The LuLac Edition #4,428, November 1st, 2020

GENERAL ELECTION PREVIEW 2020

Here’s our annual Election Day Preview in a Presidential year like no other.These biographies have been culled by candidate websites, pubic records, interviews at pre covid events as well as from LuLac archives. The photos come from newspapers, wikipedia, ballot pedia, campaign websites, Mr. Scott Cannon of Video Innovations as well as LuLac and its opinions on the candidates and their respective races. Finally, not all House races are covered in The Lu and The Lac, only those competitive ones.

DEMOCRAT

PRESIDENT 

JOE BIDEN

Raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and New Castle County, Delaware, Biden studied at the University of Delaware before earning his law degree from Syracuse University in 1968. He was elected a New Castle County Councillor in 1970, and became the sixth-youngest senator in American history when he was elected to the U.S. Senate from Delaware in 1972. Biden was a longtime member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and eventually its chairman. He opposed the Gulf War in 1991, but supported expanding the NATO alliance into Eastern Europe and its intervention in the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s. He supported the resolution authorizing the Iraq War in 2002 but opposed the surge of U.S. troops in 2007. He also chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1987 to 1995, dealing with drug policy, crime prevention, and civil liberties issues; he led the effort to pass the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act and the Violence Against Women Act, and oversaw six U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings, including the contentious hearings for Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1988 and again in 2008.

Biden was reelected to the Senate six times, and was the fourth-most senior senator when he resigned to serve as Barack Obama's vice president after they won the 2008 presidential election; Obama and Biden were reelected in 2012. As vice president, Biden oversaw infrastructure spending in 2009 to counteract the Great Recession. His negotiations with congressional Republicans helped pass legislation including the 2010 Tax Relief Act, which resolved a taxation deadlock; the Budget Control Act of 2011, which resolved a debt ceiling crisis; and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, which addressed the impending "fiscal cliff". He also led efforts to pass the United States–Russia New START treaty, supported military intervention in Libya, and helped formulate U.S. policy toward Iraq through the withdrawal of U.S. troops in 2011. Following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting he led the Gun Violence Task Force.

Biden did not seek the presidency in the 2016 election. In January 2017, Obama awarded Biden the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction. In April 2019, he announced his candidacy in the 2020 presidential election, and in June 2020 he reached the delegate threshold needed to secure the Democratic nomination. On August 11, he announced he had selected Senator Kamala Harris of California as his running mate.

The comparison between a sane, lucid, kind and competent Joe Biden vs. his opponent is obvious.  It was one thing for Trump to challenge the political norms but when you start messing with the workings of government internationally and nationally, that’s quite another matter. I can’t believe that with all the early voting, a majority of that vote wants to get another four years of this aberration that is laughingly referred to as a Presidency.  

 

REPUBLICAN

DONALD J. TRUMP

Donald John Trump  is the current president of the United States. Before entering politics, he was a businessman and television personality.

Born and raised in Queens, New York City, Trump attended Fordham University for two years and received a bachelor's degree in economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He became president of his father's real estate business in 1971, renamed it The Trump Organization, and expanded its operations to building or renovating skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump later started various side ventures, mostly by licensing his name. Trump and his businesses have been involved in more than 4,000 state and federal legal actions, including six bankruptcies. He owned the Miss Universe brand of beauty pageants from 1996 to 2015, and produced and hosted the reality television series The Apprentice from 2003 to 2015.

Trump's political positions have been described as populist, protectionist, isolationist, and nationalist. He entered the 2016 presidential race as a Republican and was elected in a surprise electoral college victory over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton while losing the popular vote. He became the oldest first-term U.S. president and the first without prior military or government service. His election and policies have sparked numerous protests. Trump has made many false or misleading statements during his campaign and presidency. The statements have been documented by fact-checkers, and the media have widely described the phenomenon as unprecedented in American politics. Many of his comments and actions have been characterized as racially charged or racist.

During his presidency, Trump ordered a travel ban on citizens from several Muslim-majority countries, citing security concerns; after legal challenges, the Supreme Court upheld the policy's third revision. He enacted a tax-cut package for individuals and businesses, rescinding the individual health insurance mandate penalty of the Affordable Care Act, but has failed to repeal and replace the ACA as a whole. He appointed Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. In foreign policy, Trump has pursued an America First agenda, withdrawing the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade negotiations, the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the Iran nuclear deal. He imposed import tariffs which triggered a trade war with China, moved the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and withdrew U.S. troops from northern Syria. Trump met three times with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, but talks on denuclearization broke down in 2019. Trump reacted slowly to the COVID-19 pandemic; he minimized the threat, ignored or contradicted many recommendations from health officials, and promoted false information about unproven treatments and the availability of testing.

