May 20, 2002 2 min read

When Larry Roberts first ran for Pennsylvania’s General Assembly against longtime incumbent Fred Taylor, he was an unknown with no experience in state government. Now Roberts is as entrenched in partisan politics and as protective of the perks of his position as Taylor ever was.

It is time for a change in the 51st Legislative District, and Terry Janosek, who is challenging Roberts for the Democratic Party’s nomination, offers a refreshing choice.

Janosek would come in to the office without the baggage that Roberts has accumulated and would bring a new face and new ideas. Janosek is a life-long resident of Fayette County and has worked for 25 years at Invensys Metering Systems. He has some experience in leadership and resolving and mediating differing views, as he has served for the past three years as president of the Fayette Labor Council.

As regular readers of the Herald-Standard are aware, the newspaper has had to file suit against Roberts in order to review what should be considered public records. Roberts has attempted to make a big show with claims that he is a proponent of Open Records.

He’s merely blowing smoke. Roberts says he supports any Open Records reform initiative and that he would even sponsor legislation to include the legislative branch under the act. But the fact is, in the decade that he has served, Roberts hasn’t advanced any reform in this area. And by failing to provide his own records, forcing the newspaper’s lawsuit, he demonstrated his grand ability to talk out of both sides of his mouth.

Roberts also has spoken often about his desire to reform property taxes, but other than sponsor a bill that would abolish property taxes without a simultaneous proposal to replace the revenue stream, he has done nothing to advance reform. Roberts has become a professional politician, interested solely in advancing his own career. He is often out of step with his constituents’ needs.

Janosek offers a welcome change.