Brandilyn Lyon, a lifelong Warren County resident, has announced her candidacy as a Democrat for Pennsylvania’s 65th Legislative District. The district includes Warren County, most of Forest County, seven townships in Crawford County, and the city of Titusville.

Lyon, 34, is a 2002 graduate of Eisenhower High School. She attended the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude, with a degree in Sociology in 2006. She is currently employed as a preschool teacher at the Early Learning Center in Warren County’s YMCA.

Lyon believes her experience living and working in Northwestern PA and knowing the residents and their families will be imperative to her ability to legislate with compassion for her neighbors. Her experience working in children’s mental health, as well as low-income housing assistance (She was employed by the EOC’s Weatherization Department, serving Warren, Forest, Venango and McKean counties, for three years), has allowed her a unique insight to the struggles of the community.

“I have analyzed income for more than 200 low-income families in this district while determining their eligibility for weatherization services,” said Lyon. “I discussed with them not only their struggles, but also their goals and hopes for obtaining a more secure financial future. I have learned no one wants to be poor; and how little choice there is in the matter for many.

“I reject the idea that low income people are lazy, unmotivated, and entitled,” she said. “I didn’t always; it was a long road to my understanding of the issues of the low income in our community. I’ve helped assist homes with two full time working parents and their children, still unable to pay their bills because they just don’t make enough money for their efforts. Retired people who worked for 40 years only to find themselves unable to make ends meet in their later years.”

Lyon has an intimate understanding of the struggles of those living with mental health issues in the community, as well. “I’ve seen firsthand the strength to be ready to ask for help and the plummet of finding out the wait could be several months long. I’ve also seen the success that early mental health intervention can bring to children of traumatic experiences.

“They have more of an opportunity than we are giving them to live fulfilled, enriched, and healthy lives.”

Together, with the constituents of District 65, Lyon hopes to revitalize the community.

“I appreciate our history as an oil rich and agriculturally gifted area,” she said. “I also understand that we cannot do things the same way we’ve done for the last 15 years and expect a different outcome. We need to look forward to what’s next, not what was.”

Lyon believes the introduction of legal marijuana in Pennsylvania could be a key to the future.

“Washington State collected a total of $319 million in legal marijuana income and license fees in fiscal year 2017,” she said. “That money is being used to provide resources to low income residents, public schools, and mental health/drug rehabilitation services. District 65 has an opportunity to return to agriculture in a new way and provide more revenue for their children’s schools and other needed resources.”

Additionally, Lyon is in strong favor of bi-partisan gun control.

“I do not believe we can work to end the crisis of mass shootings by addressing mental health and other social factors alone,” said Lyon. “Gun advocates and the NRA have to meet us on a multi-faceted approach that increases the safety of our children. I understand the importance guns play in our local culture and I understand the role children play in our future; I am not willing to sacrifice a child in this district, or any district, for someone’s ‘right’ to an assault rifle.”

Lyon is seeking signatures of registered Democrats in the district through Sunday, March 4.

“Monday morning I intend to drive to Harrisburg to file my petition papers,” she said. “With your support, you will see an opportunity for change on the primary ballot on May 15.”

For more information about Brandilyn Lyon, and how to support her through petition signing, visit:

www.facebook.com/BrandilynLyon/