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Pennsylvania Governor, Lieutenant Governor Races Tuesday, May 14, 2002
Pennsylvania governor
TERM: 4 years
SALARY: $142,142
JOB DESCRIPTION: The governor, as the chief executive officer of the commonwealth, administers the laws and manages the financial affairs of the state, has extensive appointive powers, and may approve or veto every bill passed by both houses of the General Assembly. The governor may serve only two terms in succession.
QUESTION: What can state government do to ensure equitable funding so that all of our public schools can provide children with the best possible education?
Republican(Vote for one)
Mike Fisher, 57, Upper St. Clair
EDUCATION: A.B. in government, Georgetown University; J.D. in law, Georgetown University.
OCCUPATION: Attorney general of Pennsylvania.
QUALIFICATIONS: Attorney general of Pennsylvania, five years; state senator, 16 years; state representative, six years; Allegheny County assistant district attorney, four years; private law practice, 25 years.
ANSWER: Pennsylvania has increased funding for education by $2 billion over the last seven years, but reliance on property taxes must end. I will call a special session to deal with school funding. All ideas will be considered with fairness and local control the focus. The state must increase funding for special education; therefore, I propose selling the state's liquor stores and placing the revenue into a trust fund to offset the cost of special education.
Democrat(Vote for one)
Ed Rendell, 57, Philadelphia
EDUCATION: University of Pennsylvania, B.A. 1965; Villanova Law School, J.D. 1968.
OCCUPATION: Partner, Ballard Spahr Andrews and Ingersoll, LLP.
QUALIFICATIONS: As mayor of Philadelphia, I turned a record deficit into a record surplus, cut taxes by $300 million, turned years of job losses into years of job gains while dramatically improving services to the city's neighborhoods. I have announced plans to revitalize our communities and reform our inequitable education funding system.
ANSWER: To begin fixing this problem, as governor, I will dramatically increase state aid to local districts while maintaining local curriculum control. My goal is to raise state funding to over 50 percent of the costs of instructional education in our 501 school districts. This revenue will be generated through ferreting out government waste and inefficiencies, restructuring government operations, the placement of slot machines at existing Pennsylvania racetracks, and a doubling of the user's fee on cigarettes.
Bob Casey Jr., 42, Scranton
EDUCATION: B.A., English, The College of the Holy Cross, 1982; J.D., Catholic University School of Law, 1988.
OCCUPATION: Auditor general (currently); practicing attorney, 1991-1996.
QUALIFICATIONS: Only Democratic candidate with state government experience -- sixth year in office, twice elected statewide; fought successfully for families as auditor general, and will continue as governor.
ANSWER: I will work with the Legislature to solve the funding crisis. As auditor general, I have made education funding a priority. I conducted the first-ever performance reviews of Pennsylvania school districts, identifying tens of millions of dollars to be redirected to classrooms for teaching and learning. As governor, I will increase the state's share of education costs and distribute resources more fairly among all districts, so every district has adequate funds to educate its children.
Lieutenant governor
TERM: 4 years
SALARY: $119,399
JOB DESCRIPTION: The lieutenant governor will be elected jointly with the governor in the general election. Candidates are nominated separately in the primary. The lieutenant governor is president of the Senate but has no vote except in case of a tie. In case of death, conviction or impeachment, failure to qualify, resignation or other disability of the governor, the powers, duties and salary of the office are assumed by the lieutenant governor for the remainder of the term or until the disability is removed.
QUESTION: What can state government do to ensure equitable funding so that all of our public schools can provide children with the best possible education?
Republican(Vote for one)
Jane M. Earll , 43, Erie
EDUCATION: B.A. in political science, Allegheny College; J.D. in law, Ohio Northern University College of Law.
OCCUPATION: State senator in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
QUALIFICATIONS: State senator, six years; Erie County assistant district attorney, six years; private law practice, five years; active community volunteer with a variety of organizations.
ANSWER: Pennsylvania has increased funding for education by $2 billion over the last seven years, but reliance on property taxes must end. Gov. Fisher will call a special session to deal with school funding. All ideas will be considered with fairness and local control the focus. The state must increase funding for special education; therefore, we have proposed selling the state's liquor stores and placing the revenue into a trust fund to offset the cost of special education.
Democrat(Vote for one)
Ron Panza
No reply
Allen G. Kukovich , 54, Manor
EDUCATION: Kent State, political science, 1969; Duquesne University School of Law, 1973.
OCCUPATION: 1997-present, state senator, 39th District, Westmoreland County; 1977-1996, state representative, 56th District, Westmoreland County.
QUALIFICATIONS: The only candidate who has served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Pennsylvania Senate and who has passed landmark legislation aimed at helping Pennsylvania's children and families. As our next lieutenant governor, I will use this experience and as president of the Senate will help push the governor's legislative agenda.
ANSWER: On March 4, I called for a special session on education, citing this issue as the top priority for the next legislative session. We need the full glare of the public spotlight focused on improving our schools and addressing how we fund public education. A child's educational quality should not depend on the value of the homes in his neighborhood, and I am committed to solving this problem by working with leaders in both parties during a special session on education.
Thaddeus Kirkland , 47, Chester
EDUCATION: Graduate of Cheyney University, B.A. in communications; currently working toward my master's in theology -- Grace Bible Institute.