A special counsel investigation led by Robert Mueller found that Trump and his campaign welcomed and encouraged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election under the belief that it would be politically advantageous, but did not find sufficient evidence to press charges of criminal conspiracy or coordination with Russia.  Mueller also investigated Trump for obstruction of justice, and his report neither indicted nor exonerated Trump on that offense. After Trump solicited Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden, the House of Representatives impeached him in December 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The Senate acquitted him of both charges in February 2020.

Trump has forfeited any claim to another term by his systematic destruction of norms, courtesy and blatant disregard for the rule of law in this country. 

ATTORNEY GENERAL 

DEMOCRAT 

JOSH SHAPIRO 

 
Josh Shapiro is a rare public servant who has risen above politics time and again to take on the status quo and protect everyday Pennsylvanians.

As a State Representative, Josh wrote and passed some of the toughest ethics laws in state history. Philadelphia Magazine wrote that Josh was “a blast of oxygen in the smoke-choked back rooms of quid-pro-quo Harrisburg,” and his work earned him a national reputation as a bipartisan consensus builder.

Then, as Chairman of the Montgomery County Commissioners, he led a fiscal and ethical turnaround, took early steps to combat the heroin epidemic, helped the first LGBT couples in Pennsylvania marry and fired Wall Street money managers to save retirees millions. His work on behalf of victims and for criminal justice reform as the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency earned him the trust of law enforcement leaders from both parties.

As Attorney General, Josh has restored integrity to the office and is standing up for the rule of law and safeguarding Pennsylvanians’ rights — no matter what they look like, who they love, or who they pray or don’t pray to.

He has taken on child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, identifying 301 predator priests and thousands of victims and spurring investigation across the United States. He has twice secured national injunctions protecting women’s access to no-cost contraception as required by the Affordable Care Act. He is fighting our country’s opioid epidemic on every front– including leading a multistate investigation into pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors.

Josh Shapiro earned his law degree at night from Georgetown University, and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar. Josh was raised in Montgomery County, where he met his high school sweetheart, Lori, and where they are raising their four young children.

Shapiro has amassed and impressive record. He is thought to be a logical candidate for Governor in 2022.   

 

REPUBLICAN

HEATHER HEIDELBAUGH

Born in St. Louis, Heather was raised by a working mom after her father left the family when she was 8. She recalls a decade of struggle as her mother worked a secretarial job to feed the family.

Heather worked summers, saving her earnings to meet tuition and housing costs at the University of Missouri, where she carried a double major in Economics and Political Science. She then enrolled in the university’s law school and graduated with a determination to become a courtroom trial lawyer.

“You couldn’t get a job as a trial lawyer if you were a woman. Law firms were hiring woman in. estates and trusts, and divorce, but you couldn’t find work as a trial lawyer,” she remembers.

After sending out 250 applications, she convinced a partner at a respected St. Louis firm to hire her for a courtroom job with the promise, “Nobody will work harder.”

It proved prophetic.

Newly married in 1988, Heather moved to her husband’s hometown of Pittsburgh, where she quickly bame a partner in her law firm at 30 years old. There she developed her reputation as a smart, hardworking and effective advocate.

The move to Pittsburgh would become a pivotal shift in her life as she began to raise a family. Years into her marriage, she discovered that her husband was afflicted with alcoholism, a disease that would ultimately take his life. Years of struggle would follow, and Heather took charge of her young family and made sure that both children succeeded in school, in life, and in their careers.

Heidelbaugh’s work in law and policy led to her appointment to the Governor’s Commission on Judicial Appointments in 1998. In 2005, the administration of then-President George W. Bush invited her to the White House to interview for an appointment to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Two decades later, Heather became the Chair of the state advisory commission on selection of a U.S. Attorney, United States Marshall, and federal judiciary.

In the ensuing years, Heather served in a variety of party and civic posts and became a familiar face and voice on the city’s television and radio talk shows, where she provided political analysis. Her recognized expertise made her a natural for the GOP nomination for Allegheny County Council’s at-large seat.

As the lone countywide elected Republican on the panel, Heather was a voice of reason and restraint, advocating for less spending, lower taxes, and common-sense public policy.

Both her legal and political resumes stretch for pages, cataloguing courtroom accomplishments and service to her party and the citizens of Pennsylvania.

Thirty-five years later, Heather Heidelbaugh is one of the most highly regarded courtroom practitioners in the country, an equity partner at her Pittsburgh firm, and a candidate for Pennsylvania Attorney General.

“The attorney general is the lawyer for the people,” she says of her decision to run. “The citizens of Pennsylvania need a real lawyer who understands the complexities of the law, the intersection between policy and law, and how the law impacts people’s lives.”

