The 176th legislative district includes Chestnuthill, Eldred, Jackson, Pocono, Polk, Tobyhanna and Tunkhannock townships and Mount Pocono borough. The following Information is supplied by the Monroe County League of Women Voters.

Claudette Williams

Democrat

Address:

Mount Pocono

Qualifications:

Currently the president of borough council, one of the commissioners of the Regional Police and the chairwoman of the Monroe County Democratic Party. I am a retired U.S. Army sergeant major, a rank that is held by less than 1 percent of the Armed Forces.

What are your top three priorities in office?

1. Promote creation of skilled jobs with fair wages for residents. 2. Strengthen families and communities through support of public education and human services. 3. Protect veterans and seniors from budget cuts.

Do you support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen’s redistricting commission? Why or why not?

Yes, I would support independent citizens redistricting. It ensures the voices and concerns of the voters are heard, instead of politicians who only want redistricting to ensure they get re-elected by setting their own lines.

Which voting modernization reforms (such as no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, same-day voter registration, additional funding for voting technology upgrades) would you support to ensure that our elections are accessible, efficient and secure?

No excuse absentee voting — Yes. Same-day registration — Yes, as long as the voter registration databases are linked, and valid government-issued ID is presented. Additional funding — Yes, to update voting machines and databases.

Jack Rader

Republican

Address:

Jackson Township

Qualifications:

Successful small business owner, township supervisor 28 years, State Representative 2014-present

What are your top three priorities in office?

My priorities are what the people of the 176th District have told me are important to them: fiscal discipline in state government, supporting education, and school property tax elimination. That’s why I stopped income and sales tax increases (that didn’t eliminate property taxes), voted for record funding for our local schools, and continue to support measures to provide property tax relief as we continue the fight for full elimination.

Do you support reforming our congressional and legislative redistricting process to implement an independent citizen’s redistricting commission? Why or why not?

I do not support gerrymandering and believe there is a greater role for citizens in the process. That said, moving to a system that is completely unaccountable by cutting out the legislature is shortsighted. If legislators do their job — which is to bring important local knowledge to the process — while putting aside politics and being overseen by the Supreme Court then the system can work.

Which voting modernization reforms (such as no-excuse absentee voting, early voting, same day voter registration, additional funding for voting technology upgrades) would you support to ensure that our elections are accessible, efficient, and secure?

I support reforms such as preregistration for 17-year-olds, making absentee balloting easier, and technology upgrades that improve the access and security of voting.