About Fern

Fern Leard is a NEPA native, a mother of twins, and a longtime healthcare advocate who has spent her life standing up for working families.

About Fern

Leard lives in Dallas Twp. The 120th state House District includes: Courtdale, Exeter, Forty Fort, Kingston, Luzerne, Pringle, Swoyersville, West Wyoming, Wyoming and townships of Dallas, Exeter, Franklin, Jackson and Kingston.

Leard running again for 120th state House seat

Fern Leard is a native of northeastern Pennsylvania. She lives in Dallas Township and is a mother of twins.

Leard wins Democratic primary for 120th state House District

At the same time, Fern earned her Nurse Aide Certification from Marywood University and spent nearly a decade working in pediatrics and elder care. Working closely with patients and families, she saw how difficult it can be to access affordable healthcare and support while dealing with rising costs in every part of life.

Fern Leard previously worked in pediatrics and elder care.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

We can do better, and we should. I will advance real, enforceable protections that put people first. That means banning junk fees and requiring clear, all-in pricing so families know exactly what they are paying upfront.

Fern Leard campaign issues page

It also means finally fixing our price gouging laws so they actually protect people in real time. I will lower the threshold for what counts as price gouging from 20 percent to 10 percent so action can be taken sooner.

It also means finally fixing our price gouging laws so they actually protect people in real time. I will lower the threshold for what counts as price gouging from 20 percent to 10 percent so action can be taken sooner. I will expand protections beyond declared emergencies so families are not left on their own during ongoing affordability crises.

I will support caps on year-to-year property tax increases so families are not hit with sudden spikes. I will work to expand homestead relief so primary residences receive meaningful, consistent reductions.

I will work to expand homestead relief so primary residences receive meaningful, consistent reductions. I will work to create a statewide property tax freeze for seniors and residents on fixed incomes, and tie relief to income so no one is taxed out of their home simply because they cannot keep up with rising costs.

Plans to ban junk fees and require all-in pricing so consumers know costs upfront.

Proposes lowering the price-gouging threshold from 20 percent to 10 percent to allow earlier enforcement.

Plans to extend price-gouging protections beyond declared emergencies during ongoing affordability crises.

Plans to expand homestead relief for primary residences.

Proposes an income-based statewide property-tax freeze for seniors and residents with fixed incomes.

- Plans to ban junk fees and require all-in pricing so consumers know costs upfront.
- Proposes lowering the price-gouging threshold from 20 percent to 10 percent to allow earlier enforcement.
- Plans to extend price-gouging protections beyond declared emergencies during ongoing affordability crises.
- Plans to expand homestead relief for primary residences.
- Proposes an income-based statewide property-tax freeze for seniors and residents with fixed incomes.

Economy

I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Did not answer

Fern Leard candidate profile

Supports aid-in-dying laws that legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.

- Supports aid-in-dying laws that legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Healthcare

I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.

Did not answer

I will work to deliver real property tax relief that puts people first while keeping our schools strong. That means increasing state investment in public education so local communities are not forced to rely so heavily on property taxes.

Supports school choice, including vouchers, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.

Supports increasing state investment in public education to reduce local reliance on property taxes.

- Supports school choice, including vouchers, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
- Supports increasing state investment in public education to reduce local reliance on property taxes.

Education

These corporations come in, they deplete all of our resources, and then we’re left holding the bag. I’m very much against that, and the more I learn about data centers, the less I like them.

Data Centers Are on the Ballot: This Pennsylvania Candidate Won Her Primary Keeping Them Top of Mind

That’s why I didn’t stay quiet. I worked alongside local leaders to strengthen zoning protections, close loopholes, and make sure these projects cannot move forward without real accountability. I’ve pushed for strict requirements that any developer must complete independent environmental and economic impact studies before a single shovel hits the ground, and that those costs are not passed on to taxpayers.

That is why I will put clear, enforceable protections in place. I will act to prohibit utility companies from shifting infrastructure and capacity costs onto ratepayers.

I will act to prohibit utility companies from shifting infrastructure and capacity costs onto ratepayers. I will require full transparency from the Public Utility Commission so decisions are made in the open, not behind closed doors. I will support policies that ensure developers prove, before approval, that their projects will not harm our water supply, overwhelm our grid, or burden our communities.

Opposes data centers, saying that the more she learns about them, the less she likes them.

Advocates requiring developers to complete independent environmental and economic impact studies before projects begin, without passing study costs to taxpayers.

Plans to prohibit utility companies from shifting infrastructure and capacity costs onto ratepayers.

Supports requiring developers to demonstrate before approval that projects will not harm water supplies, overwhelm the electric grid, or burden communities.

- Opposes data centers, saying that the more she learns about them, the less she likes them.
- Advocates requiring developers to complete independent environmental and economic impact studies before projects begin, without passing study costs to taxpayers.
- Plans to prohibit utility companies from shifting infrastructure and capacity costs onto ratepayers.
- Supports requiring developers to demonstrate before approval that projects will not harm water supplies, overwhelm the electric grid, or burden communities.

Energy & the Environment

As of October 16, 2026, Fern Leard’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Did not answer

Supports allowing people to vote without photo identification.

- Supports allowing people to vote without photo identification.

Voting & Elections

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Fern Leard

- Supports increasing state investment in public education to reduce local reliance on property taxes.

- Advocates requiring developers to complete independent environmental and economic impact studies before projects begin, without passing study costs to taxpayers.
- Plans to prohibit utility companies from shifting infrastructure and capacity costs onto ratepayers.
- Supports requiring developers to demonstrate before approval that projects will not harm water supplies, overwhelm the electric grid, or burden communities.

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- Your state representative represents the interests of your local district in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives. The State House of Representatives, along with the State Senate, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
- Your state representative can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws, including introducing tax bills. 
- State representatives and their staff respond to constituent concerns and questions through emails, phone calls, and website announcements. 
- State representatives oversee the executive branch and can vote to overrule a veto by the Governor.  
- They are elected to two-year terms and have a salary of $106,000, with a 1-3% annual increase

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