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Tuesday, October 29, 2002

Candidates for Pennsylvania Senate
(Vote for one in your district)

Term: 4 years

Salary: $63,629

Duties: The General Assembly is the legislative branch of the state government. It is composed of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. A majority vote of both houses is necessary to pass a law. The Senate approves executive appointments while it is in session. Senators will be elected in even-numbered districts in 2002.

Questions: 1. How can the state best meet its constitutional obligation to fund public education? 2. List your top three legislative priorities. 3. What is your stand on developing a system of merit selection of appellate judges (Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth courts) to replace the present elective system?

Republican:

No candidate filed.

Democratic:

Richard A. Kasunic, no reply

Republican:

Ted Tomson, 27, Fawn

Education: B.S. in finance, Penn State University; M.S. in public policy, Carnegie Mellon University.

Occupation: Consultant, Tomson Metal Co.

Qualifications: My education coupled with my experience in the agricultural, recycling and retail industries gives me the broad view needed for this 38th Senatorial District. In addition, I'm from Western Pennsylvania.

Answers: 1. Making the teachers' salaries and benefits funded by the state. This could help in closing the gap between the wealthier school districts and the poorer school districts. This can also reduce the school property tax. New streams of revenue can come from legalized slots at the horse racetracks and legalized video poker machines in taverns, regulated by the Liquor Control Board. 2. Improve education. Improve the business climate in Pennsylvania. Create a health safety net for senior citizens. 3. I am in favor of merit selection, but I believe the system needs refining before choosing. I worry that a small minority deciding can cause one type of judicial philosophy.

Democratic:

Jim Ferlo, 51, Highland Park

Education: Rome Free Academy High School.

Occupation: Councilman, City of Pittsburgh.

Qualifications: Thirty-year employment record as blue-collar wage earner and in social services, governmental and elective office. I have been a full-time city councilman elected by residents citywide in 1987 and in four subsequent district elections. I have been accessible, accountable and an effective legislative leader helping to rebuild our city and neighborhoods.

Answers: 1. A legislative special session is needed to reprioritize the state budget to restore a minimum of 50 percent reimbursement to all school districts with a plan for fair revenue enhancement and mandatory reduction in school property taxes. 2. Mandatory reduction of tax burden on property owners for funding of school districts. Expand coverage of the Children's Health Insurance Program and prescription drug program. Improve the 38th District's riverfronts through community involvement in plans for recreational, housing and new business development. 3. The best process is for the citizenry to vote for judicial candidates that are with merit.

Republican:

Jane C. Orie, 41, McCandless

Education: Vincentian High School; Franklin & Marshall College, B.A.; Duquesne University School of Law, J.D.

Occupation: Pennsylvania state senator.

Qualifications: Lifelong resident of McCandless; assistant district attorney, Allegheny County (1987-1993); deputy attorney general, Division of Criminal Prosecution (1993-1996); state representative (1997-2001); state senator (2001-present).

Answers: 1. On Jan. 29, 2002, the Pennsylvania Senate unanimously passed Senate Resolution 101. I introduced SR 101 in a bipartisan effort to address equitable and responsible school funding. The resolution resulted in the first comprehensive and independent national expert review of the issue. The final study that was released by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee is designed to serve as a work in progress for the Legislature as the property tax issue and educational funding and equity is considered in the designated special session. 2. Property taxes. Education. Economic development -- roads, sewage and creating jobs. 3. The merit selection of judicial officers increases the likelihood that a judge will be chosen by individuals with the appropriate professional background to implement the commonwealth's laws and the Constitution based upon his or her credentials, and not his available election funding or popularity.

Democratic:

Dan DeMarco, 37, Ross

Education: Allegheny College, B.A. political science, 1987; Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., 1993.

Occupation: Vice president and general counsel, The Hill Group Inc., a business and government management consulting firm.

Qualifications: Attorney; government consultant; commissioner on the Ross Township Board of Commissioners from January 2000 to present.

Answers: 1. The General Assembly must enact legislation to reduce and eventually eliminate real estate taxes as the source of funding for public education. A combination of local and state income and sales taxes can replace real estate taxes. The commonwealth must increase by 15 percent its share of funding by reducing unnecessary costs within the state government. 2. Reducing prescription drug costs. Eliminating real estate taxes. Public safety. 3. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that in states where the people elect judges, judicial candidates cannot be prohibited from expressing their opinions on issues that may come before them as a judge. Judicial candidates should be permitted to discuss their position on issues, but this ruling opens the door to negative campaigning. I therefore believe that Pennsylvania appellate court judges should be interviewed, tested and recommended for appointment by a bipartisan judicial selection commission.

