Local political candidates meet to answer child care questions in community forum

Childcare and early education took center stage at the Martin Luther King Center Thursday night.

Children First, an advocacy group for child care and educational resources, held a candidate conversation Thursday night to hear from candidates and legislators.

Taking part in Thursday’s event were PA State Representative Bob Merski and candidate for PA State Senate Jim Wertz, both Democrats.

Both participants answered questions about the issue that affects so many families in Erie County.

“Only 29% of our children under the age of 5 are enrolled in high-quality pre-K. So we need to make sure that all families have access to high-quality pre-K in order to ensure those students are prepared for kindergarten in the pre-K through 12 system,” said Jim Wertz, (D) candidate for PA state Senate.

No Republican legislators or candidates took part in the Children First candidate conversation event. Organizers say all candidates were invited.

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