Ron Ruman
Democrat | Pennsylvania
Candidate Profile
Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Ron Ruman
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary, Special HD196
Race
Special Election, State Representative, District 196
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Penn State University, State College, PA, BA Speech Com/Broacasting, 1977-1981
WORK & MILITARY
News Reporter, WTAJ-TV, Altoona. PA, 1981-1984
News Producer and State Capitol Reporter, WHP-TV, Harrisburg, PA, 1984-1990
Video Coordinator, Pennsylvania Senate, 1990-2000
Deputy Press Secretary, Lt. Gov. Mark Schweiker, 2001-2002
Deputy Press Secretary, PA Dep't. of Environmental Protection, 2002-2008
Senior Associate, Shelly Communications, Harrisburg, PA, 2008-2011
Communications Director and Press Secretary, PA Dep't. of State, 2011-2015
Communications Director and Press Secretary, PA Insurance Department, 2015-2019
AFFILIATIONS
Windy Hill Senior Center, Spring Grove, PA, President, Board of Directors, 2022-2026
St. Rose of Lima Knights of Columbus, Recorder, 2019-2026
York County Chapter, Penn State Alumni Association Board of Directors, 1994-2011
York County SPCA Board of Directors, 1994-1997
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Supervisor, West Manchester Township, York County, PA, 2022-2026
Planning Commission Member, West Manchester Township, York County, PA, 2003-2021
York County Planning Commission Member, 1997-2000
York City Zoning Hearing Board Member, 1991-1995
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
State Representative, PA House District 196, 2026-
York City Council, 1993-
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (3)
Pennsylvania State Education Association
IBEW Local 229
Democratic Party of York County
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Tom Corbett (2014)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Agree
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
I support Pennsylvania's current abortion law, which provides for legal abortion with limits. The health of the mother must always be protected, and abortion must be an option in cases of rape and incest. I believe time limits are appropriate and PA's current law has that. I also believe as a society we must support women and children during pregnancy and after birth, with help for food, medical care and shelter if needed, and make adoption an easier and more socially acceptable option.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Neutral
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Disagree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Disagree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Our Constitution provides there is to be no government establishment of religion. Our government must protect the freedom of anyone to worship as he or she wishes but no religious ideas must be forced on anyone by the government. People must be free and to worship as they wish or not worship at all without reprisal from the government, and must be protected by the government from harassment by others for their choice of religion or choice not to worship.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Neutral
This is a difficult question. The other part of this question is whether withholding services deprives someone else of their equal rights. These situations must be looked at on an individual basis.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Agree
China has clearly shown it will do whatever it can to overtake the United States economically.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
America's historic relationship with Israel is important to protect the Jewish state for the people who choose to live there, and in our common interest to oppose states in the Middle East which support terrorism and wish harm on both the U.S. and Israel. However, the plight of the Palestinian people must also be taken into account, and a peaceful resolution providing security for all in the Middle East must always be our goal.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
Somewhere between B and C. Medicare and Medicaid are absolutely necessary. CHIP provides necessary care for children, and that is government funded and should continue. Beyond this, I would prefer private coverage. However, we must work to reign in the cost of all healthcare and insurance, by allowing negotiation for drug prices, requiring transparency before care is provided by doctors and hospitals, and requiring all insurance to pay for preventive care and cover pre-existing conditions.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
This is Big Brother. People must be able to access health care without fear the government will be keeping tabs. Medical institutions can track healthcare costs, as well as private entities such as universities, but we must not put a government price on human life.
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
The minimum wage should be raised incrementally to reach at least $12 over the next few years. After that consideration should be given to whether the minimum wage should be tied to inflation, or at least reviewed every few years.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Agree
The ability to create new products and services, develop new ideas and reap the benefits of hard work are central to our economic system. Hard work and innovation must be rewarded. Private property, both commercial and personal, are central to our way of life.
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
Having covered state and local government for a decade as a reporter, and worked in local and state governments for the past 35 years, there is far less waste than many would have you believe. The real debate is what services does the public want and a what level. Regular, public audits of all government programs should be conducted and laws against fraud and waste, which do exist, must be fairly and rigorously enforced.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Neutral
Sanctuary cities may not be the answer, but we must work toward a national immigration policy which recognizes many people flee to the US because of famine, war, drug gangs and despotic regimes which make caring for their families impossible. We also depend on immigrants for industries such as agriculture, construction home improvements, and tourism. This is largely a federal government issue, but my faith calls on me to protect our citizens from violent criminals while showing compassion.
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Disagree
States and communities already control most of our education. The federal government provide important support in the area of special education and funding important research funding at our leading universities. This should continue.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Neutral
I do not understand this question. My understanding foreign governments often pay for their citizens to study in the United States. Beyond this I am not aware of foreign government funding education in the U.S.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
Did not answer
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Did not answer
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Did not answer
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Did not answer
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Did not answer
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
Did not answer
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
Did not answer
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Did not answer
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Did not answer
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Did not answer
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Did not answer
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Did not answer
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Did not answer
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Did not answer
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Did not answer
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Did not answer
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Did not answer
