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PrintSTATE SENATOR
(Vote for one in your party and district)
Term: 4 years
Salary: $66,204
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 odd-numbered districts in 2004.
Question: How can the commonwealth meet its constitutional obligation to fund public education while more equitably distributing the tax burden?
21st District
Kevan M. Yenerall, 31, Clarion (View photo)
Education: B.A., Duquesne University; M.A., Miami (Ohio) University; Ph.D., Miami (Ohio) University.
Occupation: Political science professor, Clarion University.
Qualifications: A lifetime of experience in politics, public service and community activism; elected positions with the Democratic State Committee and my union (APSCUF); an unwavering commitment to education, the environment, jobs and justice.
Answer: Equitable funding for public education is not just a constitutional obligation -- it is a moral imperative. No child's future should be determined by the financial constraints of their district. As the commonwealth has dramatically reduced its financial commitment to school districts, property taxes have skyrocketed. We can reverse this trend, reinvest in our schools and reduce property taxes by using revenue from a judicious number of slot machines -- and we must do this immediately.
Mary Jo White; 62, Franklin (View photo)
Education: B.A. Quincy University, 1963; J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law, 1967.
Occupation: Attorney, state senator.
Qualifications: Over 30 years in the practice of law, including civil and criminal experience; 20 of those years as a corporate executive with a broad range of responsibilities, including environmental compliance.
Answer: Reliance on property taxes is outdated and inequitable. I support permitting voters to shift to a local earned income tax in exchange for a dollar-for-dollar reduction in property taxes. This respects local control over tax dollars, encourages home ownership and eases the burden on existing homeowners. I do not support expanded gambling to pay for tax reform. I have supported increased state aid to poor school districts to help ensure all students receive a quality education.
37th District
Ernest Simon,no reply
John Pippy, 33, Moon (View photo)
Education: Graduate, 1992, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, B.S. environmental engineering.
Occupation: Senator, 37th District, Senate of Pennsylvania.
Qualifications: Member, 1996-2003, state House of Representatives; member, 2003-present, state Senate.
Answer: The first priority is appropriate funding for special education. The method by which the federal and state governments currently fund special education is inadequate because it does not reflect nor reimburse to school districts the actual cost of caring for these children. This puts an undue burden on local school districts to fund programs mandated by federal and state agencies. Properly funding special education would help all school districts while providing new revenues and flexibility.
39th District
Allen Kukovich, 56, Manor (View photo)
Education: Penn-Trafford High School; B.A. political science Kent State; law degree, Duquesne University.
Occupation: State senator.
Qualifications: I have a record of experience, commitment and accomplishment. I have championed the issues that concern children, workers, families and seniors. Governors from both parties have cited my accomplishments for the CHIP program and expansion of PACE/PACENET benefits.
Answer: During the last eight years, the state reduced its contribution to just 35 percent of the cost of public education, down from 48 percent. The undesired result was higher property taxes. The solution is threefold. First, lawmakers must show responsibility to properly fund education. Second, we should increase our commitment to the Opportunity Grant program that encourages such things as full-day kindergarten, smaller primary grade class sizes and tutoring. Third, we must pass property tax reform.
Bob Regola, 41, Greensburg (View photo)
Education: B.S. civil engineering, Penn State University.
Occupation: Professional land surveyor and civil engineer.
Qualifications: Hempfield Township supervisor (chairman), never increased taxes, strong values and character, saving money for taxpayers by pushing for municipal cooperation.
Answer: Too much of the education debate in Harrisburg involves searching for more money, when people want to see substantial relief on property taxes and better results for what they are already paying. I support cutting property taxes and believe a referendum is necessary to control property taxes in the future. I believe local schools and teachers need more flexibility in approach to meet high standards for student achievement. I oppose using gambling to pay for education.
41st District
No candidate filed
Don White, 53, Indiana, Pa. (View photo)
Education: Attended Juniata College and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Occupation: State senator.
Qualifications: Chairman, Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee; vice chairman, Community and Economic Development Committee; member, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Environmental Resources and Energy, Banking and Insurance and Transportation committees.
Answer: Equity funding is a major problem. Districts vary greatly in per-student spending. The commonwealth has made consistent and reasonable increases in funding; however, spending by districts has increased at a faster pace. I'm committed to providing reasonable funding levels to our schools, but not at an increased expense for the taxpayer. I believe each child has an equal right to a quality education and we need to find a way to make that a reality.
43rd District
Jay Costa, Jr., 46, Forest Hills (View photo)
Education: 1977, Community College of Allegheny County, A.S.; 1979, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; 1989, Duquesne University School of Law, J.D.
Occupation: Senator; attorney, Grogan Graffam, P.C.
Qualifications: Deputy sheriff, Allegheny County, 1984-89; register of wills, Allegheny County, 1992-96.
Answer: We can no longer leave taxpayers with the burden of financing our schools. The state must step forward and take responsibility. It is unfair to blame local tax increases solely on school district spending when we know the truth: the state isn't fully meeting its obligation to our students. The only way for us to close the funding gap between our wealthiest and poorest schools and distribute the tax burden equitably is to re-evaluate the basic subsidy formula. To do this, we must factor in key elements such as student enrollment growth, school district poverty rate, local efforts and local economic conditions.
No candidate filed
45th District
Sean Logan, 33, Monroeville (View photo)
Education: 1992, University of Pittsburgh, B.A.
Occupation: State senator.
Qualifications: Current state senator, three years; former mayor of Monroeville, three years; Voted Pittsburgh's Best 40 Under 40.
Answer: Pennsylvania needs to again provide 50 percent of public education funding to our schools. This will keep property taxes down while providing quality education to our children, who are our future leaders. To more equitably distribute this tax burden, we need to change our property tax system in Pennsylvania. It is unfair, subjective and burdensome to homeowners.
No candidate filed
47th District
Gerald J. LaValle, 72, Rochester (View photo)
Education: 1956, Geneva College, B.S., B.A.; 1970, Westminster College, M.Ed.
Occupation: State senator, 47th district.
Qualifications: President, Rochester Borough Council; mayor, Rochester Borough; county commissioner, County of Beaver.
Answer: The commonwealth's share in funding public education has dipped from what was a commitment of 50 percent to a level of 35 percent. I believe that by generating revenue through a broadened tax base such as the personal income tax, Pennsylvania could significantly increase its share of funding to meet its obligation and simultaneously enhance educational equity while lowering local school property taxes for our residents.
No candidate filed
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