Cook, Toprani face off in House seat race in the 49th District
Making the community a better place and continuing the fight against opioids are the main issues for the incumbent and his challenger for the state House seat in the 49th District.
State Rep. Bud Cook, 62, of West Pike Run Township is a Republican running for his second term in office. He’s being challenged by Democrat Steven Toprani, a 39-year-old attorney from Monongahela.
“I’m just getting started,” Cook said, adding that he wants to continue with initiatives like creating jobs, creating a better living environment and improving and promoting schools. “I want to bring back home economics, I want to bring back shop class, I want the trades training the future leaders.”
Toprani served as Washington County’s district attorney from 2008-2012, was appointed to the Ringgold school board in 2015 and is a member of the Washington County Redevelopment Authority, all posts he said will bring a wide range of experience to legislative role he’s seeking.
“It will give the voters an alternative choice to advance the region,” Toprani said. “I’m invested and involved in the community and in the last few years, I’ve been dissatisfied in the direction of state government.”
Both men said they believe there needs to be a continued focus on fighting the opioid epidemic, a persistent issue in the district that includes parts of Washington and Fayette counties.
Having also served as a former deputy coroner for Washington County, Toprani said he wants to fight for science-based drug treatment programs as an effective tool in the opioid crisis.
“If you give an addict six months of intensive treatment, you can break the addiction,” he said.
Throughout door-to-door campaigning, Cook said he’s heard from a number of constituents raising their grandchildren, giving necessary help to their children who have fallen prey to addiction. It’s concerning, he said, because many area seniors are on fixed incomes and already struggle financially.
“In 2014 and 2016, I saw parts of it then, but not like what it is now when I’m going door to door,” Cook said.
Both men said the older population in the area continues to be particularly hard hit by property taxes. Each stressed the need for a reformed system.
Cook said he also wants to continue addressing poverty in the district, mainly giving children the incentive to stay in the area or an incentive to come back to the area to live and find employment after going out to receive their education.
Part of that, Cook said, is more effectively promoting the district and all it offers including the outdoors and tourism activities that bring in outside money.
“They’ll come in, visit for a day, but leave their money here,” Cook said. “What’s wrong with that?”
Toprani said he wants to see a renewal and reinvestment in the downtown areas in the district including blight reduction and emergency demolition and finding funding for community redevelopment purposes and employment efforts.
He said the Mon Valley has been hit hard over the past 30 years, and he wants to work to continue the development of commercial areas like industrial parks.
Cook is also calling upon colleagues and opponents to look at the accountability and transparency of the Local Share Account (LSA) program that distributes funds from gaming revenue to counties.
“It’s a great program, but not very transparent or accountable in my opinion,” Cook said.
Toprani said, if elected, he will immerse himself in the role, bring people together to work in a bipartisan and fair way to improve communities in the Mon Valley.
“I want to help the Mon Valley reach its potential,” he said. “That’s why I’m in this race.”
Cook said he was one of 17 state lawmakers recognized in June by the American Conservative Union Foundation (ACUF) for his 100 percent conservative voting rating.
“All I’m doing is representing my bosses in the district,” Cook said.
Cook was a self-employed business owner and former e-marketing consultant with clients that included financial advisers, insurance agents and insurance agencies.
Cook is a member of the Ellsworth Sportsmen Association, Marianna Outdoor Sportsmen and sportsman clubs in Rosco and California as well as a member of the Western Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors and a life-time member of Firearm Owners Against Crime.
Toprani is married with three children. He’s a member of First Baptist Church in Monongahela and is a member of over 20 civil and community organizations.
He is employed as an attorney, primarily practicing municipal and school law at the firm of Dodaro, Matta & Cambest, PC.