Heidelbaugh has made Josh Shapiro's future ambitions a campaign issue that we don't think will stick with voters.  

 

AUDITOR GENERAL

DEMOCRAT

NINA AHMAD

Ahmad has worked as a molecular biologist and entrepreneur. Prior to running for auditor general, she was Deputy Mayor for Public Engagement in Philadelphia. Aside from her professional experience, she has served as president of the Philadelphia NOW and on the board of the Philadelphia Foundation. She was also a member of the National Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders under President Barack Obama.

Ahmad earned her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania. She immigrated to the United States from Bangladesh when she was 21 years old.

Ahmad won a surprise victory in the 2020 primary and brings experience to the position. She will be a steady hand in the AG’s office.

 

REPUBLICAN

AUDITOR GENERAL

TIMOTHY DEFOOR

Timothy DeFoor  was elected as the Dauphin County Controller in 2015. His professional experience includes working in the attorney general's office, the state inspector general's office, as an internal auditor, quality manger, and fraud investigator for UPMC Health Plan, and as a special agent.

In an interview, DeFoor stated what his role of Auditor General would be. “Well, think of the role of the Auditor General as your as your state fiscal watchdog. And basically what that is, the auditor general is responsible for making sure that government is accountable for how it spends taxpayer dollars, and to make government transparent with regards to how it also spends those tax dollars.

So, it pretty much acts as the fiscal watchdog for the state, and you watch how money is being spent with regards to – could be different state departments, it could be different state programs, it could be state funded programs … That’s the primary role of the auditor”.

DeFoor understands the job, is personable enough but his candidacy might be overshadowed by the race at the top. A polarizing figure like Donald Trump is not going to give him any coat tails.

 

STATE TREASURER 

DEMOCRAT 

JOE TORSELLI

The 77th treasurer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania brings a record of leadership and integrity to Treasury that spans 25 years of public service. Ambassador (Ret.) Joseph M. Torsella was elected on November 8, 2016, and was sworn into office on January 17, 2017.

Raised in Berwick, Pa., Torsella is a graduate of Wyoming Seminary preparatory school and an honors graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Phi Beta Kappa, with a degree in economics and history. He studied American History at New College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar. He lives in Flourtown with his wife Carolyn, and they are proud parents to four children.

Torsella has spent his career as a voice for smart policy, fiscal responsibility and public integrity on issues that will shape the future of Pennsylvania. From Philadelphia’s City Hall to the National Constitution Center to the halls of the United Nations, his work is a reflection of his background in public service and leadership, which has earned him a reputation as a voice of purpose, honor and vision.

He has done an excellent job making sure the checks go out and ethical financial practices are met and exceeded. He deserves and most likely will get another term.

 

REPUBLICAN

STACY GARRITY

 Stacy Garrity is running for election for Pennsylvania Treasurer. She is on the ballot in the general electionafter advancing from the Republican primary on June 2, 2020.

Garrity announced her candidacy for the special election on May 21, 2019, to fill the vacant United States House of Representatives Pennsylvania District 12 seat. The seat became vacant when Rep. Tom Marino stepped down on January 23, 2019. Garrity was not chosen as the Republican Party's nominee for the race. As a candidate for Treasurer, Garrity, a retired Army Reserve Colonel who served in Iraq in charge of a prison camp wants to manage the multi million dollars enterprise of the State Treasury.

“Our mission then was to provide care and custody for 7,000 detainees, and I had 1,200 soldiers under my command. And we were the very first internment facility to have zero escape attempts and zero abuse allegations,” says Garrity.

Garrity, a retired Army Reserve Colonel who served in Iraq in charge of a prison camp.

Garrity says she’s running to serve a full four-year term, and she accuses Torsella of looking at higher office.

“I’m not looking at this as a stepping-stone to run for something else, and the incumbent treasurer kind of has one foot out the door,” says Garrity. “He has his sights set on either running for governor or running for Senate.

Torsella's name has been linked as a possible candidate for other statewide positions in 2022, like Governor or the open U.S. Senate position. Publicly, he is non-commital on his future, and says he's only focused on another term as Treasurer. Garrity, believes Torsella is not being honest, after campaigning that he brought integrity back to the Treasurer's office.

"These people have one foot out the door," Garrity said, referring to the trio of row officer positions up for election this year; Torsella, Attorney General Josh Shapiro, and Auditor General Eugene DePasquale. Only DePasquale is running for another position, Congress in Pennsylvania's 10th District, because he has already served a two-term limit. Shapiro, like Torsella, has not publicly said what his plans are after this election cycle.

This is a decent argument by Garrity but one that might be lost on Pennsylvania voters. There has been a long line of Governors and Lt. Governor candidates that have made their way through the ranks of the row offices. Like DeFoor, her effort while worthy will be drummed out by the noise from the top race.

