Letter from the “Local Political Leaders” of Pennsylvania

Dear Voters of Pennsylvania:

We the undersigned “local political leaders” write with serious concern regarding the candidacy of Dr. Mehmet Oz for Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate seat. As local elected officials and leaders in our communities across the commonwealth, we strongly object to Oz’s statement in the U.S. Senate debate on October 25th that restrictions on Pennsylvania women’s abortion rights should be decided by “local political leaders.”

Let’s be clear: local elected leaders like us have no business getting in between a woman and her doctor — especially when it comes to some of the most personal and private health care decisions someone can make. The idea that “local political leaders” should have an equal say in a woman’s decision about how, when, and if to start a family is deeply disturbing and out of touch.

Dr. Oz’s position is especially dangerous at a time when the Republican nominee to be Pennsylvania’s next Governor, State Senator Doug Mastriano, supports a total ban on abortion — with no exceptions for rape, incest, or even life of the mother — and has even said that women who violate his proposed ban should be charged with murder. Dr. Oz has endorsed and campaigned with Mastriano.

This is part of a troubling pattern of anti-abortion extremism from Dr. Oz, who has previously called abortion “murder” at any stage of pregnancy, argued that “Roe was wrongly decided,” and celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision overturning abortion rights this summer. Dr. Oz has also repeatedly refused to rule out supporting U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham’s extreme legislation to ban abortion nationwide.

Unlike Dr. Oz, Lt. Governor John Fetterman has always stood up for women’s health and reproductive freedom. In the Senate, John would vote to restore abortion rights and codify Roe v. Wade into federal law. He knows these decisions belong with women and their doctors, NOT local politicians — and not politicians in Washington, either.

The future of abortion rights and women’s freedom is on the line in this race. We urge the voters of Pennsylvania to reject Dr. Mehmet Oz’s dangerous views on banning abortion by inserting “local political leaders” like Doug Mastriano in between a woman and her doctor.

