By Gabbie Burton
Contributing Writer

Tina Ayala, a West Bradford resident and the Republican looking to flip the District 158 seat for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, hopes to defeat incumbent Christina Sappey -- who has served in the role since 2018 – on Nov. 5. 

Ayala lists her main commitments to her potential constituents front and center on her website: “Improve schools, promote school choice, and ensure educational excellence; support local businesses and initiatives to foster job creation; and address the needs of constituents through active public service and empathetic leadership.” 

Ayala’s main motivation for running, she said, is her family. As a wife and mother of two, she said she feels concern for the direction the state and country are heading.  

“I’ve been fortunate to where I have been able to work from home, so I get to be more involved with my kids in school and I feel that if we keep going down the path that we are they’re not going to be able to have a sustainable future,” she said.  

Ayala cites economic and social concerns that she feels are the main threats to the younger generations’ future success and prosperity, specifically referencing how the rise in inflation impacts the state. According to the current data on the State Inflation Tracker from the Joint Economic Committee Republicans, Pennsylvania’s cumulative inflation increase from 2021 is 19.2 percent, outranked by 41 other states.  

“We have the highest inflation increase in the United States since 2021, and there’s no trajectory to go down right now,” she said.  “I think we’re hurting economically, and as a result, it’s currently hurting our families, and if we continue this way, it will hurt our children.” 

Ayala’s economic concerns come from a place of personal experience. Growing up in New Jersey, she faced hardships as a member of a low-income family and needing to care for her single mother who has epilepsy. She attended college at Farleigh Dickinson University using a scholarship and financial aid she later worked two jobs to pay off. She has now worked a career in the mortgage industry for over ten years.  

“I’ve worked two jobs since I was about 19 or 20, and even after getting married,” she said. “I’m speaking also from personal experience. I have my full-time job and then I’ll do part time wherever I can.” 

Although Ayala’s agenda for change resonates with certain challenges facing families today, she never planned on running for office, but she was approached to enter politics and decided to take it on after learning the impact the state representative position has.   

“I started looking into what it is when you are a state representative and you vote on a lot of things that affect people statewide and locally, and some of the things that were being voted on I did not agree with,” she said. 

Ayala opposes several policies that have marked Sappey’s voting record; in particular, H.B. 1332, “Empowering Parents with Curriculum Transparency” and H.B. 972 “Protecting Women’s Sports Act” in 2021-2022, and in the 2019-2020 session, S.B. 621 “Authorizes Schools to Arm Security Guards” – all bills Sappey voted against. 

Although Ayala disagrees with her opponent’s voting record, the voters of District 158 have kept Sappey in office for three terms, and in order to beat an incumbent at the polls, Ayala is trying to do as much outreach as possible leading up to the election. The 158th District covers Avondale, New Garden, Kennett, West Marlborough, East Marlborough, East Fallowfield, Newlin, Pocopson and West Bradford townships, as well as Kennett Borough. 

“I am doing a lot of door knocking and I am going to as many events as possible and just talking to the people in the public,” she said. “Whoever I can get in front of I will, and just share what I believe in, what I want to do for the communities, my platform and the differences in how I would vote contrast to how my opponent has voted. I've been trying to go to a different area every day, if possible.” 

Although the position of State Representative requires time spent in Harrisburg and voting on issues affecting the whole state, Ayala explained how she would keep the local communities as her focus.

“I would continue doing what I’m doing now, which is trying to meet with local organizations,” she said. “Not only am I speaking to the general public, I’m also trying to speak with people in those different segments because I think it’s important to get their input and see what they think our community needs because then I can bring those local concerns to the State House.” 

Despite Ayala’s uphill battle in facing an incumbent, she trusts the voters to hear her arguments and make the choice best for them. 

“Ultimately, it’s up to the people to vote,” she said. “My job is just to present them what I want to do and then they’ll decide if it’s valid.”

To learn more about Tina Ayala, visit www.pawomeninred.com or www.republicanccc.com/tinaayala

To contact Contributing Writer Gabbie Burton, email [email protected].