 

DEMOCRAT

CONGRESSIONAL 8TH

MATT CARTWRIGHT

Matthew Cartwright is the United States Representative from Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district since 2013. The district, numbered as the 17th district from 2013 through 2019, includes a large swath of northeastern Pennsylvania, anchored by Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and the Poconos. A member of the Democratic Party, Cartwright defeated 10-term incumbent Blue Dog Tim Holden, the Dean of the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation, in the Democratic primary on April 24, 2012, by a 57%-43% margin. Cartwright went on to defeat the Republican in the general election on November 6, 2012, by a 61%-39% margin. As an attorney, Cartwright previously worked at the law firm of Munley, Munley, and Cartwright. Since then he has been re-elected in ’14, ’16, and ’18 by substantial margins.

At the start of the 116th Congress, Cartwright was one of four Democrats selected to lead the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. According to The Morning Call, this committee is responsible for developing messaging related to the agenda and positions of the Democratic Party, and is often used as a stepping stone to other leadership positions within the Democratic caucus.

Based on analysis of multiple outside rankings, Cartwright is an average Democratic member of Congress, meaning he will vote with the Democratic Party on the majority of bills.

On March 18, 2020, Matt Cartwright announced he was entering a self-quarantine after learning he had been in contact with a family friend who tested positive for coronavirus.

Cartwright has been an effective Congressman but an even more successful and smart candidate. He has faced every kind of opponent the GOP has thrown at him, from a Coroner to a millionaire and has bested every one of them. The only thing that might hurt him will be a higher than usual turnout in Luzerne County but that can be offset by a lower Trump margin in the Presidential race.

REPUBLICAN

JIM BOGNET

The impeachment fraud is the biggest scam in American history. Democrats and their allies in the mainstream media have hated President Trump since his first day in office.

I was blessed to have a good job in President Trump’s administration, fighting to create jobs and rebuild America’s industrial heartland.

Then Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, Ilhan Omar and the rest of the Democrats started their reckless and partisan crusade to remove President Trump from office based on nothing more than hearsay, hysterics, and hatred. Nancy Pelosi and her lapdog Matt Cartwright jammed through an entirely partisan impeachment, not receiving one vote from Republicans, and losing some of their voters (and one representative) along the way.

When I saw what the Democrats were trying to do to President Trump with impeachment, I decided I couldn’t stand by and watch what was happening without trying to do something about it. In America, when things you believe in are threatened, we have a duty to stand and fight.

That’s why I decided to return home to Hazleton to run for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District. I will defend President Trump from a witch hunt that will happen again and again throughout his second term unless we send a message and win back the House of Representatives from the impeachers.

Bognet has lied consistently in this campaign about Cartwright saying he’d defund police. He has been stringent, a bit immature in his debate with the Congressman and will only follow the path of the national GOP that has done nothing for the middle class.

 

CONGRESSIONAL  9^TH

DEMOCRAT

DR. GARY WEGMAN

When he won the primary, Wegman’s campaign released this statement:  

“Wegman is a lifelong resident of Berks County who is running for Congress because “he believes that we can’t afford the “politics as usual” that has led to the gridlock and bad ideas in Washington — ideas that have ignored and left behind the people in our region while politicians and special interests have prospered.”

As a 36-year medical professional and a small business owner, Wegman is highlighting the rising cost of prescription medications and health insurance, as well as the need for infrastructure investment and support for 9th District agricultural communities.

When asked for comment, Wegman said that he is “humbled and honored at the support that [he] received during the election. The people of the 9th District are looking for real solutions to the real issues that they face--not more politics of division. [He is] looking forward to working with our entire community to bring living wage jobs and affordable healthcare to hard-working Americans.”

On Agriculture

Farms, Agriculture, & the Environment, as a 5th generation farmer, Gary understands our small business values and the hardships of owning a rural business. That’s why he will champion District-wide Broadband rollout, provide incentives for hemp processing, and work to bring a cheese and yogurt manufacturing facility to the 9th District to leverage Pennsylvania’s surplus milk supply.

Health care Gary will sponsor legislation to regulate the prices of critical prescription medications and create a 50-state solution to meet American healthcare needs. You won’t have to stay in a job just for the insurance, and insurance companies won’t be able to deny you coverage for preexisting conditions or dictate which doctors you can visit.

A sincere good candidate, Wegman is great on the trail but the overwhelming amount of Republicans in the district will relegate him to a second place finish.