Sincerely,

“Local Political Leaders” of Pennsylvania

1. Jay Costa, State Senate Minority Leader, State Senator, District 43
2. Tony Williams, State Senate Minority Whip, State Senator, District 8
3. Nikil Saval, State Senator, District 1
4. Sharif Street, State Senator, District 3; Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair
5. Art Haywood, State Senator, District 4
6. Vincent Hughes, State Senator, District 7
7. Steve Santarsiero, State Senator, District 10
8. Judy Schwank, State Senator, District 11
9. Maria Collett, State Senator, District 12
10. Amanda Cappelletti, State Senator, District 17
11. Carolyn Comitta, State Senator, District 19
12. Tim Kearney, State Senator, District 26
13. Lindsey Williams, State Senator, District 38
14. Wayne Fontana, State Senator, District 42
15. Katie Muth, State Senator, District 44
16. Joanna McClinton, State House Minority Leader, State Representative, District 191
17. Jordan Harris, State House Minority Whip, State Representative, District 186
18. Ryan Bizzarro, State Representative, District 3
19. Sara Innamorato, State Representative, District 21
20. Jessica Benham, State Representative, District 36
21. Steve Malagari, State Representative, District 53
22. Liz Hanbidge, State Representative, District 61
23. Patty Kim, State Representative, District 103
24. Thom Welby, State Representative, District 113
25. Bridget Malloy Kosierowski, State Representative, District 114
26. Michael Schlossberg, State Representative, District 132
27. Tina Davis, State Representative, District 141
28. Mary Jo Daley, State Representative, District 148
29. Tim Briggs, State Representative, District 149
30. Ben Sanchez, State Representative, District 153
31. Danielle Friel Otten, State Representative, District 155
32. Melissa Shusterman, State Representative, District 157
33. Christina Sappey, State Representative, District 158
34. Leanne Krueger, State Representative, District 161
35. Mike Zabel, State Representative, District 163
36. Gina Curry, State Representative, District 164
37. Jason Dawkins, State Representative, District 179
38. Malcolm Kenyatta, State Representative, District 181
39. Brian Sims, State Representative, District 182
40. Elizabeth Fiedler, State Representative, District 184
41. Morgan Cephas, State Representative, District 192
42. Danilo Burgos, State Representative, District 197
43. Darisha Parker, State Representative, District 198
44. Michael Pipe, Centre County Commissioner
45. Josh Maxwell, Chester County Commissioner
46. Marian Moskowitz, Chester County Commissioner
47. Jean Foschi, Cumberland County Commissioner
48. Sherene Hess, Indiana County Commissioner
49. Loretta Spielvogel, Lawrence County Commissioner
50. Valerie Arkoosh, Montgomery County Commissioner, Chair
51. Kenneth Lawrence, Montgomery County Commissioner, Vice Chair
52. Andrew Flynn, Mt. Lebanon Commissioner
53. Mindy Ranney, Mt. Lebanon Commissioner
54. Pam Tokar-Ickes, Somerset County Commissioner
55. Donna Iannone, Sullivan County Commissioner
56. Sean Kilkenny, Montgomery County Sheriff
57. Jack Stollsteimer, Delaware County District Attorney
58. Joanne Phillips, Delaware County Controller
59. John Spiegelman, Abington Township Commissioner
60. Mark Evans, Caln Township Commissioner
61. LorraIne Tindaro, Caln Township Commissioner
62. Josh Young, Caln Township Commissioner
63. Daniel Norris, Cheltenham Township Commissioner, President
64. Michael T. Muha, Hermitage City Commissioner
65. Sheryl Forste-Grupp, Haverford Township Commissioner
66. Kevin McCloskey, Haverford Township Commissioner
67. Judy Trombetta, Haverford Township Commissioner
68. Andrew Gavrin, Lower Merion Township Commissioner, Vice President
69. Shawn Kraemer, Lower Merion Township Commissioner
70. Mike McKeon, Lower Merion Township Commissioner
71. Ray Courtney, Lower Merion Township Commissioner
72. Andrew Flynn, Mount Lebanon Township Commissioner
73. Max Cooper, Nether Providence Township Commissioner
74. Kaitlin McKenzie, Nether Providence Township Commissioner
75. Moira Mulroney, Radnor Township Commissioner, President
