Forest

DINGMANS FERRY - Liz Forrest, a business management and technology consultant who served as legislative aide to former Rep. John Siptroth, announced today she will challenge Rep. Rosemary Brown for the 189th District seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Forrest, who serves as a Democratic State Committeewoman for Pike County, will be running for the Democratic nomination in the April 24 primary election.

“Contrary to her 2010 campaign promise to reduce taxes, Rep. Brown and Gov. Tom Corbett voted to slash nearly $15 million from school district budgets in Monroe and Pike counties, which will force school boards to raise taxes, lay off teachers, close schools and lower the quality of education for our children,” Forrest said. “The people of the 189th District deserve better.”

A 19-year resident of Delaware Township, Forrest served as legislative aide to Siptroth in the 189th District from 2005 to 2010. In that capacity, she advocated on behalf of constituents on a wide range of issues, including gas drilling, utilities and transportation.

Since 2002, Forrest has owned Forrest Consulting and Virtual Services Inc., which provides business management and technology consultation and training to clients in the United States and abroad. She works primarily with clients in the communications, manufacturing, legal services, pharmaceutical, chemical and finance industries. In 2009, her company acquired the rights to Aspen ipWorkflow, a web-based intellectual property management software package, which Forrest helped design in 2000 for Aspen Grove Inc., and still supports.

“Because of my background in business development, management and technology, I know how to attract high-tech companies that will create good-paying, family-sustaining jobs in Monroe and Pike counties,” Forrest said. “Rosemary Brown has shown zero ability to attract new jobs to the 189th District and reverse the economic downturn that is devastating our communities.”