Eight democrats compete in 52nd Legislative District
Voters in the 52nd Legislative District, which encompasses portions of Fayette and Westmoreland counties, have 10 candidates seeking the party nominations in the May 16 primary election. Along with two Republicans, eight Democratic candidates are seeking to fill the legislative seat being vacated by state Rep. James E. Shaner, D-Dunbar.
The Democratic candidates recently met with the Herald-Standard Editorial Board to discuss issues relative to the district.
The Democratic candidates include George P. Bozek III, a current Franklin Township supervisor; Deberah Kula, a former magisterial district judge; John H. Lowery III, a Uniontown attorney and president of the Frazier School District board of directors; Dunbar Township Tax Collector Marigrace Butela; businessman and former Scottdale Mayor Tim Carson; former legislator Harry Young Cochran; Mount Pleasant Mayor Gerald Lucia and Connellsville Mayor Judy Reed.
The candidates advocate overall reforms that would permit the public to have access to financial records, lobbyist actions and campaign finance and agree property tax reform must take place to allow school districts to provide the necessary education to students, but not at the expense of the property owner.
Lucia, who challenged Shaner for the position in 2004, said those taking office in January should take immediate action to make critical changes in how business is done at the state capitol.
“We read about it, talked about it and discussed it,” said Lucia. “The time is now.”
A major overhaul, said Kula, is needed in the open records law, which currently allows state legislators to veil certain expenditures and lobbyist activities.
“Anytime you have funding coming from the taxpayers, I believe those records should be available to the public,” said Kula. “I don’t think anyone in any government position should be afraid to allow people access to those records.”
Records that should not be available for review, said Kula, are those that if released would threaten national or state security, juvenile records and those tied to child victims.
Butela, too, said that she advocated a more stringent open records law that would expand the public’s right to know how taxpayer dollars are being spent by the legislators.
“My records are open to the public, so should their (legislators) records,” she said.
Reed said that state legislative action does not include national security issues therefore, all records should be available for public scrutiny as it is in her administration at the city level.
“Anyone is welcome to come down to the City of Connellsville and see any (public record),” said Reed.
Lowery said that any financial or material contribution made by a lobbyist organization should be documented and available for public review along with legislative expense records.
“If the public is paying for it, then the public has a right to know and it should be accessible,” said Lowery, adding that the requested information should be made available via facsimile, e-mail or regular mail in a timely fashion.
Cochran said that the once “citizen Legislature” that existed when he was in office has reverted to a “full-time job filled with lobbyists and big interest.
“Even worse than that, the leadership of both parties as far as I’m concerned, want to keep everything secret,” he said. “They don’t want you to know what the expenses are for telephones, personal expenses and what the lobbyists spends on the House of Representatives.
“This isn’t right. The founding fathers of this country warned that whenever the politicians figure out how to control the citizens with their own money, this constitutional democracy is in trouble.”
Butela said that lobbyists provide necessary information to legislators.
“(The lobbyists) inform the House members what the needs are,” she said.
Carson said that other reforms are also needed, including the hiring of an independent agency to realign the Legislative districts.
“People are very confused,” said Carson, noting that some communities are split and represented by different legislators.
He also advocates the reduction of the size of the legislature that would translate into a less costly endeavor at the state level.
“(The primary election) is the perfect time to make those changes,” he said.
Bozek said that as a township official, records generated through supervisory action are available and he would continue to make accessible his records if elected to the Legislature.
Bozek, Butela, Lowery, Lucia, Reed, Carson and Kula said they would accept Political Action Committee (PAC) money, provided the funds were tied to helping the legislative district and not as a way to influence decision-making.
“There is no way that I could be on a fair playing field with other candidates if I would not accept that money,” said Lowery, adding that he would not consider money for travel, unless it would be to bring relative information or business to the 52nd District. “I don’t want to go to the Super Bowl on somebody’s meal ticket just to talk to them.”
Cochran said that the initiative should be eliminated.
“It’s wrong,” he said. “It has destroyed the citizen Legislature.”
Bozek said he is a proponent of eliminating property tax and replacing it with an expanded sales tax that would include all purchases except medication and catastrophic medical care.
“I believe that it is a fair tax as it catches everyone,” he said. “The elderly can no long withstand (property tax increases).
“The sales tax would generate enough money to assist the school districts.”
Bozek said that he would propose any surplus generated through the sales tax be set aside for future use, should consumer purchases be reduced in later years.
