Christopher Pielli

Christopher Pielli graduated from East Senior High School in 1984. Pielli served in the U.S. Army from 1989 to 1995. He earned a bachelor's degree from Temple University in 1988 and a J.D. from Temple University in 2000. Pielli's career experience includes working as a government administrator.[1][2][3][4]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I've built my career around service to our country and community starting with serving in the U.S. Army to my current service as State Representative for House District 156. I’m an attorney by trade, in good standing in NY, NJ, and PA, but have been a soldier, a teacher, a Correctional Officer/Counselor, a Veteran’s advocate, and more. Most importantly, I am a husband and father. Long ago I pledged to support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic, and I am resolved to make that pledge again to all of you. As your State Representative I will continue fighting with every fiber of my being to give us a living wage, provide affordable housing and healthcare, protect our environment, our voting rights, a woman’s right to choose, our local economy, your children's education, and a citizen’s right to enjoy the equal protection of the law no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion, because Government that doesn’t work for everyone inevitably will not work for anyone.

For more information on my background please visit https://www.chrispielli.com/about-chris.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Affordability is our most pressing issue. Affordable housing, healthcare, childcare, utilities, education, and even food remain too costly for too many of our residents. Our caucus has consistently fought for and won historic firsts for PA’s working families like a Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit, PA Child & Dependent Care Tax Credits, and increased spending for our children’s education. We recently passed HB200 for Paid Family Leave, HB1834 to protect consumers utility bills from Data Centers, and again passed a bill to raise the minimum wage (HB2189) that the State Senate chooses to continually ignore. It’s time for them to stop supporting tax breaks for billionaires and service cuts and start helping our working families.The impact late budgets have on our community is devastating. We can focus on the biggest sticking point first-the lack of revenue to address rising costs. My caucus and I seek to address that issue without raising individual taxes, by supporting new revenue generating bills like legalizing marijuana, taxing skill games, closing corporate net income loopholes, and even raising the minimum wage which would not only benefit working Pennsylvanians and the overall economy but also bring in $53.3 million in estimated revenue & save $300 million in Medical Assistance benefit costs. Pass these first and then budget accordingly. The Senate remains silent on all of these proposals without offering any of their own except unacceptable cuts.I worked across the aisle to pass several laws with bi-partisan support. Despite the current divisiveness, we should work on what we can agree on. We can agree that the middle class is shrinking. For decades our wages and savings have not kept pace with the cost of living. Working families find it more and more difficult to put food on the table, pay medical bills, find affordable housing, and educate their children. Service cuts and tax breaks for billionaires are not working. It’s time to seek solutions, not culture wars, and fight for our jobs, our homes, and our future. It’s time to raise the minimum wage, to pass our Paid Family Leave bill and expand the Working Families Tax Credits and Dependent and Child Care Tax credits.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

For more information on my legislative and policy initiatives, please visit https://www.palegis.us/house/members/bio/1975/rep-pielli

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I've built my career around service to our country and community starting with serving in the U.S. Army to my current service as State Representative for HD156. I’m an attorney by trade barred in NY, NJ, and PA but I have been a soldier, a teacher, a Correctional Counselor/Officer, Veteran’s advocate, and more. Most importantly, I am a husband and father. Long ago I pledged to support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic and I am resolved to make that pledge again to all of you. As your State Representative I will continue fighting with every fiber of my being to give us a living wage, protect our environment, our voting rights, a woman’s right to choose, our local economy, your children's education, and a citizen’s right to enjoy the equal protection of the law no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion, because Government that doesn’t work for everyone inevitably will not work for anyone.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I can’t limit it to three. I feel that there are too many policy priorities that have been neglected for too long and must be addressed immediately. Priorities such as Jobs, Infrastructure, the Environment, the Protection of our Voting Rights, Proper Funding for Public Education, Business Development, common sense Gun Safety Laws, Women’s Reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, regulation and protection from dangerous uses of Artificial Intelligence, a minimum wage increase, and the Defense of our Republic and our Constitutional Rights are all in dire need of immediate attention. Despite a one seat majority, our Caucus was able to pass over 200 bills that tried to address most of these issues and more. Unfortunately, of those 200+ bills wePlease See Above.Please See Above.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Jobs, Infrastructure, the Environment, Voting Rights, Public Education Funding, Business Development, Gun Safety Laws, Women’s Reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, regulating Artificial Intelligence, a minimum wage increase, and the Defense of our Democratic Republic are all in need of immediate attention. Despite a one seat majority, our Caucus was able to pass over 200 bills that tried to address most of these issues and more. Unfortunately, of those 200+ bills we passed, 165 of them have been blocked by the State Senate leadership. I will continue to press for legislation that addresses these priorities. These are challenging times, and we must fight to ensure the future of our Democracy by promptly taking on all these issues and more.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

