NORTH SEWICKLEY TWP — Dawnlyn Valli has spent decades as a teacher, passing knowledge on to young minds. Now, she wants to take her experiences to Harrisburg, where she says the 10th House District needs a voice willing to fight for residents’ interests.

“We here in the 10th District really believe it’s time for a new face in Harrisburg to represent us, and I think that real life experience. a person who can empathize and understands where the people are and what the people feel, is the best bet for people in the 10th,” Valli said.

Valli, 51, is one of three Republicans vying for the party’s nomination in the April 26 primary and a chance to go up against incumbent Democrat state Rep. Jaret Gibbons in the November general election.

In a year framed by a historic budget impasse and continuing disagreements over spending and taxation, Valli says she’ll be a voice for fiscal restraint and self-evaluation. She opposes the tax increases proposed by Gov. Tom Wolf, and believes it is better to look at government to find inefficiencies, and to reconsider what she sees as a penchant for overregulation.

“What I see personally is a layering of regulation on top of regulation,” Valli said. “I think their intent is to clean up previous laws or attempt to make things better, but I see layers on layers, and that becomes expensive. I really think streamlining is important.”

On other statewide initiatives, like legalizing medical marijuana — which Valli supports — and public pension reform — a complicated issue Valli says is the fault of multiple parties — the teacher says what’s needed is “adult” solutions and serious discussion. She doesn’t like the proposed so-called hybrid pension reform, but says that it’s possible that privatizing the pension system is one acceptable answer.

What’s not productive or acceptable, Valli said, is making teachers out to be villains.

“I got into teaching because I had a gift to reach kids and share my experiences,” she said. “Not for one minute did I get in thinking ‘hey, I’m going to have a great pension.’ That’s not how we start our careers.”

On another statewide issue, reform of redistricting legislative districts, Valli is unsure if outsourcing the job to an independent commission is the best action, and said that the issue should take a backseat to more pressing concerns, like the rift between lawmakers and Gov. Tom Wolf.

Valli said she embraces divided government and thinks passing laws should be hard, but faults Wolf for his “take it or leave it” approach to budget negotiations last year.

“I’m not disappointed in the fact that we hotly debate issues,” Valli said. “But I look at the governor’s attitude as being somewhat a childish approach to governing.”

She opposes the gas severance tax proposed by Wolf, which would impose a 5 percent tax on natural gas at the wellhead. She also opposes Wolf’s push to raise the state’s minimum wage, calling it “arbitrary” and a move that would hurt small businesses.

“Obviously we would love the standard of living to increase for everyone in our communities,” Valli said. “But I think that hurts small business; family business. Eventually the cost of everything goes up, and businesses pass that increase along in products and services, and that money gets eaten up.”

For the 10th District itself, Valli said, her focus would be on education — something she called a keystone of any good community. She also wants to promote economic growth opportunities.

“I believe that the 10th District hasn’t really had a seat at the table,” Valli said. “We’ve watched a lot of surrounding areas feel the impact of change in our region. I think it’s important that we have someone willing to fight for a seat at the table and fight for opportunities here.”