Gourley announces bid for state House in the 66th District

Lisa (Giavedoni) Gourley, of Punxsutawney, is announcing her candidacy for a seat in the state House from the 66th District, covering northern Indiana County and all of Jefferson County.

Lisa is a retired registered nurse who has worked most of her years in long term care serving the needs of elders.

Gourley announces bid for state House in the 66th District

Lisa Gourley didn't learn about healthcare from a textbook. She learned it at the bedside, fighting for patients every single day for over 30 years. She rose from registered nurse to Vice President of Clinical Reimbursement, taking on insurance companies and hospital bureaucracies that put profits over patients.

Lisa Gourley for PA House District 66

Lisa Gourley is a retired registered nurse who worked most of her career in long-term care, serving older adults. She later served as vice president of clinical reimbursement.

School Director (4 Year Term) - Dubois District C (DEM) (Vote for 1)
DEM
Candidate Party Election Day Mail-In Provisional Total
Lisa Gourley DEM 281 172 0 453
Alan S. Nichol DEM 295 180 1 476
Total Votes 845 446 3 1,294

ElectionSummaryReportRPT (Jefferson County, PA)

Lisa previously ran for the school director seat in Dubois District C but did not win.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

### What do you see as the most pressing issues facing residents of your district, and how would you address them?
The most pressing issue I feel in District 66 is Minimum Wage at 7.25 since 2009. This issue impacts much more than just a paycheck. With wages this low the impact reaches out to the ability to afford housing, food, health care access and many more everyday costs. I would address PA Senators personally to understand the importance of passing the increase to minimum wage would be a first step in meeting the needs of our residents.
The next step would be to work towards introducing and passing a Health Care for All bill that would provide health insurance to all Pennsylvanians at a much lower out of pocket cost. With these two changes our residents would have a much higher chance to be fiscally secure.

Pennsylvania State Representative District 66 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

ECONOMY

Fair wages, local job training, and opportunity that stays in our community.

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Working families are the backbone of District 66. Lisa will fight for a living wage, workforce development programs, and economic policies that keep good jobs and opportunity right here at home.

Calls for increasing Pennsylvania's minimum wage.

Plans to pursue a living wage and workforce-development programs.

- Calls for increasing Pennsylvania's minimum wage.
- Plans to pursue a living wage and workforce-development programs.

Economy

HEALTHCARE

Expanding access and lowering costs so every family can afford the care they need.

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As a nurse with 30+ years of experience, Lisa has seen firsthand how broken healthcare can be. She'll fight to expand Medicaid coverage, lower prescription drug costs, and protect rural healthcare access in District 66.

Q2 Measles vaccination rates in Pennsylvania have declined in recent years, from 95.5% in 2020 to 92.5% in 2025. At the same time, measles outbreaks have emerged across the state, with 62 confirmed cases in PA in 2026. As a policymaker, how do you approach engaging with communities that have concerns that center on infectious disease outbreaks and vaccine safety, and what policies, if any, would you support related to these issues?

Public Health

I would approach these communities with facts that support immunization as well as methods to protect oneself from exposure. I would propose policy that would limit the exclusions for vaccination. Exclusions have been increased since COVID allowing for many to utilize these under non valid reasons.

Lisa Gourley - Scientist Network for Advancing Policy

Q3 There have been avian influenza outbreaks in Pennsylvania, with potential impacts on poultry and dairy operations, both industries that provide billions of dollars of economic value to the state. What policies, if any, do you support to strengthen the state’s preparedness and outbreak response? Are there specific strategies you would prioritize to protect farm workers, agricultural communities, and the broader public?

Agriculture

As a RN I firmly believe in protection prior to outbreak. As such I would support increased protective methods with the first awareness of increased risk. I would also support increased research for both prevention and immediate response when an outbreak is noted.

Plans to expand Medicaid coverage, lower prescription-drug costs, and protect rural healthcare access in District 66.

Plans to introduce and pass a Health Care for All bill providing health insurance to all Pennsylvanians at lower out-of-pocket costs.

Proposes limiting vaccination exemptions and using information that supports immunization when engaging communities concerned about vaccine safety.

Supports earlier measures to protect against and respond to disease outbreaks, as well as increased research.

- Plans to expand Medicaid coverage, lower prescription-drug costs, and protect rural healthcare access in District 66.
- Plans to introduce and pass a Health Care for All bill providing health insurance to all Pennsylvanians at lower out-of-pocket costs.
- Proposes limiting vaccination exemptions and using information that supports immunization when engaging communities concerned about vaccine safety.
- Supports earlier measures to protect against and respond to disease outbreaks, as well as increased research.

Healthcare

EDUCATION

Fully funding public schools and investing in the educators who shape our future.

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Every child in Pennsylvania deserves a quality education regardless of zip code. Lisa will fight for fair school funding, competitive teacher pay, and modern facilities for every district.

Plans to pursue fair school funding, competitive teacher pay, and modern facilities for every district.

- Plans to pursue fair school funding, competitive teacher pay, and modern facilities for every district.

