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The following districts have no contested primary races (incumbents are listed in boldface): • 8th, Dick Stevenson (R); no Democrat filed. • 12th, Daryl Metcalfe (R); no Democrat filed. • 16th, Sean M. Ramaley (D); no Republican filed. • 19th, Jake Wheatley (D); no Republican filed. • 22nd, Chelsa Wagner (D); no Republican filed. • 23rd, Dan Frankel (D); no Republican filed. • 28th, John Henry (D); Mike Turzai (R). • 32nd, Anthony DeLuca (D); no Republican filed. • 33rd, Frank Dermody (D); Eileen Watt (R). • 36th, Harry Readshaw (D); no Republican filed. • 40th, John Maher (R); no Democrat filed. • 44th, Mark Mustio (R); no Democrat filed. • 45th, Nick Kotik (D); no Republican filed. • 48th, Timothy Joseph Solobay (D); no Republican filed. • 54th, John E. Pallone (D). • 55th, Joseph A. Petrarca (D); no Republican filed. • 56th, James E. Casorio Jr. (D); Joel Reiter (R). • 57th, Thomas A. Tangretti (D); Steve Schaefer (R). • 60th, Jeff Pyle (R); no Democrat filed. |
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The furor over last year's legislative pay raise and its subsequent repeal brought a wave of challengers into the contests for several state House seats representing Western Pennsylvania.
But that was not the case for the five state Senate seats that are up for election this year. Four of the five incumbents -- Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park; Jane Clare Orie, R-McCandless; Wayne Fontana, D-Brookline; and J. Barry Stout, D-Bentleyville -- have no opponent in either the May 16 primary or the fall general election.
In the 32nd District, incumbent Democrat Richard A. Kasunic of Dunbar and Republican Ronald L. Gallo of Connellsville are unopposed in the primary and will face off in November.
All 203 state House seats are up for election.
Following is a rundown of contested primary races in Western Pennsylvania House districts.
10th District
In the contest for the Democratic nod, voters will choose between two candidates who share a variety of traits and points of view.
The battle between challenger Jaret Gibbons and incumbent Frank LaGrotta pits men who live in the same Lawrence County town, attend the same Roman Catholic church, love the theater, aren't married and came to politics young.
Mr. LaGrotta, 47, of Ellwood City, has been in office for 20 years. Mr. Gibbons, 25, is a law student.
Mr. Gibbons contends that his opponent has been around too long to be effective and that "fresh blood" is needed.
Mr. LaGrotta counters that he's as energetic as ever and, as chairman of the state tourism committee, able to capitalize on opportunities to bring home the bacon for local constituents.
The district covers Franklin, Marion, part of New Sewickley, North Sewickley and part of Economy in Beaver County; Perry, Plain Grove, Scott, Shenango, Slippery Rock, Taylor, Wayne, Ellport, Ellwood City, New Beaver, South New Castle and Wampum in Lawrence County; and Slippery Rock township and borough in Butler.
Their opponent on the Republican ticket, Chuck Morse of Slippery Rock, is unopposed.
Though Mr. LaGrotta voted in favor of last year's pay increase, he did not accept the unvouchered expenses that would have bumped his $71,000 annual salary by $4,414.
Mr. Gibbons will graduate from law school at the University of Pittsburgh May 27. He is a 1999 graduate of Ellwood City Area School District and a got bachelor's degree in 2003 from Duquesne University in political science with a certificate in business administration. Though he has never sought political office, he has interned and volunteered in several government and political venues.
Mr. LaGrotta grew up in North Sewickley and graduated in 1976 from Riverside High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in American studies with a concentration in journalism in 1980 from the University of Notre Dame. He got a full graduate scholarship and received his master's degree in communications arts with a concentration in public policy in 1981 from Notre Dame.
He initially worked as a sports writer for Gannett News Service and then shifted into politics.
--Karen Kane
11th District
Rep. Brian Ellis, R-Butler, is facing a challenger in the May 16 primary election, but not because of a long tenure or support for last summer's pay raises.
Mr. Ellis, 36, is in his first term representing the 11th District. He voted against the pay raise and didn't take the money as an unvouchered expense before the raise was revoked.
Gregory S. Walter, 50, of Clearfield, simply believes he can do a better job than Mr. Ellis.
Mr. Walter runs Pine Haven personal care home in Fenelton after spending 20 years in the Air Force and previously owning Gunners Grill and Pub in downtown Butler. He said he is concerned about attracting businesses, the high cost of health care and the need for more state funding for education.
He is running as part of PA CleanSweep, the organization trying to oust all incumbent legislators.
Mr. Ellis, who with his brother owns Ellis Suzuki in Lyndora, said he believes the Legislature has made some steps toward "more honest and open government" while he has been in office. The conservative Commonwealth Foundation has rated him the third-best state lawmaker for defending his constituents' liberties in the past year.