 REPUBLICAN

DAN MEUSER

Meuser serves as the U.S Representative in Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district. A Republican, he previously served as the Secretary of Revenue in the cabinet of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett. He was previously President of the Pride Mobility Corporation, a manufacturer of motorized wheelchairs in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton metro area of Pennsylvania, and currently serves the company as a board member and consultant. He has previously testified before Congress regarding the criticality for federal practices surrounding rights and caring for the disabled. In November 2018, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

A few of his beliefs on the issues include Donald Trump

As the House of Representatives was debating a resolution in July 2019, which passed by a wide margin, condemning President Donald Trump for promoting racism and xenophobia after he attacked four Democratic members of Congress, telling them to “go back” to the “places from which they came,” Meuser was one of only twenty-four representatives who defended Trump's comments. "I strongly oppose Democrat leadership’s latest effort to harass [Donald Trump]. For years, he and his supporters have been subjected to baseless attacks. Such slander is a disservice to our nation and the American people, and I am tired of it."

On guns, Meuser supports an individual right to keep, own, use and carry firearms, earning an endorsement from at least one pro-gun Political Action Campaign.

Regarding Abortion Meuser opposes abortion rights and refers to fetuses as "pre-born human persons." According to his campaign, "Dan has personally funded chartered buses to take people from our area to the annual March for Life Rally in Washington, D.C." He is opposed to federal funding for abortion and opposed to federal health coverage that includes abortion services. He also believes that "equal protection must be granted to each born and pre-born human person via the United States Constitution under the 14th Amendment".

With the hot button issue of Immigration, Immigration Meuser supports President Trump's proposal to construct a wall on the entire border with Mexico. He opposes giving federal funds to sanctuary cities. Meuser has argued that President Obama's executive order on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was unconstitutional and supports ending DACA. Additionally, he supports the government cracking down on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Meuser is a known quantity now, presents himself well and some say is the future of the statewide Republican party if he wants it. But Meuser seems smart enough to not fall prey to the siren song of political opportunity when he can have this seat for life because  of the district make up and the way he handles himself. You may not like his policies but you can't dislike him.

 

114^th DISTRICT PA HOUSE

DEMOCRAT  

BRIDGET MALLOY KOSIEROWSKI

Bridget Malloy Kosierowski is a lifelong Pennsylvanian; born and raised in Clarks Summit, educated as a registered nurse at Villanova University in Philadelphia, and today with her husband, Joseph, raising their four children in the same neighborhood where Bridget’s parents raised her and her five siblings.

In March 2019, Bridget decided to become the change she wanted to see in Pennsylvania. She made history by becoming the first Democratic Woman from Lackawanna County to hold the office of State Representative in over 55 years as she won with more than sixty-three percent of the vote.

Bridget introduced twelve pieces of legislation that tackled many issues that include taking on the fight to protect victims of domestic violence, protecting our children’s health in our schools, creating a safe work environment in healthcare facilities through Healthcare Facilities Violence Prevention Act, and Nurse Licensure Compact Laws. Bridget introduced H.B. 2435,  Saving Lives by Protecting our Food Supply Chain. Legislation would create a Food Processing Plant Reimbursement Program to help the Department of Agriculture pay for personal protective equipment for workers and more frequent cleaning of plants and facilities to help reduce the number of workers who become infected.

H.B.2435 passed unanimously in the State House of Representatives and the State Senate Agricultural  & Rural Affairs committee.

Bridget’s District Offices have provided over 10,000 services to constituents. She was also appointed to serve on the Legislative Task Force to study drug recovery, a role she was recommended for by leadership in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives due to her 26 years of service as a Registered Nurse.

Succeeding Sid Michaels Kavulich was no small task but Malloy Kosierowski was up to the challenge. She is running an energetic campaign to win a full term this time around.

REPUBLICAN

JAMES MAY

Like other Veterans, James May understands what serving a cause greater than one’s self means. James May was born in DeWitt Army Hospital at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. His father, who retired from active duty as a Colonel, served as the Senior Army Chaplain at Arlington National Cemetery on September 11, 2001. Growing up as “military brats,” James and his two brothers were drawn to serve our country. All three brothers are Iraq War Veterans. From 1999 to 2006, James had the honor of serving as an officer and chaplain in the United States Army.

During his last three years on active duty, Chaplain (CPT) May had the very unique privilege of serving in Iraq with the soldiers on the front lines: at Walter Reed Hospital, with soldiers who have been injured in war; and at Arlington National Cemetery, for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation and freedom.

Following his service in the military, James moved back to northeastern Pennsylvania with his wife, Jill and their three children. Their oldest son James just completed 6 years of service in the Pennsylvania National Guard. Their son Isaiah is attending Cedarville University in Ohio and their daughter Hannah is living in Honduras where she teaches at a school for orphaned and at-risk children. James’ wife Jill is an elementary school teacher at Summit Christian Academy in Clarks Summit.

