Election 2016: PA 5th Congressional District

CNET hosted candidates for the 2016 general election for interviews conducted by StateCollege.com editor Geoff Rushton. In the days leading up to the Nov. 8 election, we will be sharing the interviews with candidates for Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District, Pennsylvania Auditor General, and the 77th, 76th, 81st, and 171st State House Districts.

THE RACE
Pennsylvania’s 5th Congressional District. The 5th Congressional District is Pennsylvania’s largest and represents Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Venango and Warren counties, and parts of Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Huntingdon and Tioga counties.

THE INCUMBENT
Republican Glenn Thompson of Howard, Centre County, is seeking his fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Thompson first won election in 2008. He is a member of the Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Education & Workforce Committees. He spent 28 years as a therapist, rehabilitation services manager and a licensed nursing home administrator, and he served on the Bald Eagle Area School Board. For more than 30 years he served as a volunteer firefighter. He has a bachelor’s degree from Penn State and a master’s degree from Temple. Thompson ran unopposed in the Republican primary

THE CHALLENGER
Democrat Kerith Strano Taylor of Brookville, Jefferson County, is challenging Thompson for the second time, having previously won the Democratic nomination in 2014. A family law attorney, Strano Taylor is owner of the Taylor Law Firm and since 2004 has served as Guardian ad-Lidem for Jefferson County, representing children who find themselves in the foster care system. Since 2013 she has conducted conciliation conferences for families who are unrepresented by counsel in Jefferson County court. Strano Talyor also has served on the Brookville Area School Board. She has a bachelor’s degree from Penn State and a law degree from George Mason. Strano Taylor ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.

THE ISSUES
In their CNET interviews, Thompson and Strano Taylor discuss their views on a range of issues, including health care, wages, tax reform, energy policy, immigration, terrorism and their qualifications to represent the 5th District.

Watch the interviews with Thompson and Strano Taylor below