Amy Fazio

A Beaver County entrepreneur has announced her candidacy for state representative in the 14th District.

Amy Fazio of New Brighton will be running as a Democrat, vying for the seat currently occupied by Rep. Jim Marshall, R-14th.

Fazio is the founder of Fazio & Associates and works as a strategic planning and fundraising consultant for nonprofit organizations.

She also serves as a school board member for New Brighton Area School District, the Beaver Valley Montessori School and the Pittsburgh Airport Area Chamber of Commerce.

Fazio said her family has lived in the New Brighton area for five generations, and she decided to run for office “because of a combination of my skills and what's happening in politics today.”

Her platform is three-pronged, she said, including education, affordable health care and finding common ground.

She said she has been frustrated with the state's continued inability to fairly fund school districts across Pennsylvania.

“Schools do so much more than reading and math,” she said. “I believe schools are the crux of our community and need to be funded.”

Fazio said just as important as education is access to affordable health care, which is “critical for all of us.”

“In January 2014, when I started my business, it was because of the Affordable Care Act I could take that risk. It would not have been an option without it,” she said.

Finding common ground to work through these issues is another reason why Fazio has decided to run for office.

“Politics currently are very divisive, and I think it is time for people to do what they can where they can,” she said. “It's time for leadership to step up, that can help bring people together and find common ground. I think we have much more in common than we do differences. I am interested in stopping with the 'politics as usual' kind of game.”

Fazio said she has seen many women stepping into the political ring and winning leadership roles and was “inspired by what I've seen them be able to accomplish.”

Fazio's husband, Bryan, is a professional musician and teacher and their 10-year-old daughter, Sundi, is a student in the New Brighton School District.

The primary election is scheduled May 15, with the general election to be Nov. 6.

The 14th district includes Evans City, Harmony, Jackson Township, Lancaster Township and Zelienople in Butler County as well as portions of Beaver County.