Republican:

Thomas Stepnick, 43, Bellevue

Education: B.S. accounting, Bob Jones University.

Occupation: Certified public accountant.

Qualifications: Lifelong resident of southwestern Pennsylvania; homeowner; married, father of two daughters.

Answers: 1. The state can best meet its obligation to fund public education through controlling its costs by promoting and funding school choice for low- and moderate-income parents to place their children in lower-cost educational options such as parochial, private and home schools. More children being educated in alternative schools relieves some of the burden of the state and ultimately the taxpayers to fund public education. Expanding school choice gives more parents the freedom to educate their children as they see fit. 2. Replace property taxes with sales taxes for public school funding. Control prescription costs through contracts with medical providers and reduction of government regulation. Reduce business taxes and regulations to promote job and economic growth. 3. I would continue to support the election of judges as is done now; however, we must change the rules and standards of the legal system to allow judges to discuss their views and positions on issues.

Democratic:

Jack Wagner, 54, Beechview

Education: Indiana University of Pennsylvania, B.S. safety management, 1974.

Occupation: State senator (Allegheny County).

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.

Answers: 1. 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. 2. Property tax and reassessment reform. PACE (Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly) law revisions so more senior citizens become eligible for prescription drug coverage. Reform the way the state funds education. 3. I favor the merit selection of Pennsylvania's Appellate Court (statewide) judges for several reasons. Today, all judges are elected, which means they must solicit campaign contributions to run for office, or be wealthy. Most judges' campaign funds come from lawyers, who are likely to appear before the very judges to whom they are giving money. This would appear to be a conflict of interest, putting our judicial system in an awkward position.

Republican-Democratic:

J. Barry Stout, 65, Somerset Township

Education: B.A. economics, Washington and Jefferson College; Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science; U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

Occupation: State senator.

Qualifications: Member of the state Legislature since 1970 -- with this seniority I've been able to develop the necessary resources to help address the ever-changing needs of a diverse constituency. I also have raised six college-educated children to adulthood.

Answers: 1. By restructuring the financing system to include: a) fair local tax reform that will help to reduce school districts' reliance upon property taxes; b) equalized funding for special education; c) resolution of the equality issue; d) incentives for smaller classrooms and proactive measures for disruptive students to assure safe and effective schools. 2. Responsible funding for public education, with equitable taxation for property owners. Infrastructure improvement -- highways, water and sewage. Economic development that would support family-sustaining jobs. 3. I would give this serious consideration provided the selection process is fair and equitable to all types interested in serving in these appellate positions. The selection process would need to be fair and balanced from a geographical, economic, social and political standpoint.

Republican:

Bob Robbins, 58, Greenville

Education: Greenville Senior High School, 1962; U.S. Military Academy at West Point, 1966; teaching certificate from Geneva College, 1973.

Occupation: Legislator.

Qualifications: Captain, U.S. Army infantry (Airborne/Ranger/Vietnam veteran), 1966-71; Greenville High School Social Studies Teacher, 1973-77; insurance agent, 1977-82; Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1983-90; Pennsylvania Senate, 1991-present; Senate leadership, 1997-present.

Answers: 1. Reducing taxes is the overriding goal of taxpayers. I will insist that any plan contain real taxpayer protections like local referendums on tax increases above certain thresholds for schools opting into the new system. I will work to provide fair and equitable funding to all schools and increase funding to targeted areas of need (i.e. special education). I will also work to provide schools with relief from unnecessary mandates. 2. Creating family-sustaining jobs; enhancing economic development; supporting education. 3. I support the regional selection of judges to represent the views of citizens across Pennsylvania.

Democratic:

Kyle Klaric, 40, Hermitage

Education: Sharon High School graduate; bachelor's degree from Slippery Rock University.

Occupation: President/CEO of Premier Hydraulics Inc., Farrell, Pa., and Klaric Forge and Machine Inc. in Atlantic, Pa.

Qualifications: Experience in job creation. Unites business and government for positive action. Urban League board. Technical Solutions board. Workforce Investment Board chairman, Mercer and Lawrence counties.

Answers: 1. The state has to reinstate state funding levels to school districts to ease the burden on local taxpayers and senior citizens. 2. Economic development/jobs; reduction of property taxes; prescription drugs for senior citizens. 3. I believe in the election process for judges but I would reduce the terms from 10 years to five years. I would also allow judges to run on issues so the voters would be better informed.