Election 2012: Means Brings Grassroots Activism to Senate Race

Longtime conservative activist Sue Means said while she might by for Pennsylvania’s 37th senatorial seat, she has no plans of becoming a career politician.

“I’ll limit my time in office to two terms,” Means said. “And I will not accept a pension as a part of my platform. Pensions are for careers. 

“Texas has only a part-time legislature, I want to us be part-time,” she said. “Here it's set up to entice career politicians when it should be citizens volunteering for duty.”

Means, a Bethel Park resident and former nurse at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, will vie against fellow Republicans D. Raja of Mt. Lebanon and Pennsylvania Rep. Mark Mustio, R-Moon, for the seat soon to be vacated by Sen. John Pippy, who announced his from Harrisburg earlier this year. No Democrats are seeking the seat in the April 24 primary.

She said her medical background sets her a part from her opponents.

“When it comes to implementing health care mandates, they are talking about medical treatments but they don’t have the background,” Means said of members of the state’s senate. “Nurses are problem solvers. We have level head and a steady hand.”

Means, who has also served as a committeewoman for the Pennsylvania Republican Party, said she decided to enter the race to help counter what she says is gridlock in the state’s senate, despite a Republican majority.

“After Gov. [Tom] Corbett was elected, the Republican majority in the house introduced a lot of reform-minded legislation,” Means said. “And then it stalls in the senate.”

Means said decades of acting as a conservative activist on issues ranging from homeschooling to pro-life causes have prepared her for Harrisburg politics: She said she hopes to move to implement term limits for members of the General Assembly.

“I don’t think it will be easy,” Means said. “I think one thing that we can do is make it so that it goes into effect in say ten years, to make it more appealing [to current lawmakers].”

Means said her background lobbying for conservative issues gives her additional perspective.

“I learned how it works,” she said. “I think the biggest thing I learned [while lobbying state lawmakers] is hat the state constitution is ignored and circumvented.” 

The Pennsylvania primary is Tuesday, April 24. Click here for more information about local races and candidates. Check back with Patch for coverage of other local races and more candidate profiles.