OCCUPATION: Legislator.
QUALIFICATIONS: I have held the office of state representative for the past 10 years. I have written and co-sponsored several pieces of legislation. I am a lifelong Pennsylvania resident.
ANSWER: First of all, the state can increase its portion of the funding from 37 percent to at least 50 percent. Secondly, state government and lawmakers must move to change the way we fund our public schools. We have to look seriously at other tax options. Finally, we must put the pressure on the federal government to keep its end of the educational funding agreement.
Edward C. Truax, 45, Harrisburg
EDUCATION: U.S. Army Military Police Academy, third in class. State certification in lethal weapons/criminal law, Harrisburg Area Community College. Additional college, raised on the knee of one of Pennsylvania's most historic political leaders, my father.
OCCUPATION: Journalist, art teacher, community activist.
QUALIFICATIONS: Personally fought terrorism. I've profoundly treasured and cultivated my citizenship. Have won deep respect from several lieutenant governors.
ANSWER: A. Contract through a "sanctioned government commission" comprised of university leaders who agree to be self-sequestered during their academic study. B. Keep lobbyists and "inside the loopers" away. C. Ultimately fund students on a common law type of application, i.e. separate and unequal is even worse than the lie of separate and equal are equal (Animal Farm: "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.") D. Why is it that we know what to do but just don't?
Ron Williams , 51, Lake Winola
EDUCATION: Scranton Technical High School; Lackawanna Junior College; Academy of Excellence in County Government.
OCCUPATION: Wyoming County commissioner (four terms -- 14th year).
QUALIFICATIONS: I am a county executive. Presiding over the Senate will draw on my 14 years' experience. I am the commissioner responsible for emergency management and have been intimately involved in disaster management in the county. As a former police officer, I have firsthand experience with courts and corrections programs.
ANSWER: There is inherent inequality in the manner in which state funding of school districts is currently accomplished. I believe that we need to increase the state's share of educational funding back to 50 percent and revise the funding formula to bring rural and inner-city school funding up to statewide norms. I also believe that we need to revise educational funding sources to alleviate the tax burden on property owners in the commonwealth.
Catherine Baker Knoll , 71, McKees Rocks
EDUCATION: Bachelor's and master's degrees, Duquesne University; attended Harvard University Kennedy School of Government; Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
OCCUPATION: Former state treasurer, 1989-1997; former school teacher and businesswoman.
QUALIFICATIONS: I will put my real-world abilities to work. My service as state treasurer places me in the unique position as the only candidate who has made state government work for the people.
ANSWER: All of our kids deserve the right to reach for the American dream. I will work to bring school funding back to the 50-50 levels of the 1970s and curb skyrocketing property taxes. We must also recognize that the roots of learning and achievement in school begin in the home, something that money alone cannot counter. I will encourage families across our state to actively lay the groundwork for their children to succeed.
John A. Lawless , 44, Collegeville
EDUCATION: Methacton Jr.-Sr. High School, 1975; West Chester University, B.S., 1979.
OCCUPATION: Legislator.
QUALIFICATIONS: Lifelong Pennsylvanian; educated in Pennsylvania schools and college; former corporate management experience; 12 years member of the House of Representatives; father, husband and parent.
ANSWER: Equitable and affordable funding for education is an issue which has been discussed for years in Harrisburg. Study after study after study! No results. No apparent solution. First, we need to move away from depending on property taxes to fund public education. Secondly, all children, regardless of economic family conditions, should be treated to a fair disbursement of state tax dollars. This issue cannot be discussed in 75 words or less as requested.
J. David Woodard , 33, Pittsburgh
EDUCATION: Pennsylvania Act 120 municipal police training; Act 44 Pennsylvania state constable; associate's degree criminal justice; B.A. in philosophy of law; master's in business administration; two certificates of training, U.S. Justice Department: crime prevention for law enforcement and business and investigation and prosecution of hate crime.
OCCUPATION: College instructor; president of Woodard's Educational Services Inc.; owner of a corporation.
QUALIFICATIONS: Elected Democratic committeeman; administrative fact finder; president of education corporation; college instructor; law enforcement background.
ANSWER: Assuring same materials and supplies are given uniformly on a student-need basis. All school districts must be funded at 50 percent across the state. We must fund and support the public schools to the fullest extent. The class sizes will be reduced. There would be property tax reform, without reducing the ability of school districts to meet the changing needs.
Jack Wagner , 54, Beechview
EDUCATION: Indiana University of Pennsylvania -- B.S., Safety Management, 1974.
OCCUPATION: State senator.
QUALIFICATIONS: State senator, eight years; Pittsburgh city councilman, 10 years (president, four years); Democratic caucus chair; Appropriations, Banking & Insurance, Military & Veterans Affairs committees; emergency management/response experience as paramedic, combat Marine, safety engineer, loss analyst.
ANSWER: We must reform the way we fund education in Pennsylvania. In a fiscally responsible way, we must increase the state's share of education costs, distribute those resources more fairly among all districts, and reduce our dependence on local property taxes. It is vitally important that we make this investment in public education and begin to invest even earlier in the future of our children and our commonwealth, through quality preschool and school readiness programs.
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