76. Lisa Borowski, Radnor Township Commissioner
77. AnnaMarie Jones, Radnor Township Commissioner
78. Maggy Myers, Radnor Township Commissioner
79. Denise Hull, Upper Gwynedd Township Commissioner, President
80. Liz McNaney, Upper Gwynedd Township Commissioner
81. Judith Eckles, West Norriton Township Commissioner, Vice President
82. Anne Pavone, West Norriton Township Commissioner
83. Lynn Kelly, Coolbaugh Township Supervisor
84. Jamila Winder, East Norriton Township Supervisor, Vice Chair
85. Cara Coless, Lower Providence Township Supervisor, Vice Chair
86. Kevin Shelly, Lower Salford Township Supervisor
87. Tanya Bamford, Montgomery Township Supervisor, Chair
88. Beth Staab, Montgomery Township Supervisor
89. Annette Long, Montgomery Township Supervisor
90. Kristie Brodowski, New Garden Township Supervisor, Vice Chair
91. Betsy Whitman, Patton Township Board of Supervisor
92. Jacob Pride, Smithfield Township Supervisor, Chair
93. Jennifer Shukaitis, Stroud Township Supervisor
94. Joyce Snyder, Towamencin Township Supervisor
95. K.S. Bhaskar, Tredyffrin Township Supervisor
96. Carole Kenney, Upper Merion Township Supervisor, Chair
97. Tina Garzillo, Upper Merion Township Supervisor, Vice Chair
98. Greg Philips, Upper Merion Township Supervisor
99. Greg Waks, Upper Merion Township Supervisor
100. Cheryl Lockard, Upper Moreland Township Supervisor
101. Laurie Higgins, Upper Providence Township Supervisor
102. Jennifer Baxter, Upper Uwchlan Township Supervisor, Vice Chair
103. Andy Durkin, Upper Uwchlan Township Supervisor
104. Mayme Baumann, Uwchlan Township Supervisor, Chair
105. Bill Miller, Uwchlan Township Supervisor
106. Patrice Proctor, Valley Township Supervisor, Chair
107. Laura Boyle Nester, Whitemarsh Township Supervisor, Chair
108. Francis McCusker, Whitemarsh Township Supervisor, Vice Chair
109. Jacy Toll, Whitemarsh Township Supervisor
110. Kimberly Koch, Whitpain Township Supervisor, Chair
111. Michele Minnick, Whitpain Township Supervisor, Vice Chair
112. Scott Badami, Whitpain Township Supervisor
113. Jeffrey Campolongo, Whitpain Township Supervisor
114. Sara Shick, West Vincent Township Supervisor, Vice Chair
115. Rajesh Kumbhardare, West Whiteland Supervisor, Chair
116. Brian Dunn, West Whiteland Supervisor
117. Bethany Hallam, Allegheny County Council Member
118. Monica Taylor, Delaware County Council Chair
119. Elaine Schaefer, Delaware County Council Vice Chair
120. Kevin M. Madden, Delaware County Council Member
121. Christine Reuther, Delaware County Council Member
122. Khadijah Al Amin, Coatesville City Council Member
123. Michael Keys, Erie City Council Vice President
124. Ben Allatt, Former Harrisburg City Council Vice President
125. Eric Ritter, New Castle City Council Member
126. David Ward, New Castle City Council Member
127. Darrell Clarke, Philadelphia City Council President
128. Kendra Brooks, Philadelphia City Council Member
129. Jamie Gauthier, Philadelphia City Council Member
130. Kathie Gilmore Richardson, Philadelphia City Council Member
131. Helen Gym, Philadelphia City Council Member
132. Curtis Jones, Philadelphia City Council Member
133. Isaiah Thomas, Philadelphia City Council Member
134. Kyle Donahue, Scranton City Council President
135. Jessica Rothchild, Scranton City Council Member
136. Glynnis Siskind, Ambler Borough Council President
137. Haley Welch, Ambler Borough Council Vice President
138. Lisa Auerbach, Ambler Borough Council Member
139. Frank DeRuosi, Ambler Borough Council Member
140. Erin Endicott, Amber Borough Council Member
141. Nellie Forst, Ambler Borough Council Member
142. Amy Hughes, Ambler Borough Council Member
143. Toni Bell, Bloomsburg Town Council Vice President
144. Bonnie Crawford, Bloomsburg Town Council Member
145. James Huber, Bloomsburg Town Council Member
146. Tony Heyl, Bridgeport Borough Council Vice President
147. Saba Al Zaid, Bridgeport Borough Council Member
148. Diane Gundrum, Bridgeport Borough Council Member
149. Amy High, Bridgeport Borough Council Member
150. Meghan Nolan, Bridgeport Borough Council Member
151. Kyle Shenk, Bridgeport Borough Council Member