The candidates agree on gun owners' rights, job growth and property tax reform. Mr. Ellis is 100 percent against abortion. Mr. Walter believes in exceptions for rape and when the mother's life is at risk.
The winner of the primary will face Democrat Bill Neel, 68, of Butler, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary.
-- Ed Blazina
14th District
The contest for the Democratic nod in the 14th House District boils down to this: One candidate is Mike Veon; the other candidate is not Mike Veon.
Mr. Veon, of Beaver Falls, is a 22-year legislative veteran who is, as minority whip, the second most powerful Democrat in the House. In the last half-decade in particular, he has used that power to pour grant funding into his economically troubled district and into Beaver County in general.
That has earned him the staunch support of labor unions -- still a powerful force in Beaver County -- and municipal officials, county officials and the Democratic establishment in general.
But there is real doubt whether it will earn him his party's nomination; polls have shown Mr. Veon in a dead heat with his challenger, Jay Paisley of Big Beaver.
The reason? Mr. Veon was one of the prime architects of the legislative pay hike last summer, and when the Legislature bowed to public outrage with a 197-1 repeal of the raise, Mr. Veon cast the sole dissenting vote.
Mr. Paisley has called that "arrogance" and run a campaign based on the theme that he is "a different kind of Democrat," not beholden to the traditional power structure or special interests, willing to work across party lines to embrace good ideas wherever they come from.
A retired Blackhawk teacher and coach and twice an unsuccessful candidate for county commissioner, Mr. Paisley, 61, has espoused education reform and called for cutting tuition payments to online charter schools. Primarily, though, he has focused on a message that Mr. Veon has been ineffective despite his power base, and is out of touch with his constituents.
Mr. Veon, 49, has most recently focused on bringing gaming to Pennsylvania and has led the effort to get a harness track and casino built in his district. He has a long legislative record of supporting the working class and families, and using state funding for education and economic development.
Whoever wins the Democratic primary also will face opposition in November from one of two Republicans seeking the party nomination.
Jeff Harris, 43, of New Sewickley, is an electrical designer for power systems and public relations officer for the motorcyclist rights group ABATE of PA. He has signed a pledge to vote against all tax increases.
Jim Marshall, 46, a Big Beaver councilman, has spent 20 years in the service industry. He is a proponent of municipalities jointly providing services.
-- Brian David
15th District
The two primary election challengers to Rep. Vince Biancucci, a Democrat from Center, Beaver County, are focused on an issue that may attract some voters.
Both want to cut the size of the 253-member Legislature.
"The Legislature doesn't belong to the people anymore," said Roger Strauss, 69, a retired engineer also from Center.
The other challenger, print shop owner Domenic Leone, 49, of Hopewell, labeled the Legislature a "good ol' boys' club," and would like to see its size cut 40 percent, even if it means eliminating the 15th District.
If cutting the Legislature sounds like a stand-in for an anti-pay-raise vote, that may be because Mr. Biancucci did not vote for the pay raise and did not accept the unvouchered expenses attached to it.
"Given the economic problems in Beaver County, I thought it would be wrong for me to take the raise," said Mr. Biancucci, 65, who served as an aide to his predecessor for 17 years before being elected in 2002.
Mr. Biancucci touts a record of supporting economic development efforts in Beaver County, and he is a strong supporter of gaming, looking for proceeds to help offer some tax relief.
Mr. Biancucci generally has taken a family-friendly stance, supporting broader availability of health care for children and the elderly and an increase in the minimum wage, among other things.
Mr. Leone said as a business owner, he sees a greater need to make Pennsylvania business-friendly, with greater prosperity helping families. He questions the need for a minimum wage hike and thinks Democrats need to be able to work with Republicans to create a good atmosphere for business.
Mr. Strauss, meanwhile, simply sees the Legislature as terribly inefficient, and believes applying engineering-style logic could help.
Todd Hockenberry, 39, of Beaver, is unopposed for the Republican nomination.
-- Brian David
20th District
State Rep. Don Walko, a North Side Democrat seeking his seventh term in Harrisburg, will face a crowded primary field on May 16 largely because of his support for last year's controversial pay raise.
Three challengers -- Susan Banahasky of Lawrenceville, Mark Purcell of Ross and Chuck Geiger of Brighton Heights -- all voice anger at Mr. Walko's decision, even though he later joined his colleagues in overturning the raise.
"I have to live with my vote. I realize that," he said. "I'm not trying to duck away."
Instead, the 53-year-old attorney is focusing on accomplishments that include pushing for an expansion of the state's drug assistance programs and securing hundreds of thousands of dollars for local projects in the district, which includes parts of the city of Pittsburgh, Reserve, West View and Ross.
