Nathan Wood

Nathan Wood earned a high school diploma from being homeschooled. He earned a bachelor's degree from Alfred University.

His career experience includes working as a coach.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a 33 year old personal trainer who has lived in Carlisle for 13 years. I managed offices for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for 4.5 years, 3 of which I spent working for our incumbent senator. I provided administrative support for legislators and helped thousands of South Central Pennsylvanians get real results from our state government. While I was honored to serve, I increasingly witnessed activities which I considered to be corrupt, and following the events of January 6th, I felt obliged to seek other employment. I thought that would be the end of my time with the legislature, but when no one stepped forward to contest the 34th district, organizations like Lead PA urged me to run for office. Given my unique background and first-hand experience, I feel a sense of duty to offer accountability and creative solutions to South Central Pennsylvanians.

I am data-driven and interested in the science and philosophy of living the good life. My great ambition is to create blue zones wherever I go. If that sounds good to you, then I hope I can count on your support in the elections this year.

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?

Legislative reform is required to address the corruption and indolence I witnessed while serving at the House. We have the third highest paid legislature in the nation, but we passed a mere 65 bills last year - the fewest in a decade. Legislators receive unlimited gifts and dark money. 50% of our senators and 25% of our representatives have business interests or other employment, despite their full time status. These moneyed interests bias and distract legislators from taking care of their constituents. Until we address legislative corruption and self-service, we can't negotiate such pressing issues as affordability, healthcare, or data centers. We need to ban gifts, make Citizens United irrelevant, and increase transparency.All middle and lower income Pennsylvanians, whether young or old, are facing challenges pertaining to affordability and cost of living. For older generations, rising costs strike fixed income households harder. For young people, the lack of appreciable assets, unaffordable housing market, and soaring price of education are additional barriers. We need to promote fair wages, labor protections, and progressive tax structures to fund work in healthcare, transportation, and education. We also need to restrict corporations from buying single family homes and assist young people buy their first homes here in South Central PA - bills like SB753 could do that by providing student debt relief for first time homebuyers.Data centers present a threat to our climate, our peace, our energy grid, and our pocketbooks. 68% of Pennsylvanians are opposed to their installation, democrats and republicans alike. Nevertheless, legislation has been proposed trying to fast track their creation here, despite the wishes of the public. I hear you and agree with you - we need a moratorium on data centers while we create environmental and ratepayer protections, and we must protect the right of local municipalities to decide for themselves whether to bring data centers to their regions once those protections are in place.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about happiness and wellbeing research, and that touches on any number of different public policies. I care deeply about trust in government, income equality, and strong social services, which are common traits of happy developed nations. I am also interested in public transportation and walkable environments, which I think are conducive to greater health, happiness, equity, and sociability.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

South Central Pennsylvania Young Democrats