152. Sean Crampsie, Carlisle Borough Council Member
153. Cate Mellen, Carlisle Borough Council Member
154. Safronia Perry, Carlisle Borough Council Member
155. Gerrie Carey, Clarks Summit Borough Council President
156. Ronisha Lopez-Thomas, Clarks Summit Borough Council Member
157. Tina Sokolowski, Conshohocken Borough Council Vice President
158. Anita Barton, Conshohocken Borough Council Member
159. Stacy Ellam, Conshohocken Borough Council Member
160. Kathleen Kingsley, Conshohocken Borough Council Member
161. Colleen Leonard, Conshohocken Borough Council Member
162. Karen Tutino, Conshohocken Borough Council Member
163. Jamie Levy, Borough of Delaware Water Gap Council President
164. Caleb Cragle, Ellwood City Borough Council Member
165. Megan Tuñón, Etna Borough Council Vice Chair
166. Jessica Semler, Etna Borough Council Member
167. Joseph Papaleo, Folcroft Borough Council President
168. Ann Monaghan, Hawley Borough Councilmember
169. Benjamin Hover, Lansdowne Borough Council President
170. Frank Kulick, Jermyn Borough Council President
171. Bonnie Crawford, Mechanicsburg Borough Council Member
172. Elizabeth Romaine, Media Borough Council Vice President
173. Kevin Boyer, Media Borough Council Pro Tem
174. Joi Washington, Media Borough Council Member
175. Mark Paikoff, Media Borough Council Member
176. Claudette Williams, Mount Pocono Borough Council Member
177. Beth Frushon, Olyphant Borough Council Member
178. Scott Sidlow, Parkside Borough Council Member
179. Perry Sweigart, Parkside Borough Council Member
180. Jonathan Ewald, Phoenixville Borough Council President
181. Richard M. Kirkner, Phoenixville Borough Council Member
182. Brian Weiss, Phoenixville Borough Council Member
183. Karen Bramblett, Plymouth Township Council Vice Chair
184. Katherine Bandish, Plymouth Township Council Member
185. Christopher Manero, Plymouth Township Council Member
186. Joseph Hare, Rose Valley Borough Council Member
187. Matthew Sullivan, Rose Valley Borough Council Member
188. Matt Stehman, Royersford Borough Council Vice President
189. Samantha Newell, Rutledge Borough Council Vice President
190. Heidi Sentivan, Rutledge Borough Council Member
191. Christine Gradel, Rutledge Borough Council Member
192. Sharon Booker, Sharon Hill Borough Council Member
193. Adrianne Laing, Sharpsburg Borough Council President
194. Karen Pastor, Sharpsburg Borough Council Vice President
195. Sarah Ishman, Sharpsburg Borough Council Member
196. Daryl Littlefiels, Souderton Borough Council Member
197. Julie Munden, Souderton Borough Council Member
198. Donna Rogers, Souderton Borough Council Member
199. Erica Bradley McCabe, Stroudsburg Borough Council Vice President
200. Mary Walk, Swarthmore Borough Council President
201. Sarah Graden, Swarthmore Borough Council Vice President
202. David Boonin, Swarthmore Borough Council Member
203. Jill Bennett Gaieski, Swarthmore Borough Council Member
204. Scarlett McCahil, Swarthmore Borough Council Member
205. Kristen Seymore, Swarthmore Borough Council Member
206. Francie Halderman, Swarthmore Borough Council Member
207. Kenneth Mickavicz, Taylor Borough Council President
208. Michelle Billups, Upper Darby Township Council Secretary & Member
209. Andrew Hayman, Upper Darby Township Council Member
210. Danyelle Blackwell, Upper Darby Township Council Member
211. Lisa Dorsey, West Chester Borough Council Vice President
212. Jeff Ewing, West Conshohocken Borough Council Member
213. Jose Ignacio Gonzalez, West Conshohocken Borough Council Member
214. Ed Gainey, Mayor of Pittsburgh
215. Paige Cognetti, Mayor of Scranton
216. Barbarann Keffer, Mayor of Upper Darby
217. Jeanne Sorg, Mayor of Ambler & Montgomery County Recorder of Deeds
218. Beth Jacksier, Mayor of Bridgeport
219. Yaniv Aronson, Mayor of Conshohocken
220. Robert MacCallum, Mayor of Dickson City
221. Rob Yannuzzi, Mayor of Eddystone
222. Gabriel Lerman, Mayor of Jenkintown
223. Garry Herbert, Mayor of Lansdale
224. Magda Byrne, Mayor of Lansdowne
225. Amanda Hammock, Mayor of Morton
226. Andrea Deutsch, Mayor of Narberth
227. Neil McDevitt, Mayor of North Wales
