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Local entrepreneur, former teacher, and community volunteer Melanie Stringhill Patterson recently announced that she is running for the Republican nomination in the 49th State House District.  If successful, Patterson will challenge Representative Peter Daley in the November 2016 election.

“For too long, career politicians in Harrisburg have turned their back on taxpayers, and cost us the jobs we need,” said Patterson.  “It’s time for honest, conservative representation that puts taxpayers first.”

Patterson is well-known in the mid-Mon Valley as the owner-operator of the “Good Ol’ Days House” and “Happy Days Hideaway for Two,” a vacation house rental business known as Broad Innovations, LLC.  She is also the inventor of the PIBS disposable bibs and changing pads products that were sold in Walmart and Giant Eagle stores across the nation.

“The people of the Mon Valley deserve good-paying jobs.  Unlike the career politicians, I’ve run a business and know what works and what doesn’t when it comes to helping job creators and employers,” Patterson said. “This real world experience is something I will bring to Harrisburg to spark the job creation our community needs.”

Patterson also pointed to her business experience as vital in the fight to protect taxpayers.  “Too many people in Harrisburg have forgotten it is the people’s money, not theirs,” Patterson said. “As a working person, homeowner and business person, I’ve faced the challenges of making ends meet, creating and sticking to budget, and dealing with government over-regulation.  These are skills I will use to bring strong, conservative fiscal leadership to Harrisburg and oppose wasteful government programs that cost taxpayers more but deliver little in return.”

Patterson said that her campaign will focus on four basic areas:

1. Protecting taxpayers from Governor Wolf’s ongoing efforts to massively raise taxes and spending, and passing vital public pension reform.
2. Promoting job-first policies that protect the jobs we have and help create new jobs for the people of the 49th District, including fair taxation, regulation reform, and a stronger education system.
3. Ending the culture of corruption by taking power away from special interests, eliminating WAMs, ending per diems, and moving all legislators out of the current public pension system.
4. Putting the issues of the Mon Valley first, and protecting the pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-family values that our community was built upon.

 “The challenges we face can be addressed through common sense and conservative leadership.  I will bring both to Harrisburg to get Pennsylvania back on track,” Patterson said.

A former kindergarten and elementary school teacher, Patterson also understands how to reform the education system to ensure children are prepared to succeed in the world, with our without higher education. 

“The liberal experiment in our schools has failed, and it’s time to get back to basics. That means teaching kids real skills instead of teaching to the test, and focusing on the core skills in math, reading, science and technology they will need to succeed,” Patterson said. “We need to give schools back to local parents, teachers and administrators because they know better than Washington and Harrisburg bureaucrats what will work.”

Patterson is also an active volunteer in the local community.  She gives her time and effort to the Tri-County Cultural Trust (which she helped found), St. Sebastian Church, and more.  She also served for six years on the Board of Directors of the California University of Pennsylvania Alumni Association.

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