While advocating property tax reform, Butela or Carson did not offer a specific plan for reducing the tax or an option to replace the revenue source.
Lowery, meanwhile, said that an expanded sales tax is “an unstable source of revenue” and advocates the implementation of a higher income tax and expanded sales tax to compensate for the elimination of property taxes.
Kula, too, advocates an expanded sales tax but said she would propose that Internet purchases have a sales tax added to the final cost.
“An (expanded) sales tax would affect everyone equally,” she said.
Lucia said property tax reform is vital to help the homeowner that has worked to secure his future stay in his home and ensure the schools are able to offer the best education for students.
In addition to property tax reform, Cochran said that there is a need to reform the corporate taxing structure at the same time.
Neither Lucia nor Cochran detailed a plan to replace property taxes.
If elected, Bozek said that he would additionally work toward obtaining funding for ambulance service providers and volunteer fire companies and to create a pool of small business owners to lower health care costs.
“We need to create a line item in the budget for emergency response organizations,” said Bozek. “Everyone relies on them and they have to (solely) rely on local governments, donations and any grants they can hustle, and contributions are down.”
Lowery said that the Legislature should take action to assist local school districts with funding needed to implement federal mandated programs as school boards now have to choose between cutting other programs or raising property taxes, which are not popular options.
Also, additional funding is needed to improve communities.
“In order to create economic growth we must bring more water and sewerage infrastructure to the local area,” said Lowery.
Kula said measures must be taken to assist those who have contributed to the development of their communities and the state.
“I am a strong advocate for senior citizens,” said Kula. “I think it is time we gave back to the senior citizen by affording them a better opportunity to health care, medical benefits, housing and a lifestyle that would allow them to continue their lives in an easier manner than they are going through now.”
The candidates believe they are best suited for the legislative post because of their background and experience.
“I understand how the system works,” said Lowery, noting his service as a congressional page for former U.S. Rep. Austin J. Murphy and representation to legal clients. “I have the qualifications and experience necessary to be an effective legislator.”
Kula, who served 14 years on the bench, said that she has honed her skills as a listener, affording all sides a chance to speak before making a decision. The skill, she added, would aid her in Harrisburg.
“I think being able to be tough at times, compassionate when needed and always honest and accountable will make me an effective legislator,” she said.
Bozek, who has served 19 years as a township supervisor said that Franklin Township has prospered through his leadership and because of his tenure, he has developed a relationship with other officials that he will work with, if elected.
“I’ve worked to create a better environment and living standard for those I’ve represented,” he said. “I’ve created a relationship with all local officials in the 52nd District and together we’ll achieve growth and a healthy environment.”
Butela said that as the township tax collector, she has been an advocate for the residents and has assisted the elderly and disabled when they have been confused by bureaucratic changes.
“I believe I can make a difference in the lives of the people of the 52nd District,” she said.
Carson, who serves as the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office director of community affairs and owner of Carson’s Premier Catering, said his interest in public service began in high school and culminated with his election as the Scottdale mayor.
“Along with council, I was responsible for promoting tourism and business development,” he said. “I created jobs and I made Scottdale a better place to live.”
Cochran, who served in the state House of Representatives from 1979 to 1982, said that because of his past experience in the position, he has the necessary skills to fill Shaner’s post.
“I know how to get the job done,” he said. “I’m the one that got Fayette County included in the Mon-Valley Expressway (system) in 1981 and helped to save Connellsville State Hospital (now Highlands Hospital) when they tried to close it.”
Carson and Cochran are supported by PA Clean Sweep, a non-profit, non-partisan organization that advocates legislative reforms.
Lucia, who also is the general manager of Klocek Burial Vault Co. in Mount Pleasant, said that his tenure in the work place and as a member of civic organizations along with his mayoral position that allowed him to work closely with community agencies, gives him the necessary background to serve the 52nd District in Harrisburg.
“I believe in learning from the bottom up,” he said. “I want to make the 52nd District into a place that people coming out of Allegheny County or West Virginia would want to settle.
“I have worked 24 hours a day, seven days a week for my community and constituents and I will do that for the residents of the 52nd District.”
Reed, a former educator and two-decade member of the Connellsville Board of Health, said she would do the best possible for the communities within the legislative district as she has done for the City of Connellsville.
“My passion is to serve the public. My passion is to preserve what we have, promote what we have and improve what we have,” she said.