"It's a Wonderful Life" and the "Darkest Hour" are two films that I recommend and that somewhat reflects my political philosophy.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, empathy, resilience, and loyalty to the Constitution and the Republic for which it stands. I believe that one of the most important attributes to be a successful Representative is to listen and learn. You don't know it all and you won't be able to effectively help people if you don't listen and learn from them. I also think that you must take on this job with a strong sense of humility and surround yourself with a team of capable folks who not only support your ideas but are also not afraid to tell you that you may be wrong. A good leader listens to the views of others and recognizes that he/she may sometimes have made the wrong call. That can be a learning moment which can only help you improve going forward. Finally, I think you have to truly enjoy helping people. If you don't then you are in the wrong business because the most important part of this job is trying to improve the lives of your fellow citizens.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I’m the only candidate with public service experience starting with serving in the Army to my current service as State Representative. I’ve been a soldier, a Court appointed Attorney, a teacher, Program Director for Homeless Veterans, a Correctional Officer and more. I’m the only candidate that has successfully overseen multimillion-dollar government agencies. As a West Goshen Twp. Supervisor, I’m proud that we did not raise taxes and maintained balanced budgets and healthy surpluses each year of my tenure. As Recorder of Deeds, we increased County revenue to over $9 million, cut overall fees and improved the department in multiple, cost saving ways. Despite the COVID shutdown, we never stopped sending millions of revenue dollars to our schools and our local municipalities. As a new Representative I passed 3 bills in the House, 1 Resolution and had a bill signed into actual law with bi-partisan support, HB1278 – the Renewal and Amending of the Wiretap Act. In addition, I helped to bring over $7.5 million in grants to our Community. I’m the only experienced, tested and proven candidate, and I’m ready to continue proudly representing the residents of the 156th.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Helping people with their problems and trying to improve their lives. One is reactive (i.e. constituent services) and the other is proactive (legislation).

What legacy would you like to leave?

That I helped to improve the lives of the citizens and the lives of future generations of our District and our Commonwealth.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Not at this point in time.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Not entirely and not for all situations. For example, while there are limits on the Governor using emergency powers there are certain situations that would demand immediate action for the health, safety, and welfare of citizens that would best be executed by the Governor.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

I have introduced many bills during my first session including one that was recently signed into law, HB 1278. For more information on this bills I have introduced and sponsored please visit https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/House_bio.cfm?id=1975.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

I have received many endorsements and continue to receive them on a daily basis such as: Planned Parenthood, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, the Sierra Club and more.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I've built my career around public service starting with the U.S. Army and now as Chester County Recorder of Deeds. I’m an attorney by trade but I have been a soldier, a teacher, a Correctional Counselor/Officer, Veteran’s advocate, and more. Most importantly, I’m a husband and father.

I ‘m a long-time resident of West Chester. After serving in the Army, I attended Temple University Law School with help from the GI Bill. During this time, I married my lovely wife, Christine, and worked as a Correctional Officer and later as a Correctional Counselor.

I was elected as a West Goshen Township Supervisor in 2015. I’m proud of the fact that we passed balanced budgets and surpluses each year of my tenure.

In 2019 I was elected Recorder of Deeds. We reduced costs, raised record revenue, and improved the office in many ways. Most notably, we continued operating throughout the pandemic delivering much needed revenue to County municipalities and school districts including over $9 million in net County revenue which helped support our local economy.

My success is due to my fellow dedicated colleagues and my wife of twenty-six years, Christine. We are the proud parents of two wonderful children and consider ourselves blessed to live in Chester County.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

As your State Representative of the 156th I will fight for a living wage, protect our environment, our voting rights, a woman’s right to choose, small business owners, a robust state economy, and a citizen’s right to enjoy the equal protection of the law no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion, because Government that doesn’t work for everyone inevitably will not work for anyone.It’s no secret that Harrisburg is broken and much of the dysfunction is created by the legislature itself. We can work towards finding solutions to our most pressing problems by taking the commonsense approach that most folks want from our elected officials, fiscal responsibility and social tolerance. Folks are scared and angry, yet I believe we share concerns regarding our families and future. Let’s start on what we can agree onI am experienced, tested and proven and I am ready to represent the residents of the 156th on day one. As a Democratic West Goshen Supervisor, I received the most votes in a Republican majority township before Trump because I know how to work across the aisle to address problems we all share. I’m proud that we did not raise taxes and maintained balanced budgets and healthy surpluses each year of my tenure. As Recorder of Deeds, I helped to increase County revenue to over $9 million dollars, cut overall fees and improved the department in multiple, cost saving ways. All this during a historic Pandemic. We never stopped sending our municipalities and school districts millions of dollars of collected revenue throughout the shutdown.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

There are many public policy priorities that I am passionate about that need our immediate attention in Harrisburg. Priorities such as Jobs, Infrastructure, the Environment, the Protection of our Voting Rights, Proper Funding for Public Education, a Woman's Right to Choose, and the Defense of our Republic and our Constitutional Rights are all in dire need of immediate attention due to the constant dysfunction and radical extremism in Harrisburg. These are challenging times, and we must fight to ensure the future of our Democracy by promptly taking on all these issues and more. It's time to quit extremist culture wars and get down to business. If you are to ask how I will try to approach these priorities I can tell you that I will try my best to employ the following three "personal" policies: I will seek solutions, not blame, reason not rage, and tolerance not hatred.