Incumbent faces challenge in 58th Legislative District
The Democratic Primary race for the 58th Legislative District pits incumbent Ted Harhai against first-time candidate Dan Reppert. Harhai, a 1973 graduate of Monessen High School and a 1977 graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, has served as a member of the House since 1998. He serves on the House commerce, consumer affairs and local government committees. He is also the Democratic chair of the Steel Caucus.
“I worked in steel mills to help me get through college,” Harhai said.
Harhai has a background in investment banking and is the former mayor of Monessen.
“I never really wanted to be in politics. I hate politics, but I love helping people,” Harhai said. “I work hard, I do the right thing, and I care. If I ever have to do something to compromise my integrity, I’ll quit.”
Reppert, 47, is making his first run for public office. He is a former steelworker and is employed as a construction superintendent for Manown Contracting.
“When I was 18 years old, when I got out of high school, I had an option to go to college, or to two different steel mills, or Fox Grocery or the coal mines. I chose to go to the Allenport Mill. I had choices. I made $10.85 an hour with benefits. It’s 30 years later and we’re hiring people at $10 an hour with no benefits. I feel that politicians are not doing their job,” Reppert said. “I want to see if I can make a difference.”
The state legislature has been wrestling with the issue of expanding gambling in Pennsylvania for several years. Harhai said the legislature needs to be careful not to flood the market with gaming venues and to not rely on gaming as the sole means of facilitating property tax reform.
“I’m not advocating gambling or gaming, but if we’re going to have it, I’d like to keep the money here,” Harhai said.
Harhai said he would be in support of gaming operations for Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa, since its owner and Fayette County Commissioner Joe Hardy has said his facility would attract tourists from Maryland and the Cleveland, Ohio areas.
“We’re losing about $3.8 million a year in gaming funds,” Harhai said.
Harhai said expanded gaming would probably cover 60 to 75 percent of the funding needed to bring about property tax reform.
“I voted for the state budget and I was in favor of a sales tax, not the income tax. As you get older, you don’t spend as much money. The people who can spend the money and do, will be the ones that pay the tax. You can make much more on a sales tax than you can on a wage tax.”
Reppert said he favors limiting gaming to the horse racing tracks.
“As far as the slots bill goes, I feel as long as it’s going to the isolated areas of the tracks and helps them out, fine. I don’t think it would help with the property tax much. I’m definitely against casinos and slots parlors. I think it would just take away from our volunteer fire companies,” Reppert said.
Reppert said he would support increasing the wage tax and lowering the state sales tax to 4 percent, but applying it to everything.
“I think property tax and school tax should be eliminated. I don’t know if we’ll ever see that,” Reppert said.
Reppert said the state should provide 100 percent of the funding for public schools.
“I think local control has to be looked at somewhat. They need to be more accountable for how they spend their funds. There is so much overspending now,” Reppert said.
Reppert went on to say, however, that the current level of state involvement in local schools is adequate.
“I think education is the cornerstone of any society,” Harhai said. “I don’t know that what we’re doing is correct, but we are moving in the right direction.”
Harhai said he does have a few problems with the current Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) testing program, including the fact that it is an unfunded mandate. He said pressure should not be put on students and schools to perform well on the test in order to get the funding that they need.
“We have to make sure we provide enough funding for community colleges, state colleges, Pitt and Penn State. I was very opposed to cutting funding for libraries. Libraries are so much a part of education,” Harhai said.
Both candidates called for transparency in government and more accountability for funds coming from special interest groups and Political Action Committees (PAC).
“You have to be held accountable. If you keep getting PAC money from a certain entity, that’s not a good thing,” Harhai said.
Harhai said his vote is not for sale.
“They can give me $50 gazillion and they are not going to buy a vote from me,” Harhai said.
“Everything you do in office should be openly visible,” Reppert said. “I have nothing to hide and nor should they.”
The district includes Belle Vernon and Fayette City boroughs and the second, third and fourth precincts Washington Township in Fayette County, and part of Westmoreland County including Monessen, Rostraver and Sewickley townships, parts of East Huntingdon, Hempfield and North Huntingdon townships, and North Belle Vernon, Smithton, Adamsburg, Arona, Madison, Manor, Sutersville and West Newton boroughs.