Barbara McIlvaine Smith

McIlvaine Smith wins seat after tight recount, brings PA House under Dem control!

Barbara McIlvaine Smith, a member of the Sac and Fox tribe of Oklahoma, is vice president of the Borough of West Chester Council and a small business owner and former schoolteacher. She shares the priorities of Chester County families and will work hard for their health, happiness, and prosperity.

Healthcare for All is Good for All
Spiraling costs for healthcare for the uninsured doesn’t just cost them money, Barbara says. When families cannot afford medical care, they often wait until a condition has become so severe that it warrants a trip to the emergency room. That treatment is expensive, and it’s a cost we all must pay. Ensuring adequate, affordable healthcare for everyone is not only fair, it’s efficient. Barbara will fight to widen access to healthcare and for programs that keep people healthy: prenatal care, primary care for children, and prescription drugs for all senior citizens.

A Better Future for Pennsylvania
As a former schoolteacher and as a longtime advocate for the environment, Barbara values the importance of a secure, prosperous, and responsible future for the people of Pennsylvania. She will work to restore state funding of public education to previous levels and will seek ways to keep Pennsylvania’s best and brightest young people in the state and contributing to its success. Education is essential for an innovative, sustainable economy that preserves the natural beauty of Pennsylvania. As an environmental advocate, Barbara understands the importance of smart growth, renewable energies, and untainted resources for the future prosperity of the state.

The Situation
Barbara McIlvaine Smith faces in the general election a right-wing Republican opponent who has worked primarily as a Republican operative. She pledges to represent people’s interests, not the special interests that too often control the lawmakers in Harrisburg. Barbara’s record of service to community, families, and the environment make her the ideal candidate for the people of District 156.