DeWeese easily defeats opponents
WAYNESBURG – Despite two challengers, state Rep. H. William DeWeese of Waynesburg easily won the Democratic nomination Tuesday and assured himself at least another two years in the state House, representing the 50th Legislative District. With most precincts in the district reporting, DeWeese received 5,673 votes, vastly outdistancing his challengers, Carmichaels resident and author Lonnie Miller (1,606 votes) and the Rev. Robert Spence of Luzerne Township (1,270 votes).
In Greene County, DeWeese outdistanced Miller by a more than 3-1 margin, 3,976 to 1,265, while Rev. Spence received 515 votes.
Spence fared better in his home county but still fell short of DeWeese. With 17 of 18 precincts reporting, Spence received 665 votes, to DeWeese’s 1,389 and Miller’s 259.
And, with four of 10 precincts reporting in Centerville Borough and East Bethlehem Township, Washington County, DeWeese received 236 votes to Miller’s 76 and Spence’s 65.
All of the results are unofficial.
“I am gratified that the Democrats of Greene, Fayette and Washington counties have seen fit to allow me the privilege to be nominated for another term in the General Assembly,” DeWeese said. “I feel I am in the prime of my vigorous middle age and will focus laser-like on the reduction of property taxes in Pennsylvania with a new Democratic governor.”
DeWeese, 52, serves as House Democratic leader, a position he has held since 1994. He was elected speaker of the House in January 1993 and has served as majority leader and majority whip during his time in office.
In addition to property tax reform, DeWeese said he will focus on equitable school funding and a reformed prescription drug plan. He will face no opposition in the November general election, as no Republican have filed for the office.
“I commend my opponents. They ran a gentlemanly campaign. They hit hard, but not below the belt,” DeWeese said. “Hopefully, I’ll be the beneficiary of some of their views and suggestions while I’m privileged to serve.”
Both Spence and Miller campaigned against DeWeese, claiming that the 26-year legislator did more to advance his own standing in Harrisburg than for the constituents who repeatedly re-elect him. They both pointed to DeWeese’s refusal to provide itemized receipts from the $12 million Special Leadership Account that he controls as one of the reasons he has lost touch with his district.
In fact, Miller often quipped that he wouldn’t reveal his age until DeWeese turned over the receipts from that account. Miller could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.
Spence, 58, an ordained minister and father of five, is a former coal miner and United Mine Workers of America state legislative director, Army veteran and former chairman of the Fayette County NAACP. Spence said he worked to get DeWeese elected more than a quarter century ago and touted economic development and property tax reform as important issues he wanted to address if elected.
He proposed an increase in the sales tax and increases in taxes on cigarettes and alcohol as ways to eliminate or reduce the state’s reliance on property tax as a revenue stream. Spence also advocated equitable funding for all 501 of Pennsylvania’s school districts.
He said he was “shocked and flabbergasted” by the results.
“I am highly disappointed with the Greene County vote. I thought the numbers would be much better,” he said. “I was the dark horse in the race, I guess.”
Miller, 63, also a former coal miner, has written four books on local coal mining and spent much of the past few months gauging interest from constituents, whom he said told him that they are tired of DeWeese’s lack of concern for his district. He claimed that most of the people with whom he spoke felt that it was time for DeWeese’s time in Harrisburg to end, and he said he was the man to replace him.
Miller said that along with tax reform, improved prescription drug coverage for senior citizens was a priority, and he also advocated the placement of slot machines in the state’s four racetracks to generate more revenue.
The 50th District encompasses all of Greene County, the boroughs of Masontown, Brownsville and Point Marion, Luzerne Township and portions of German Township in Fayette County. In Washington County, East Bethlehem Township and Centerville Borough are represented in the district.