Education

ENVIRONMENT

Protecting clean air, clean water, and the natural spaces that define our region.

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Our communities depend on clean water and healthy land. Lisa will hold polluters accountable, protect state parks and natural areas, and support the transition to a cleaner energy economy.

### Should the state legislature enact laws concerning the impacts on water, energy, or land use from the development and operation of data centers? Would state regulation of data center development and operation interfere with the authority of municipalities to establish ordinances under the MPC (Municipal Planning Code)?
Currently close to our district I am monitoring several situations where AI data Centers are proposed for development. I do believe that laws should be enacted to protect our environment. I understand the MPC may be impacted however the risk to our environment as well as health implications to our residents must take precedence. It is my belief that AI Data Centers should be regulated, as have many other industries, when it comes to environmental risks.

Q1 PFAS chemicals are widely used in consumer products but have raised health concerns due to their persistence in the environment and humans, and some Pennsylvanian legislators are considering restrictions on its use, such as in House Bill 2145. Should Pennsylvania restrict PFAS in consumer products? What scientific evidence would you use to inform your decision?

Public Health

Yes these chemicals should be restricted. According to the U.S. EPA long term or elevated exposure can impact health with increased cancer risks, suppression of the immune system and reproductive issues.

Q4 Pennsylvania is the nation’s second-largest producer of natural gas and nuclear energy, as well as the third-largest producer of coal, per the Energy Information Administration. In contrast, PA currently ranks 45th in the country in terms of wind, solar, and hydropower energy production. How do you think these energy sources should be distributed across PA’s energy production portfolio, and what policies, if any, would you support to facilitate this?

Energy

It is vital that we as a state support and encourage use of wind, solar and hydropower energy. Renewable energy sources is the method to battle climate change and move toward the future. I believe that tax credits for the use of renewable energy sources may be a way to increase its use. Education to inform and encourage these methods can be one way to further the use.

Q5 Pennsylvania has proposed more reporting, utility oversight, and zoning guidance for large data centers, along with shifting some generation, capacity, and reliability costs onto data center developers rather than ordinary ratepayers. How should the costs and benefits of large data center development be divided between developers and the public, and what requirements, if any, would you support on power, water, and public reporting before a project moves forward?

Artificial Intelligence

I would ensure that the data center developers are responsible for all costs in developing and maintaining the center. they should also be responsible for all costs related to power this should not be passed to the public. This should be a transparent development and not one that makes promises to the community but does not follow through. Zoning rules should be in place that does not allow these centers to be placed community adjacent placing the water for the community at risk.

I do not believe data centers should receive any type of tax relief or benefit from states for development.

Plans to hold polluters accountable, protect state parks and natural areas, and support a cleaner energy economy.

Supports state environmental protections and regulation of artificial-intelligence data centers to address environmental risks.

Supports restricting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in consumer products.

Supports wind, solar, and hydropower, including tax credits to encourage renewable-energy use.

Wants data-center developers to pay the costs of development, maintenance, and power rather than passing them to the public.

Opposes state tax benefits for data centers and supports zoning rules to protect community water supplies.

- Plans to hold polluters accountable, protect state parks and natural areas, and support a cleaner energy economy.
- Supports state environmental protections and regulation of artificial-intelligence data centers to address environmental risks.
- Supports restricting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in consumer products.
- Supports wind, solar, and hydropower, including tax credits to encourage renewable-energy use.
- Wants data-center developers to pay the costs of development, maintenance, and power rather than passing them to the public.
- Opposes state tax benefits for data centers and supports zoning rules to protect community water supplies.

Energy & the Environment

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

Public Safety

### What changes, if any, would you support to enable better access, ensure security, and support the processes of our elections?
I believe that PA has safe and fair elections. Having worked as a poll watcher several times I have developed a strong respect for those who work the polls and know firsthand how fair and safe they keep our elections. I would support a bill making election day a holiday which would enable those who work an easier time to get to the polls. I would also work towards organizing transportation to the polls for those who have difficulty getting there.

### What are your thoughts on the state budget process? What changes, if any, would you support so that the budget is enacted in a timely manner?
In the last several years it has become apparent to me that the state budget process is broken. Much of the issue seem to be the focus is on what PAC or lobbyist is supporting the Representative/Senator and not on what is best for the residents of our state. To this end I would like to see campaign finance reform that limits the amount of money/influence a group has within our state government. I believe that this would help to streamline the process.

Supports making Election Day a holiday to make voting easier for workers.

Plans to organize transportation to polling places for people who have difficulty getting there.

Wants campaign-finance reform limiting the money and influence that groups have in Pennsylvania state government.

- Supports making Election Day a holiday to make voting easier for workers.
- Plans to organize transportation to polling places for people who have difficulty getting there.
- Wants campaign-finance reform limiting the money and influence that groups have in Pennsylvania state government.

Voting & Elections

Lisa Gourley

Edward Krutsch

Buket Urgen

Brian Smith

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- They are elected to two-year terms and have a salary of $106,000, with a 1-3% annual increase

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