For the past nine years, James has served as the regional Community Relations Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

James May decided to run for State Representative because he wants to take his middle-class values, military service and service to his community to fix some of Pennsylvania’s biggest problems, including: property taxes; out-of-control spending; and the presence of sanctuary cities that bring the most dangerous drug dealers and human traffickers into our communities.

May is a known quantity. Articulate, smart. He always wanted to be in the Legislature after making an attempt in Luzerne County against Karen Boback. He is formidable and if elected will serve the district well. 

 

116^th DISTRICT

DEMOCRAT

TODD EACHUS

Todd was born and raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and his main focus has always been being a good husband and a good father. He and his wife Ellen grew up in Wilkes-Barre and both graduated from Coughlin High School in 1980. Together, they have raised 3 sons — Anthony, Benjamin, and Nathan — who all attended and graduated from Hazleton Area School District.

Todd has watched with disgust as Harrisburg has turned its back on his home, and as the current representative began to favor corporations and lobbyists over the people who elected her to represent them. “The system is rigged, and my experience “in the Harrisburg swamp” makes me the perfect man to un-rig it. I take great pride in being a man of my word, and unlike other Harrisburg politicians today, when I make a promise to you, I will keep it”, he said.

On bringing back good jobs to his district, he said;  “As a lifelong resident of Luzerne county, I have watched as jobs have been hollowed out and sucked dry by greedy out of state corporations who exploit working people. We need a new plan for our community’s future that brings back economic vitality to urban and rural communities. In my work as a small business owner, I have learned how we can connect rural communities to international markets by focusing on innovative crop products with worldwide demand. I will command action from Harrisburg so our community can focus on a new vision that includes cultivation, production, and manufacturing for the crops of the future.”

As a former Representative he has a unique fix for the ills in Harrisburg. Take a look at this! “My first legislative action upon return to the State Capitol will be to eliminate 50 seats in the PA House of Representatives and 12 seats in the PA State Senate. This legislation will demand a proportional cut to the legislative appropriation taking steps to protect taxpayer dollars by forwarding legislation to ensure legislative leaders are held accountable for their waste and over spending.”

Eachus lost this race 10 years ago. His years of experience in the district should be a plus. A known quantity, the equalizer in that strength is also the record and notoriety of his opponent. Voters will decide if they want an Eachus comeback or stick with who they’ve known for 10 years.That stated, he has made a great impression on the campaign trail and has a revitalized Luzerne county Democratic party on his side.

REPUBLICAN

TARAH TOOHILL

Tarah Toohil was raised in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  Her parents, Peter and Barbara, taught her the importance of giving back to her community and making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.  Through the years, the Toohils fostered more than 40 children, including her foster brother Brandon who unexpectedly died when he was eight years old. 

Brandon’s death, along with her parents’ experience with the child welfare system, drove Tarah to become an advocate for children and to change the foster care system.  As a member of the Children and Youth Committee, Tarah has made it a priority to improve Pennsylvania’s foster and adoption systems and protect children from Internet predators and child abusers.

Tarah is a co-founder of “Brandon’s Forever Home,” a charitable organization, named for her foster brother, to support children in foster care and help find them permanent loving homes.

In Harrisburg, Tarah has become an independent advocate for Luzerne County families.  She has helped shape solutions to many issues affecting Luzerne County and Northeastern Pennsylvania.  Tarah has advocated for greater government transparency, property tax reform, greater access to affordable healthcare and safe schools. 

Dedicated to our community, Tarah has served numerous community organizations here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  She is a member of the Elks Lodge, Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Circle 200 Women of Northeastern Pennsylvania, AAUW Break Through Barriers for Women and Girls and Hazleton POWER. Tarah and her husband, Scott, live in Drums with their children.

Toohill is known in the district and has beat off numerous Democratic opponents through the years. She faces a tough opponent who she originally beat to get this seat over a decade ago. The question will be whether voters think she can resume or give way to  a Todd Eachus that has gained perspective from his time away.

 

118^th DISTRICT

DEMOCRAT

MICHAEL CARROLL

Carroll was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2006. He formerly worked as the chief of staff for then-state Rep. John Yudichak, was a legislative liaison for transportation issues under Gov. Robert Casey and served as district office director for Congressman Paul Kanjorski. A graduate of Pittston Area High School, Mike earned a bachelor of arts in liberal studies from the University of Scranton.

Mike is Democratic chairman of the House Transportation Committee. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency Board of Directors and a board member for the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce. State Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Lackawanna/Luzerne, and state Sen. John Blake, D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Monroe, said they are pleased to acknowledge the award of Small Water and Sewer, as well as H2O, grants to communities in Greater Pittston and nearby communities earlier today. Nearly $1.7 million has been provided to fund many critical sewer and water projects throughout the region.

