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Consultant to take on Schroder in 155th

West Pikeland resident Barbara Bergeron announces plans to run for state House seat as a Democrat

Friday, March 5, 2010

By DAN KRISTIE, Staff Writer

Barbara Bergeron, a business consultant from West Pikeland, announced Thursday that she will seek the Democratic nomination to run against state Rep. Curt Schroder, R-155th, of East Brandywine.

Bergeron, who received the County Democratic Committee’s endorsement on Feb. 20, said that she believes Schroder, who was elected to the State House in 1994, has rarely faced real electoral competition.

“I’ve watched Curt Schroder run every term unopposed,” Bergeron said. “he’s never been held accountable for a number of his votes.”

For example, she said, she believes Schroder has never been called to account for his support for the controversial 2005 legislative pay raise, as well as his votes on property tax reform and pension reform bills.

She added that she believes the 155th District needs a representative who is not entrenched in the partisan atmosphere in Harrisburg.

“Voters have become so frustrated with the level of partisanship in politics these days,” Bergeron said. “I don’t think that someone as entrenched in the system is capable of solving our problems.”

Bergeron characterized herself as a moderate. She said she believes society benefits through competition and entrepreneurship. But, she said, the government should balance “social responsibility with business.”

She said that, to her, a government that is socially responsible provides to its citizens public education and Social Security benefits.

Bergeron said that she is a strong supporter of public schools, and believes charter schools are useful when they can provide an alternative to poorly performing traditional public schools. But, she said, she does not support school vouchers.

She said that she believes property tax reform should be of top importance to the legislature. School property taxes, she said, are a large burden on people in the 155th District.

She said that she would seek to cut property taxes by cutting government waste, but she didn’t specify which programs she would cut. And, she said she was not yet ready to discuss her other ideas about how the state’s tax structure ought to change.

She added that she believes the state has dramatically slashed the budget for environmental protection, and that she believes the environment should be a larger priority.

Bergeron said that she is pro-choice, but thinks abortion should not be used as a means of birth control.

“There are a lot of gray areas (when it comes to abortion),” and I think a lot of people recognize that.”

She said that she is in favor of allowing civil unions between same-sex couples, and supports gun rights. But, she said, she believes the sale of assault rifles should be restricted.

To contact staff writer Dan Kristie, send an e-mail to dkristie@dailylocal.com.

URL: http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2010/03/05/news/srv0000007750536.prt

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