WHEN JOSH SHAPIRO WAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, HE OBVIOUSLY HAD TO NAVIGATE THE 2020 ELECTION AND THE ELECTION MEDDLING CLAIMS. IF THIS COMES UP AGAIN IN THE FUTURE, WHICH IT VERY WELL COULD, HOW WOULD YOU ENSURE THE FUTURE OF FAIR ELECTIONS AND TRANSPARENCY INTO THE SYSTEM, AS WELL AS ANY PROSECUTE FOR THOSE WHO BREAK THE LAW WHEN IT COMES TO THAT, WHAT I WOULD DO EARLY ON BEFORE AN ELECTION IS, IS I WOULD GO OUT TO THOSE COUNTIES THAT, UM, ARE MORE CONSERVATIVE, UH, FOR INSTANCE, FOREST, BEAVER COUNTY. AND THE REASON I SAY THIS IS BECAUSE WHEN I WAS ON THE STATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE AND THERE WERE QUESTIONS REPUBLICANS, TRUMP, REPUBLICANS WERE QUESTIONING THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION, THEY BROUGHT IN ALL OF THESE ELECTION COMMISSIONERS. AND WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY SAID? THEY SAID NONE. NOTHING TO SEE. HERE WE ARE. WE ARE PROFESSIONALS. WE ADMINISTERED THE ELECTION IN AN EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE WAY. NO PROPRIETARY IMPROPRIETIES AT ALL. I WOULD MAKE SURE THAT I WENT TO THOSE COUNTIES SO THAT FOLKS IN THOSE COUNTIES HEARD FROM THEIR LEADERS. ON WHETHER WE SHOULD BE QUESTIONING THE RESULTS OF OUR ELECTION, BECAUSE THOSE FOLKS. SAID UNEQUIVOCALLY, ABSOLUTELY NOT. WE’RE PROUD OF HOW WE ADMINISTERED AND HOW WE ADMINISTERED OUR ELECTIONS. FOR THOSE THAT ARE ARE TAMPERING WITH OUR ELECTIONS, OF COURSE, I WOULD BRING THE FULL FORCE OF MY OFFICE TO BEAR WHEN IT COMES TO THE VOTE. WE NEED TO BE WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE GET THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN EXCESSIVE ABILITY. THOSE MEASURES I TALKED ABOUT AND MAKING SURE THE VOTE IS SAFE AND SECURE. WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK. WELCOME BACK TO, FOR THE RECORD COVERING COMMITMENT 2024. NOW WE HEAR FROM ANOTHER CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR PENNSYLVANIA ATTORNEY GENERAL RIGHT NOW, JACK STOLLSTEIMER IS THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF DELAWARE COUNTY IN EASTERN PA. IT’S AN OFFICE THAT THE DEMOCRAT WAS FIRST INVOLVED IN AS AN ASSISTANT DA IN 2000. HE ALSO SERVED AS AN ASSISTANT U.S. ATTORNEY AND THE STATE’S SAFE SCHOOLS ADVOCATE, APPOINTED BY FORMER GOVERNOR ED RENDELL. HE TOLD ME HE WANTS TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE ON DAY ONE. IF HE’S ELECTED. WHAT? WHAT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND? DO YOU THINK MAKES YOU SO WELL SUITED FOR THIS JOB? I DO A LOT OF THE WORK THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES BECAUSE I’M THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF DELAWARE COUNTY. SO I WAS ELECTED FOUR YEARS AGO AS THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN DELAWARE COUNTY SINCE THE CIVIL WAR. AND I WAS REELECTED LAST YEAR BY AN OVERWHELMING MARGIN BECAUSE I’VE BEEN BOTH SMART AND TOUGH ON CRIME IN DELAWARE COUNTY. AND THAT’S WHAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF PENNSYLVANIA GETS TO DO AS WELL. