Art Haywood

by Brendan Sample

As he looks to secure a second term in office as State Senator for Pennsylvania’s 4th District, incumbent Democrat Art Haywood still has plenty of goals he is looking to achieve in a prospective second term. With Election Day coming up on Nov. 6, the Local recently spoke with Haywood about some of his biggest accomplishments from his first term and his hopes for a second term.

One of Haywood’s top priorities for his next term is also what he cites as his greatest disappointment from the past four years: raising the minimum wage. Despite not being able to do so in his first term, Haywood feels that it is something that can still realistically get done.

He will also be pushing for both legislation that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and a severance tax on natural gas drillers, the revenue from which would go toward public education. Haywood is confident that all three goals can be enacted over the next four years, even if the Senate majority remains Republican.

In terms of his accomplishments from his first term, Haywood was most proud of Senate Bill 919, which passed through both the Senate and House on Oct. 17, as he was the lead sponsor. The bill requires housing authorities to either relocate victims of domestic violence and sexual assault to public housing units, give them a housing voucher or referral to an agency where they can get housing.

A “close second” were his efforts as the lead negotiator on a bill that put lead testing of water requirements in the Pennsylvania Public School Code. School districts now either have to test for lead in the water of their schools, or hold a public hearing on why they are not testing.

As a first-term senator, there was plenty for Haywood to learn in Harrisburg, and he said he has learned a lot after four years serving the 4th District. The most important lesson he has learned has been about the process of enacting change, as he has been able to see firsthand the kind of time and effort to pass laws on a state level.

“It takes four or more years of consistent advocacy by statewide coalitions to get legislation passed,” Haywood said. “It’s not fast and it takes a statewide coalition, not just one town or two towns. It’s a big state.”

During his election efforts, Haywood has been part of a statewide campaign called “Turn PA Blue.” The group is looking to unseat Republicans at every level across the state in favor of electing Democrats. Haywood has focused his efforts for the group on supporting suburban candidates in Chester, Delaware and Western Montgomery counties, feeling that this is an important issue not only for Pennsylvania, but for the entire country.

“In order to save the nation, we need Democrats to check the Republican radical agenda,” Haywood said. “We can’t change Harrisburg without changing the people we send to Harrisburg. It’s going to take a regional response to change Harrisburg, not just a Philadelphia response. I’m confident that southeast Pennsylvania is now moving to get the Republicans out.”

For more information on the 4th District race, check out our profile on Republican candidate Ron Holt here. Brendan Sample can be reached at brendan@chestnuthilllocal.com