Considering the financial challenges faced by these communities, the legislators said the significant grants will ensure important safety, infrastructure and quality-of-life projects advance to completion. The projects include installation of a sewer line on Clark Rod in Duryea, repair of the concrete flood control channel in Dupont, extension of a storm water line in Avoca and the upgrade of a sewage treatment facility in Springbrook Township.

The Republican in this race is Carroll’s first opponent since 2012. He is a hands on legislator who is very visible in his hometown area. With a new foe who is a novice to politics,  he should have no trouble returning to the House.

REPUBLICAN

ANDREW HOLTER

Andrew Holter (Republican Party) is running for election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to represent District 118. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2020. He advanced from the Republican primary on June 2, 2020.

Andrew is the eighth generation of his family to call northeast Pennsylvania home. Born and raised by teenage parents and loving grandparents, Andrew’s father served in the National Guard before becoming a truck driver, and his mother is a teacher’s aide in a local school district. “I grew up in a blue-collar household where my parents taught me the value of hard work and the importance of giving back to the community that has been good to us,” said Holter. knows the value of family, and from his humble start he knows the value of hard work.

He was the first in his family to graduate college, completing his associate degree in fire science and paramedic certification at Luzerne County Community College. He would go on to complete his bachelor’s degree and then a master’s degree in public administration in Massachusetts while working full-time. He returned home to Northeast PA with the hope of making the area a better place to live, work and raise a family.

Restore Public Trust – End Legalized Bribery

Andrew pledges to put people ahead of politics. His first order of business will be to enact legislation to restore the public’s confidence in their elected officials. He strongly supports ending legal bribery in Pennsylvania through the passage of a gift ban bill for lawmakers. Currently, state lawmakers can accept limitless gifts from lobbyists, including trips, travel, vacations and other outrageous perks never available to state employees or ordinary citizens. On the issue of Investing in Infrastructure, he says, “Our roads and bridges are deteriorating, and congestion is getting worse and worse. We need a strong advocate in Harrisburg who will fight for our fair share of state money and resources for our communities. Andrew will work to ensure money is spent properly so funds are available for our infrastructure needs, this includes adding a third lane to Interstate 81. He like all other candidates want Fair School Funding combined with the Elimination of  school property taxes.

Holter is young, energetic and obviously committed to his beliefs. It won’t happen for him this time around. THe reasons are an incumbent and a lop sided registration he has to contend with but look for him to be around once he gets the hang of this.

119^th DISTRICT

DEMOCRAT

JERRY MULLERY

Mullery was first elected to represent the citizens of the 119th Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in November 2010. Jerry's mission as a lawmaker is to stand up for the people of the 119th District and fight for what is most important to them, including family sustaining jobs, safe neighborhoods, good schools, low taxes, clean water and their Second Amendment rights.

A graduate of Greater Nanticoke Area High School, Jerry received a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from King's College in 1992 and graduated from Duquesne University School of Law in 1998. As a practicing lawyer, Jerry focused on workers' compensation, personal injury and Social Security Disability cases.

One of his signature accomplishments was State funding in the amount of $1.85 million has been awarded to two organizations to expand and conserve state forest lands throughout Luzerne County, state Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-Luzerne, announced recently. 

“This is a significant investment in our state forests, which provide residents and visitors with a green space for recreation and relaxation,” Mullery said. “I am pleased to see the state approve these funds so our state forests will be available for everyone to enjoy for many years to come.”

The organizations receiving grants awarded today include:

Wildlands Conservancy Inc. -- $1 million towards the acquisition of 3,000 acres of land in Foster and Hazle townships, Luzerne County, and neighboring townships in Carbon County for an addition to Weiser State Forest.  

North Branch Land Trust -- $850,000 towards the acquisition of 700 acres of land in Newport and Hanover townships for an addition to Pinchot State Forest. 

The DCNR Recreation and Conservation grant program is funded with state and federal funding from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund (Key 93), which includes Key-Community and Key-Land Trust; the Environmental Stewardship Fund; the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund; Pennsylvania Trails Fund; Pennsylvania Heritage Area Program; and the ATV Restricted Management Account Fund.

Mullery has been around a long time and has a proven record. His challenger doesn’t seem to have a clear plan except Republican talking points that will not help the middle class Mullery has always championed.

 

 REPUBLICAN

JOHN CHURA

According to his campaign website and Facebook page, Chura is a strong defender of the Second Amendment. He also supports the reduction and eventual elimination of school property taxes.

In addition, he will work to make health care more affordable and ensure that pre-existing conditions are covered, his website states.

On his website, Chura criticized Gov. Tom Wolf’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, including “secretive business waivers,” and supported greater transparency in government.