228. Gamal Sherif, Mayor of the Borough of Rutledge
229. Marty Spiegel, Mayor of Swarthmore
230. Danelle Fournier, Mayor of West Conshohocken
231. Emily Karam, Abington Heights School District, Board of Directors
232. LeeAnn Wisdom, Downingtown Area School District, Board of School Directors, President
233. Jennifer Wilson, Hatboro-Horsham School District, Board of Directors, Vice President
234. Monica D’Antonio, Norristown Area School District, Board of Directors, Vice President
235. Tina Stoll, North Penn School District, Board of School Directors, President
236. Scott Overland, Phoenixville Area School District, Board of Directors, Vice President
237. Sarah Dunn, Radnor Township School District, Board Vice President
238. April Kwiatkowski, Shaler Area School District, Board of School Directors, President
239. John Evans Sr., Valley View School District, Board of School Directors, Treasurer
240. Caryn Ghrayeb, Downingtown Area School District, School Board Director, Vice President
241. Madhu Gurthy, Downingtown Area School District, School Director
242. Joyce Houghton, Downingtown Area School District, School Director
243. Mindy Ross, Downingtown Area School District, School Director
244. Tyler Titus, Former Erie School Board, School Director
245. Chas. Willis, Interboro School District, School Board Member
246. John Evans, Interboro School District, School Board Member
247. Semira Perdue, Methacton School District, School Director
248. Christian Fusco, North Penn School District, School Board Director Vice President
249. Timothy MacBain, North Penn School District, School Director
250. Juliane Ramić, North Penn School District, School Director
251. Al Roesch, North Penn School District, School Director
252. Pam Harbin, Pittsburgh Board of Public Education, District Representative
253. Andrew Babson, Radnor Township School District, School Director
254. Deborah Ann Spence, Pottstown School District, School Director
255. Katie Gilmartin, Scranton School District, School Director
256. Elizabeth Dunn, Shaler Area School District, School Director
257. Joseph Farrell, Valley View School District, School Director
258. Lawrence Kutys, Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, School Director
259. Mary Jo Witkowski-Smith, Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, Assistant Board Secretary
260. Laura Detre, West Chester School District, School Director
261. Joseph Shields, Whitehall-Coplay School District, School Director
262. Jan Tong, William Penn School District, School Director
263. Margaret Reif, Chester County Controller
264. Karen Sanchez, Montgomery County Controller
265. Joyce Lanham, Paupack Township Auditor
266. Vince Gillen, Uwchlan Township Auditor
267. Robert Brunner, Whitpain Township Auditor
268. Yolanda Van de Krol, Chester County Clerk of Courts
269. Lori Schrieber, Montgomery County Clerk of Courts
270. D. Bruce Hanes, Montgomery County Register of Wills & Clerk of Orphans’ Court
271. Debbie Bookman, Chester County Prothonotary
272. Noah Marlier, Montgomery County Prothonotary
273. Jason Salus, Montgomery County Treasurer
274. Ken Frohlich, Radnor Township Treasurer
275. Jennifer Stomsky, Ambler Borough Tax Collector
276. Genevieve lupini, Jessup Borough Tax Collector
277. Evelyn Ankers, Upper Merion Township Tax Collector
278. Jeffrey Smith, Upper Uwchlan Township Tax Collector
279. Paulette Lomarro, Uwchlan Township Tax Collector
280. Kevin Boughter, Berks County Democratic Committee Chair
281. Michael Bedrick, Chester County Democratic Committee Member, Caln Township
282. Lisa Longo, Chester County Democratic Committee Member, Phoenixville
283. Donald Foy, Chester County Democratic Committee Member, Coventry Township
284. Patricia Williams, Wayne County Democratic Committee Member
285. John Pace, Wayne County Democratic Committee Member
286. Vincent Gallo, Wayne County Democratic Committee Member
287. Joe Campisano, Garnet Valley Democratic Committee Chair
288. Danielle Kleinman, Radnor Democratic Committee Member
289. Meredith Buck, Bucks County Coroner
290. April Kwiatkowski, Shaler Area School Board Member