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Campaign 2001/40th State Senatorial District: An old-fashioned race A large, diverse district and a short race made for a down-to-earth, rolled-up-sleeve style campaign in the contest to succeed Melissa Hart Wednesday, March 14, 2001 By Edward G. Robinson III, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
With campaign posters stuck in the ground and commercial messages circulating, the race for the 40th District state senatorial seat has reached full throttle.
So far, this truncated special election, scheduled 57 days before the May 15 primary, has been marked by fierce door-knocking and grassroots rummaging for votes throughout the sprawling, diverse district.
Republican nominee Jane Orie and Democratic nominee Jim Rooney -- who will be joined on the ballot by independent Jim Stefanick -- were congenial early but have become increasingly harsh as the campaign has unfolded.
Their debate has centered on property tax reform, education funding, health care, infrastructure, employment, traffic and transportation issues, which all rank high with approximately 250,000 citizens in the district.
Ultimately, though, the election may swing on how many people actually vote. Many observing the election predict low voter turnout, citing apathy toward politics after the heated presidential campaign. Some point to the historically low turnout by Democrats in special elections as a boon for Orie.
Orie, 39, of McCandless; Rooney, 33, of Butler County; and Stefanick, 42, of Ross, are vying to fill the seat vacated by Melissa Hart, a Republican from Bradford Woods who was elected to Congress in November. The term runs through 2002.
The winner of this race must represent a wide-ranging district that includes parts of Allegheny, Butler and Westmoreland counties.
It's also economically diverse, ranging from the affluent suburbs of southwestern Butler County and northwestern Allegheny County to the blue-collar towns of the Alle-Kiski Valley.
Party affiliations will not mean all that much, according to Hart, who in past years garnered significant support from Democrats. She said residents in the 40th District vote on the issues, "not one's party."
Hart declined comment on candidates in this race.
"I believe that the central issues for this election will continue to be what they always have been for this area, including tax reform and job creation," Hart said. "The 40th district wants their legislator to fight for working families and strengthen the education system for their children."
These and other issues were broached Saturday at a candidate forum sponsored by the AARP at the Holiday Inn at RIDC Park in O'Hara. The forum was not a debate but rather a question-and-answer session for candidates to clarify their stance on issues.
About 250 voters, mostly seniors, listened as Orie, Rooney and Stefanick said why they want to represent the people of the 40th District.
Orie, who has introduced about 120 pieces of legislation, said she is a "proven entity." She said her record of bipartisan work and a lifetime worth of caring for the district make her the stronger candidate. She has proposed phasing in property taxes over years to help first-time homeowners and welfare-to-work recipients.
She was first elected to the state House in 1996 and last year was re-elected to her third term.
She lives in her childhood home with her father, John Orie. She graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster and received a law degree from Duquesne University.
Orie practiced law for 10 years, serving as state deputy attorney general in the criminal division and an assistant Allegheny County district attorney.
Rooney is assistant director of leadership development in the University of Pittsburgh school of business; took a leave of absence to campaign. He lives in Seven Fields with his wife, Stephanie, and their three children.
Rooney said he wants to provide better health care and education for children in the district. He also proposed a freeze on property taxes for residents 50 and over.
Rooney is the son of Pittsburgh Steelers president Dan Rooney and grandson of the late Art Rooney. He said he developed his sense of commitment to people from the examples set by both men.
Stefanick graduated from La Roche College with a bachelor of science degree in administration and management. He works in his family's real estate business.
He said he has had a long interest in government and wants to allow citizens to determine how their tax dollars are spent.
The dominant political parties "left us out of the process," he said, maintaining that a primary should have preceded this election.
He said Democrats and Republicans bank on incumbency while doing lackluster work for the people. "Once you in, you're in," he said.
All candidates supported finding ways to lower prescription drugs and stopping violence in schools. Similarly, they all supported improved education. They all were against vouchers for students.
The forum reinforced how close the candidates are on major issues, but also allowed residents to see where they differ slightly.
One place differences surfaced was on spending potential state surpluses.
Rooney supports using a percentage of any state surplus to fund educational programs that help students improve, especially in technology, which would be widely available with more resources, he said.
Orie supports returning surpluses to residents, but not using more state funds. She added the state has an obligation to schools but the money belongs to taxpayers. She supports using surpluses for special-needs education programs.
Stefanick said he would neither raise nor lower taxes, but would instead investigate failing programs where money is wasted and use the money on programs that work.
Some observers complained that the candidates said little on issues such as infrastructure and economic growth, specifically for areas in Westmoreland County such as New Kensington and Arnold.
Carol Emerson, director for voter service for the League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh, said she's not sure candidates have sufficiently addressed how they plan to help everyone in the district, including those in poor areas.
John Mandack, an Arnold councilman, said his community has been overlooked in terms of grant allocation and general funding.
"All the dollars seem to flow to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and regions in between," said Mandack, who supports Rooney.
He said the area needs a connector bridge to Route 28 that would allow for access in and out of the area. He said delivery trucks have serious problems getting into the area, which decreases chances of bringing in large business to provide badly needed employment.
Transportation is also an issue in West Deer, according to Tom DeMartini, chairman the West Deer Democratic Committee. He said the area's tax burden falls on seniors because younger home owners are not moving in. He blames congested traffic and insufficient roads.
"Pittsburgh would be more viable if we could get there," said DeMartini, who said some type of rail system is needed. "Most people decide it's not worth fighting traffic and parking."
Traffic is also a major concern to some on the other side of the district. Dick Hadley, a Cranberry commissioner, said increased population has caused congested traffic.
He cited a need for strong leadership to help aid the completion of stalled work on the long-planned, direct link between the turnpike and Interstate 79. He also said the area needs assistance with growth management and economic development.
Hadley said the legislator who wins this election should be prepared to bring the district together, and not spend time pointing fingers.
"We should not be competing with each other for jobs and economic development," Hadley said. "We need more of a vision and more of a plan."
When the AARP forum was complete, some voters were firmly behind the candidates they came to support. Others were undecided and confused.
"I wish I could take some of the things from this one and some from that one and put it all in one person," said Marian Kuchn, 75, of Fawn.
Others, like Chet Howell, made up their minds based on what they heard.
"I was really undecided before I got here. I wanted to hear them both together," said Howell, 64, of Natrona Heights. "My mind was totally made up here, it wasn't even close. Orie is definitely the most qualified candidate. And I'm a Democrat."
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