Election guide: What Democrat Joe Cancilla will do if elected to Pa.'s 4th state House seat

This story has been updated to change the video.

Democrat Joe Cancilla is running for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, challenging incumbent Republican Jake Banta for the 4th legislative district, which represents nearly all of Erie County.

Cancilla, of North East, works in retail and healthcare management and is also a volunteer firefighter. A graduate of Penn State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in management, Cancilla is a North East Community Board member, a Meals on Wheels board member and a former member of the North East School Board.

Pennsylvania Voter Guide: The who, what, where & when of the 2024 election

Cancilla, 35, is single.

His answers to Erie Times-News questions were edited for length and clarity.

Cancilla’s reason for seeking office, top priorities

Question: Why did you decide to run for this office?

Answer: I decided to run because we need more common sense legislatures that will listen to the people’s concerns and today’s issues, not the legislature’s personal agenda. More and more is getting pushed to the state level, like women’s reproductive rights. We need legislatures that will protect those rights as I would and elect the right state representative.

If elected, what would you consider your top priorities?

Some of my top priorities are: Make sure women’s rights are protected and the right to choose; our public schools are funded and competitive; LGBTQ+ rights are protected; minimum wage is increased; and our seniors and veterans aren’t forgotten about.

What unique perspective would you bring to the office?

My unique perspective is that I have no personal agenda and I have common sense. I will fight for what the constituents want, not what just a small minority of the constituents want. I can work well with others even if I disagree. I can compromise when it comes to the greater good of the commonwealth.

How do you plan to help Erie on a state level in Harrisburg?

As I’ve stated before I will help by working with Republicans on issues and compromising where we can instead of reaching no deals at all. Working with my peers in the Erie area and statewide to make sure Erie is a competitive area in the commonwealth.

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A.J. Rao can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X @ETNRao.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Q&A: Democrat Joe Cancilla outlines goals for 4th Dist., state House