His opponents, however, won't let constituents forget the pay raise issue.
Mr. Purcell, 59, a former Ross commissioner, recently put a giant inflatable pig in front of Mr. Walko's North Side office. If elected, Mr. Purcell would call for a constitutional convention to reduce the size of the Legislature and the extensive perks that come with a job there.
Mr. Geiger, 62, a former Army paratrooper who owns a cleaning business, is making his first run for public office. He also wants to cut the Legislature's size and benefits.
Ms. Banahasky, 50, thinks her years of experience in management positions in the insurance business will help her find potential savings in the state budget. She's also making her first run for public office.
All four candidates would like to see some type of property tax reduction.
Bill Stalter of Reserve is running unopposed for the Republican nomination in the 20th District.
--Jerome L. Sherman
21st District
Frank J. Pistella, D-Bloomfield, may be facing his toughest challenge in his bid for a 15th term.
Mr. Pistella, 55, is battling family law attorney Lisa Bennington, 30, of Morningside, for the Democratic nomination. The issues are similar to many of the races: the incumbent's long tenure and vote in favor of legislative pay raises that were later revoked.
Mr. Pistella said he considered the pay raises "stupid" when they were passed but he voted in favor so that party leadership wouldn't punish him and the district by taking away committee assignments and grant money. He later voted to revoke the raises and has repaid $4,629 he had received.
Mr. Pistella said his experience benefits the district, especially his position as minority chairman of the Aging and Older Adult Services Committee. That matches well with the makeup of the district, he said.
Ms. Bennington said Mr. Pistella is part of the "old boys' network" that runs the Legislature and must be eliminated for reform to occur. She is running with PA CleanSweep, a group to oust all incumbents, and Run, Baby, Run, a campaign to encourage more women candidates. There are no female state representatives in the five-county area.
"If we want to build a bridge to the future, we need a diverse work force," she said. "When I look around the Legislature, I don't see a diverse work force."
-- Ed Blazina
24th District
Democratic Rep. Joseph Preston's 23-year House career faces a tough challenge.
Holding the Democratic Committee endorsement is his former aide, Edward C. Gainey, 36, of Highland Park. He worked for Mayor Tom Murphy's administration before leaving city government to run this race.
Also in the running is William D. Anderson, 33, of Homewood, a body shop owner and reformed drug dealer from a political family. There is no Republican candidate.
Mr. Preston, 58, of East Liberty, touted his influence as minority chairman of the Consumer Affairs Committee and ability to bring home state development assistance.
Mr. Gainey criticized the incumbent's vote for a legislative pay raise, especially in light of the economic stagnancy in much of the district. Mr. Preston took the raise and did not pay it back even after he joined nearly every other legislator in voting to rescind it.
Mr. Gainey also pointed to Mr. Preston's votes for water rate hikes and for easier gas company shutoffs as evidence that he's out of touch with his constituents.
Mr. Preston would like to see the city's eventual casino owner finance a new arena, possibly with state help. Mr. Anderson opposes state aid for an arena. Mr. Gainey hasn't developed a position on funding for an arena.
None of the candidates is a strong proponent of reducing the size of the Legislature, fearing that minority representation would be reduced.
--Rich Lord
25th District
Daniel Mator and Steve O'Donnell are challenging veteran lawmaker Joseph Markosek for the Democratic nomination in the 25th District.
Mr. Markosek, 56, has served in the House since 1982. His reputation for securing state money for roads, libraries and municipal projects has usually made his seat safe. Last year he voted for the controversial pay raise. Then he recanted, voted to repeal it and returned the money.
Mr. Mator, 33, was drawn into the contest on the PA CleanSweep reform slate.
He was orphaned at age 2, experienced homelessness and bankruptcy, earned two college degrees and owned a pizzeria.
He says life has prepared him to represent average people. He wants to reduce the size of the Legislature and eliminate property taxes.
Mr. O'Donnell, 60, has managed mental retardation programs. In 1996, he was forced out as head of Life Service Systems, and the Greensburg agency declared bankruptcy. A U.S. trustee attributed its demise to the people who took it over.
Since then he has invested in real estate and other ventures.
Mr. O'Donnell says he wants to work on housing, health care, education, retiree issues, jobs and governmental integrity.
Ed Nicholson, 47, of Monroeville, is unopposed for the Republican nomination.
--Bill Heltzel
Correction/Clarification: (Published May 16, 2006)Scott Witon is a Republican candidate for state representative in the 54th District. His Web site is www.witonnow.com and his campaign telephone number is 724-448-0566. His name was omitted from the Voters Guide candidates list on May 7, 2006 and this May 9, 2006 Guide erroneously reported that Jason D. Fularz was unopposed for the Republican nomination in the 54th District.
