Ballotpedia, Patricia Lawton

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Patricia was born in Denver, Colorado, but moved to northeastern Pennsylvania where she attended Wyalusing Valley High School. She earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree from Bloomsburg University, as well as a doctorate in administration and leadership studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. 

Patricia is an assistant professor in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department at the Commonwealth University/Bloomsburg (formerly Bloomsburg University). She has previously worked as a school district speech language pathologist and the director of a university program for school-based speech language pathologists.

Patricia Lawton previously ran for the Pennsylvania State Senate in District 27 in 2023's special election, but she did not win.

Advocates for affordable, high-quality internet access for rural areas.

Wants to address the declining younger population by creating jobs and opportunities for young people to stay in the area.

- Advocates for affordable, high-quality internet access for rural areas.
- Wants to address the declining younger population by creating jobs and opportunities for young people to stay in the area.

Economy

Facebook

Supports "adequate funding in public education to include strengthening our vocational-technical schools."

Supports funding vocational-technical schools.

Said, "I have witnessed the struggles of students in learning, the frustrations of teachers boxed in a system of inadequate funding and poor policies, and our youth strapped with educational debt."

Believes that teachers are "boxed in a system of inadequate funding and poor policies."

- Supports funding vocational-technical schools.
- Believes that teachers are "boxed in a system of inadequate funding and poor policies."
- Opposes "book banning."

Education

Wants to address mental health, drug addiction, and alcohol addiction.

Prioritizes addressing mental health, drug addiction, and alcohol addiction.

- Supports abortion access.
- Prioritizes addressing mental health, drug addiction, and alcohol addiction.

Healthcare

Said, "We face many challenges, yet they can not be addressed unless we protect our democracy."

Said, "Having elected officials with diverse backgrounds and knowledge would only make politics and government stronger and more effective."

Believes that having elected officials with "diverse backgrounds and knowledge" rather than a "system of lawyers and career polticians" would make government "stronger and more effective."

Said, "We need a fair process of redistricing where independent citizens are commissioned to redistrict with clear rules and guidelines to follow and informed by data. We can not allow politicians alone to control redistricting as it leads to corruption in order to maintain power and not benefit the residents."

Supports drawing legislative districts using independent commissions, rather than allowing elected officials to create districts, saying "we can not allow politicians alone to control redistricting as it leads to corruption in order to maintain power and not benefit the residents."

- Said, "We face many challenges, yet they can not be addressed unless we protect our democracy."
- Believes that having elected officials with "diverse backgrounds and knowledge" rather than a "system of lawyers and career polticians" would make government "stronger and more effective."
- Supports drawing legislative districts using independent commissions, rather than allowing elected officials to create districts, saying "we can not allow politicians alone to control redistricting as it leads to corruption in order to maintain power and not benefit the residents."

Voting & Elections

Said, "Our first responders like police officers, fire fighters, and emergency medical professionals require good wages and the resources they need to focus on their missions."

Supports providing first responders including police officers, fire fighters, and emergency medical professionals with "good wages and the resources they need to focus on their missions."

Believes that emergency powers should not hinder state government and governor's ability to respond effectively in emergencies.

Believes that concerns about granting emergency powers should not get in the way of the government's ability to respond effectively in emergencies.

Supports gun control and "common sense protections like red flag laws in Pennsylvania."

Supports gun control and "common sense protections like red flag laws," citing gun violence as the "#1 killer of children in the U.S."

- Supports providing first responders including police officers, fire fighters, and emergency medical professionals with "good wages and the resources they need to focus on their missions."
- Believes that concerns about granting emergency powers should not get in the way of the government's ability to respond effectively in emergencies.
- Supports gun control and "common sense protections like red flag laws," citing gun violence as the "#1 killer of children in the U.S."

Public Safety

Wants to preserve the environment while working towards energy independence and transitioning to renewable energy.

Wants to preserve the environment by transitioning to renewable energy while working towards energy independence.

- Wants to preserve the environment by transitioning to renewable energy while working towards energy independence.

Energy & the Environment

Twitter

Patricia Lea Lawton

Patricia was born in Denver, Colorado, but moved to northeastern Pennsylvania where she attended Wyalusing Valley High School. She holds a bachelors degree and masters degree from Bloomsburg University, as well as a doctorate in Administration and Leadership Studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. 

Patricia Lawton previously ran for Pennsylvania State Senate in the 27th district in 2023's special election, but did not win.

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Pennsylvania State Senate. The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Pennsylvania General Assembly. 
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process.
- The State Senator and their staff members respond to constituent concerns and questions through emails, phone calls, and website announcements. 
- The State Senator oversees the executive branch and can vote to overrule a veto by the Governor.   
- There are 50 Pennsylvania state senators, each representing a single district.
- Senators must be at least 25 years old, U.S. citizens, and residents of Pennsylvania for four years. They must also have lived in their district for one year before the election and must remain there throughout their term.
- State senators are elected to four-year terms and have a salary of $106,000, with a 1-3% annual increase.  