One of two candidates for 58th district participates in forum
MONESSEN — With three young children and 11 nieces and nephews living in the area, Justin Walsh said he’s concerned about the opioid crisis facing the region.
As the Republican candidate for the state House in the 58th District, Walsh said he would try to implement a three-step approach to attack the problem, starting with giving police the necessary tools and resources to tackle the issue, Walsh said.
His second prong would be focusing on treatment.
“We need to get a coalition of medical professionals, counselors and first responders and determine how we can get help for these people (who are addicted),” Walsh said.
The third element would be prevention — working with school districts to educate students from a young age about the hazards of addiction, Walsh said.
While he was not able to identify a specific funding source to implement his plan, Walsh said the money to address addiction would have to come from the general fund, or through cutting wasteful spending.
He said he would lead by example by not taking the state-provided pension. Additionally, Walsh said he would not accept the state-set allotment for daily expenses, instead submitting actual receipts and being thrifty in his own spending.
Walsh was the lone candidate for the district seat to take part in the forum at the Monessen Middle/High School, sponsored by The Mon Valley Herald-Standard, the Mon Valley Alliance and the Greater Rostraver Chamber of Commerce.
West Newton Mayor Mary Popovich, Democratic candidate, declined to participate.
Walsh and Popovich are vying to replace longtime state Rep. Ted Harhai, D-Monessen, who decided not to run for another term in office.
The district covers several areas in Westmoreland County, including the Belle Vernon, Monessen and Southmoreland school districts.
Walsh, an attorney and Belle Vernon native, said he would focus on pension reform if elected. Reform could free up money to be spent on education, since so much education funding goes to the pension program, he said.
“Education takes about 35 percent of the budget, and it’s money well-spent,” Walsh said. “We need to make sure school districts are being efficient with this money.”
On the issue of charter schools, Walsh said the competition between charter schools and traditional public schools has to be fair.
Walsh said addressing blight issues by holding property owners accountable would increase community and school district tax bases while encouraging businesses and new residents to move to the area.
Walsh said recreation is an important community element, aiding economic development by making an area more desirable. He referenced North Belle Vernon Community Bank Park, which went from being a rundown area where addicts would shoot up to a community asset with constant activity since it was rehabilitated.
Walsh said his professional experience will help him get things accomplished in Harrisburg.
“What we do as lawyers is negotiate and settle things. I think my 18 years as a lawyer has prepared me for this position,” Walsh said. “You have to be as good a listener as you are a speaker.”
Walsh said that if elected, he would be a new, independent voice in Harrisburg.
The district includes the city of Monessen, Rostraver Township, Mount Pleasant Borough, North Belle Vernon Borough, West Newton Borough and a portion of East Huntingdon Township.