Brews & Views

In 2015, Martina White became the first new Republican elected to the State Legislature in Philadelphia in 25 years. Now, as the newly elected chair of the Republican Party of Philadelphia, she faces the challenge of revitalizing a party in need of a resurgence. In this conversation with Commonwealth Partners president and CEO Matt Brouillette, Martina talks about her priorities in the State Legislature, what it’s like being a Republican in Philadelphia, and her approach of setting achievable goals that will produce results.

Chris Frye made history on Election Day by being elected the first black mayor of New Castle, Pennsylvania. His historic win also crossed party lines, as Democrats in New Castle far outnumber Republicans in voter registration, and Chris is a Republican. In this conversation, Chris shares his compelling story of growing up on the welfare system then coming full circle and going to work for the same agency that helped his family when they moved to Pennsylvania. He also talks about why he ran, the moment he decided he was a Republican, and his vision for leading a restoration of hope in New Castle.

You might say PA State Representative Dawn Keefer grew up with small business in her DNA. Coming from an entrepreneurial family, she launched her own business and didn't intend to run for office. In this conversation with Commonwealth Partners president and CEO Matt Brouillette, Rep. Keefer shares the tipping point that inspired her to run, tells one thing she was never asked while knocking on more than 5,000 doors, and discloses her biggest frustration in Harrisburg, as well as her motivation!

Former Mayor Rick Gray spent 12 years leading the Red Rose City—Lancaster, PA. As a lifelong student of American government and history, Rick kept charts in high school of how U.S. Senators voted on various issues. In this episode, Rick talks about his time leading Pennsylvania’s eighth-largest city and addresses the state of partisanship today.

From baseball umpire to … state legislator? That’s the path of Representative Jesse Topper, who also has the somewhat unique experience among legislators of having earned a degree in music. In this episode, Rep. Topper talks about his transition from umpire to lawmaker and how sports prepared him for public service. He also dives into his work on the House Education Committee and explains how limiting educational opportunity for students hurts traditional public schools.

Teacher, principal, superintendent, secretary of education, teachers’ union executive director—Dr. Carolyn Dumaresq knows education inside-out. Now, she’s fighting opposition in an effort to open a charter school in Harrisburg. In this conversation with Commonwealth Partners president and CEO Matt Brouillette, Dr. Dumaresq shares how someone who once worked for the state’s biggest teachers’ union today is a charter school advocate (hint: it’s the union that’s changed its position), and tells why some say her life has “gone to the dogs.”

Founded in 1909, the Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association (PMA) has worked consistently for more than a century to advance pro-growth public policies in the state. PMA President & CEO David Taylor joins Commonwealth Partners President & CEO Matt Brouillette to talk about the strength and intricacies of the state's manufacturing industry and how PA should aim high in unleashing the growth potential of the manufacturing sector.

Pennsylvania’s Gov. Tom Wolf recently took aim at public charter schools, threatening to cut their funding and limit options for even more students. Ana Meyers, the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools, joins Commonwealth Partners president and CEO Matt Brouillette to set the record straight on how these schools are helping kids traditional public schools leave behind.

Chester County, PA, located outside Philadelphia, went from red to blue between the 2016 and 2018 elections. Is this the beginning of a trend?Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry president Guy Ciarrocchi talks with Commonwealth Partners president & CEO Matt Brouillette about the county's economic growth, how educational opportunity is actually an economic issue, and whether 2018 was a political anomaly or the county is blue to stay.

State Representative Frank Ryan is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel and CPA who specialized in saving companies from bankruptcy. Now, he's taking on one of Pennsylvania's most angst-inducing issues: property taxes. In this conversation with Commonwealth Partners president and CEO Matt Brouillette, Rep. Ryan discusses how he got into politics, his school property tax elimination plan, and his intent to walk across America--again.