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF PENNSYLVANIA IS THE COMMONWEALTH’S CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, AND ALSO GETS TO DO A LOT OF WORK PROTECTING OUR CONSUMERS, AS I’VE DONE THAT IN DELAWARE COUNTY. AND I THINK I’M PREPARED, DAY ONE TO BE YOUR ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY THAN YOUR PREDECESSORS WOULDN’T DO AS MUCH DIFFERENTLY? I WOULD JUST BUILD ON THE GREAT WORK THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL SHAPIRO HAS ALREADY DONE, TURNING THAT AGENCY AROUND AND PUTTING IT BEHIND THE BACKS OF THE PEOPLE OF PENNSYLVANIA. A LOT OF WHAT I WANT TO FOCUS ON IS WAGE THEFT. I’VE BEEN DOING THAT WORK IN DELAWARE COUNTY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL SHAPIRO. AND ALSO, I WANT TO DO A LOT MORE WORK ON GUN VIOLENCE. THAT’S MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, BOTH AS DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND IT WILL BE AS ATTORNEY GENERAL OF PENNSYLVANIA. SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE, YOU SPENT SOME TIME WORKING WITH. THE PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT, CORRECT? MY GOODNESS. THIS WEEK HAS BEEN HEARTBREAKING TO SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING IN PHILADELPHIA. WE HAVE VIOLENT CRIME IN PITTSBURGH AS WELL CONCERNING SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL STUDENTS, MAYBE NOT EVEN ON SCHOOL PROPERTY, BUT YOUNG PEOPLE IN UNEXPECTED PLACES AND UNEXPECTED TIMES. UM, COMMITTING ACTS OF VIOLENCE. HOW DO WE FIX THAT? IT’S AN EPIDEMIC IN THIS COUNTRY OF YOUNG PEOPLE GETTING ACCESS TO FIREARMS, WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE THEM WHEN THEY DON’T HAVE IMPULSE CONTROL BUILT INTO THEIR BODIES YET AND ARE USING THEM TO COMMIT VIOLENT, VIOLENT ACTS. NOT RECENTLY IN DELAWARE COUNTY, I HAD TO CHARGE A 15 YEAR OLD KID WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER FOR USING A GHOST GUN TO KILL ANOTHER 15 YEAR OLD BOY OVER A MEANINGLESS DISPUTE. THAT’S THE KIND OF WORK WE NEED TO DO IN THIS COMMUNITY, BRINGING THE COMMUNITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TOGETHER TO SOLVE THESE KIND OF PROBLEMS. I BUILT THE CHESTER PARTNERSHIP FOR SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS. WE BROUGHT THE COMMUNITY LAW ENFORCEMENT TOGETHER AROUND A STRATEGY TO FOCUS ON THE 1% OF PEOPLE WHO COMMIT 75 TO 80% OF THOSE SHOOTINGS. WE’VE GIVEN THEM A PATH TO WAY OUT OF THAT CRIMINAL LIFE, BUT WE’RE GOING TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE IF THEY DON’T TAKE IT. IN FOUR YEARS, WE’VE REDUCED THE NUMBER OF SHOOTINGS IN THE CITY OF CHESTER BY 72%. THE NUMBER OF GUN HOMICIDES ARE DOWN BY 68%. THERE IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WE JUST ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK WORKED IN YOUR STRATEGY IN YOUR COUNTY IN CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ABOUT REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE AND HOW DID YOU GET TO THAT SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE AND WHAT WAS THAT STRATEGY THAT WORKED? IF YOU FOCUS ON THE 1% OF PEOPLE WHO COMMIT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE VIOLENT ACTS AND KNOWING THAT THEY RUN IN GROUPS TOGETHER, YOU CAN INFLUENCE THEIR BEHAVIOR. WE OFFER THEM A CARROT. WE’LL HELP YOU GET OUT OF THIS LIFE. IF YOU LET US. I’VE DONE THINGS LIKE PAY FOR CDL LICENSE, TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO GET OUT OF, PUT THE GUNS DOWN AND GET OUT OF THE CRIMINAL LIFE. BUT WE’RE GOING TO STOP YOU IF YOU MAKE US AND WE DELIVER THAT MESSAGE TO THEM, WE ACTUALLY DO WHAT ARE CALLED CALL INS, WHERE YOU BRING IN THESE GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE ON PROBATION FROM PREVIOUS CONTACTS WITH LAW. ENFORCEMENT, AND WE BRING THEM IN AND WE JUST TELL THEM THE TRUTH. WE’RE GOING TO HELP YOU GET OUT OF THIS LIFE, BUT WE’RE GOING TO STOP YOU IF YOU DON’T. AND ONCE THEY SEE THAT THERE ARE ACTUAL CONSEQUENCES, THAT YOU MEAN WHAT YOU SAY, YOU CAN SEE CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, HOW WOULD YOU IMPACT THAT TO MAKE THE VOTERS HERE IN THIS STATE, UM, FEEL LIKE AND ACTUALIZE A FREE, FAIR ELECTION THAT’S TRANSPARENT AND TOTALLY LEGAL? YEAH. FIRST, PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW THAT WE DO HAVE FREE, FAIR AND ELECTIONS THAT ARE TOTALLY TRANSPARENT IN PENNSYLVANIA. WE HAD THEM FOUR YEARS AGO. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE THEM AGAIN THEN THIS YEAR. I CAN TELL YOU FROM MY EXPERIENCE AS THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF OUR FIFTH LARGEST COUNTY, WE HAVE FAIR ELECTIONS. WE’VE HAD TO INVESTIGATE THESE ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD. IN DELAWARE COUNTY. THERE’S A GROUP IN DELAWARE COUNTY THAT HAS CLAIMED THAT JOE BIDEN STOLE THE NATIONAL ELECTION IN 2020. RIGHT. IN MY COUNTY, AS CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, WE INVESTIGATED EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEIR COMPLAINTS. ALL OF THEM WERE WERE GROUNDLESS, EXCEPT WE DID FIND ONE PERSON WHO ILLEGALLY FRAUDULENTLY VOTED THEIR DEAD MOTHER FOR DONALD TRUMP. WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS, AND IT DIDN’T MATTER WHO THEY VOTED FOR, WHO HE VOTED HIS DEAD MOTHER FOR, THE FACT THAT HE DID VOTE HIS DEAD MOTHER AND GOT CAUGHT IS THE IMPORTANT THING. SO THERE ARE ALWAYS HOLES IN THE SYSTEM. THERE IS NO ABILITY TO DO BROAD. YOU KNOW, STEALING OF ELECTIONS. BUT IN SMALL INSTANCES, PEOPLE CAN TRY TO COMMIT VOTER FRAUD, BUT THEY USUALLY GET CAUGHT. WHEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WORKING THE POLLS WHO ARE PART OF THAT COMMUNITY, WHO AREN’T AFRAID TO DO THEIR CIVIC DUTY AND PROTECTING OUR ELECTIONS, WE ALL HAVE TO BE BEHIND PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO WORK WITHOUT FEAR OR CONSEQUENCES AT A POLLING PLACE. THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY IS ALL ABOUT. IT’S WHAT MY FAMILY CAME TO THIS COUNTRY AFTER FLEEING A NAZI SLAVE LABOR CAMP. THIS IS WHAT WE CAME TO THIS COUNTRY FOR, TO HAVE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS. I CAN TELL YOU, AS A CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF DELAWARE COUNTY, AND WHEN I’M ATTORNEY GENERAL OF PENNSYLVANIA, I’M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO MAKE SURE OUR DEMOCRACY CONTINUES TO SURVIVE. AND WHY SHOULD PEOPLE VOTE FOR YOU? BECAUSE I’M THE BEST CANDIDATE BOTH TO WIN THIS ELECTION, BUT ALSO TO GOVERN, TO DO THE WORK AS ATTORNEY GENERAL. I DO THAT WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY IN A SIMILAR CONTEXT AS THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF YOUR FIFTH LARGEST COUNTY IN THE COMMONWEALTH. IF YOU CHECK OUT MY RECORD OF REDUCING GUN VIOLENCE, OF REFORMING OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN DELAWARE COUNTY, OF STANDING UP FOR WORKERS THROUGH WAGE THEFT SCHEMES AND HOLDING PEOPLE CRIMINALLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT. YOU CAN SEE THAT I’M THE BEST PREPARED DAY ONE TO BE THE PEOPLE’S ATTORNEY. AS ATTORNEY GENERAL OF PENNSYLVANIA. AND WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK. WELCOME BACK TO, FOR THE RECORD, IF YOU HAVE A TOPIC YOU’D LIKE US TO ADDRESS, SEND US AN EMAIL. TO NEWS@WTAE.COM. YOU CAN ALSO REWATCH THIS EPISODE OR ANY EPISODE WITH THE VERY LOCAL APP ON YOUR SMARTPHONE, TABLET OR SMART TV. THANKS FOR JOINING US AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK!