Last week, we blogged that we’re going to open up the blog to local candidates. We offered them the opportunity to make one final case as to why they deserve their vote and why they are the best candidate for the job. Our caveat to everyone was that we didn’t want personal attacks or other negative stuff.

Today, we have an editorial from Cindy Purvis. She’s running for the Pennsylvania State Senate from the 49th District on the Democratic ticket. Thank you to Cindy for writing this editorial.

Our families are struggling. They are struggling to afford the health care they need. To pay their energy bills. To find the jobs necessary to support their families. To provide the education that their children need and deserve. We need new leadership in Harrisburg, we need a new direction.

I am running for the Pennsylvania Senate to do just that. I decided to run this year because I saw that our government in Harrisburg wasn’t working. Over the last few years I have been working on the issue of health care reform. As the co-chair of the organization Health Care for All Pennsylvania I traveled around the state working on this issue. Over 700,000 Pennsylvanian’s are without health care in this state and thousands more are underinsured, unable to afford care.

I was frustrated by the lack of progress in Harrisburg as we tried to move legislation that would provide comprehensive coverage to all Pennsylvanians. It was this frustration, this lack of progress that motivated me to run for the State Senate. I know that we can do better. I know that we can achieve more in our state.

The health care reform that I support, House Bill 1660 and Senate Bill 300, will provide comprehensive coverage to every Pennsylvanian. In the Senate we already have 6 co-sponsors and in the House there are 40. The governor has agreed to sign this legislation if it can reach his desk. Passing this bill will not only provide the health care the citizens of our state deserve but will also provide great saving to our state and local governments. In Erie County alone the county government will save $ 5 million, the school district $ 9 million and the city of Erie almost $ 5 million.

Imagine what we can do with this money. We can repair our deteriorating infrastructure. We can improve our schools and make sure that our children have the best in educational opportunities. We can invest in renewable energy and green industries. Such an investment will help position Erie County and Pennsylvania as a leader in these technologies and the energy economy of tomorrow. This will not only create thousands of good jobs but will help us lower the high costs of energy. It is simply a win-win.

I have run a grassroots campaign this year. I have personally knocked on thousands of doors and with my staff and volunteers we have spoken to over 20,000 Erie County families. We have found that the people of Erie County are hungry for change, hungry for a new direction not only for our country but also for our state. Together we can accomplish these reforms.

I understand these issues not only having talked to so many, but also because I have dealt with them myself. Running a small business, raising my three children and now watching them raise their families has afforded me a personal understanding of the struggles that face our families. With a change in Harrisburg we can create new economic opportunities, reform our broken health care system and provide our children with the best in educational opportunities.

This year promises a long-needed change in Washington. Our next President will also need new leadership at the state and local levels to enact reforms. I will work in concert with federal officials to put our economy back on track and reform our health care system.

From my experiences reforming health care, owning a small business, working in the non-profit sector, and as a wife and mother, I know how to address the problems facing our community. We have listened to the concerns of citizens across this district and working together we can address these problems. And I will work tirelessly in Harrisburg to do so.