Election guide: What Democrat Mike Walker will do if elected to PA's 6th state House seat

Meadville's Mike Walker is the Democratic candidate for the 6th District, state House seat representing portions of Crawford and Erie counties, including Albion and Cranesville boroughs and Conneaut, Elk Creek and Springfield townships.

He is challenging Republican incumbent Brad Roae, of East Mead Township, in the Nov. 5 general election.

Walker, 43, is married and has been working since age 14, first delivering the Meadville Tribune. A Meadville Area Senior High School graduate, he attended Edinboro University before working at Peters' Heat Treat, where he became a manager and earned Metal Treating Institute certifications.

Walker partnered with friends to open Blissful Meads winery in Meadville in 2020. He currently works part-time at Vallonia Industries and volunteers at the Crawford County Fair and for his Masonic lodge, delivering holiday toys to a women's shelter.

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

Walker's reason for running, priorities, future plans

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

Answer: I lived in NWPA my whole life and watched it fade. People who want to improve the area are frustrated with not having someone to work with to bring opportunities here. I decided that instead of complaining, I needed to step up and run for office.

If elected, what would be your priorities?

Helping local government create the framework to accept and distribute state and federal funds. I would push to update infrastructure such as water and sewer lines, bridges and power. I want to give this area the foundation it needs to create new opportunities for the future, and I want to bring in independent inspectors to work on bringing this area up to ADA compliance.

What unique perspective would you bring to the office?

I am familiar with working hard and building things from the bottom up. I started out as blue-collar, worked in heat treatment for 15 years and worked my way up to management. Then I helped start a business from concept to brick and mortar store. This, and that I lived here my whole life, means that I am uniquely qualified to see what needs to change in our area and do the hard work to help that along.

How would you help the region on the state level in Harrisburg?

I want to make sure that state and federal funds come into the region to help update aging infrastructure. And I plan to work to make Woodcock Creek Park part of the state parks system. This is just the start. Harrisburg is where we need more voices from rural areas like ours to speak up and make progress work for us instead of leaving us behind.

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Contact Valerie Myers at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: PA Elections: Mike Walker outlines experience, goals for state House