Chura doesn’t specify anywhere how he would have handled the pandemic and there’s not that much information on line about him. We do know he endorsed John Chrin for Congress and himself had a tax issue regarding payment but other than the boilerplate attacks on Mullery, there’s not much of a story to tell. 

 

120^th DISTRICT

DEMOCRAT

JOHANNA BRYN SMITH

Joanna Bryn Smith was born in the 120th District at the Nesbitt Hospital in Kingston. She was raised in Jackson Township, where her public school teacher parents instilled her with a deep understanding of the importance of giving back to one’s community and engaging in public service. 

Joanna is a graduate of the former Bishop O’Reilly High School in Kingston where she developed a passion for the arts that has endured throughout her life. She earned multiple scholarships to St. Joseph’s University and graduated with a double major in Philosophy and Fine and Performing Arts, then entered law school at the CUNY School of Law in Queens. At law school, Joanna began her life of service by volunteering for a variety of organizations dedicated to providing legal services to the less fortunate.

After completing her law degree, Joanna chose to return to Northeastern Pennsylvania to work for the marginalized and under-represented in the community in which she was raised. She was hired by Luzerne County and the Office of Conflict Counsel, where she has worked for the last five years representing those in the community who would otherwise not be able to afford an attorney. Always placing a priority on fairness and justice, Joanna works diligently to ensure everyone has a voice.  

Bryn Smith has the backing of the Democratic State House Committee and is a personable candidate who has been articulate in making her case. The challenge for her is to infiltrate the long time GOP strongholds in both Kingston and Forty Fort to give her a path to victory. This seat has always been known as a Kingston one. From Frank Crossin Senior to Aaron Kaufer, the borough has always stuck with one of their own. If anyone can upset that trend, Bryn Smith has a shot with the backing of the Democratic House campaign committee. Additionally with her own brand of  energy and a possibly high total for the top of the ticket, it may work. But don’t bet the house on it. That stated, Bryn Smith is obviously the future of the Democratic party in Luzerne County and come what may she’ll be an asset to the Dems now or in the future.    

REPUBLICAN

AARON KAUFER

State Representative Aaron Kaufer represents the 120th Legislative District, which includes Courtdale, Edwardsville, Exeter, Forty Fort, Kingston, Luzerne, Pringle, Swoyersville, West Pittston, West Wyoming and Wyoming boroughs, as well as Exeter, Jackson and Kingston townships in Luzerne County.
The 2019-20 legislative session marks Kaufer’s third term proudly serving the people of the 120th District. During this session, Kaufer was selected to be a member of the House Finance, Gaming Oversight, Health, and Transportation committees.
A Wyoming Valley native, Kaufer believes in a smaller and a more effective state government, which provides more power to the people of Pennsylvania. He is focused on eliminating the school property tax burden placed on Pennsylvania’s homeowners. His top priorities include workforce development, expanding job creation and economic development, addressing the ongoing heroin and opioid epidemic, reforming the state’s bloated welfare system and making Pennsylvania more job friendly for the businesses that create them.
Before being elected to the state House, Kaufer managed his family’s businesses, and worked as a marketing representative for Mohegan Sun Casino in Wilkes-Barre. He also serves as a guest lecturer, focused on public policy and many related subjects.
From an early age, Kaufer has been working to serve others, and has been recognized for his community and civic work throughout the country. He has dedicated time to tutoring young students, refereeing basketball games, and volunteering at the Jewish Community Center. While in college, he devoted time serving at the Spring Garden Children’s Center, a program that works with under privileged, inner-city kids. For his work, he was named one of the region’s “Best and Brightest in Civics” by the Times Leader.
Kaufer is a graduate of Wyoming Valley West High School and holds two degrees in Government and Law and International Affairs from Lafayette College.

After achieving unanimous passage in both the House and Senate, Rep. Aaron Kaufer’s mental health parity legislation (House Bill 1439) now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.

“People who try to access mental health and substance abuse issues face many obstacles to access the coverage they already have,” says Kaufer. “This legislation, when it is signed into law, will help streamline the assistance available to the most vulnerable. This is a major step to ensure that those struggling with mental health, behavioral health and substance abuse issues will receive the support they have already paid for and be able to access these programs.”

House Bill 1439 would assure that purchasers of insurance are able to access coverage for addiction treatment already included in the health plan.
He resides in Kingston and is a member of Temple Israel.

Kaufer is one of those legislators who has made constituent service a hallmark of his success. He is incredible on his feet when he speaks to any size gathering and has introduced and had passed consequential legislation in the state house. While most young lawmakers were just learning the ropes, Kaufer through bipartisan efforts has an impressive record. Like Dan Meuser in the Congressional 9^th, Kaufer seems to have few bumps in the road to a long-term Legislative career if he wants it.

EPILOGUE

WHAT WOULD JIM AND WIL SAY?????

 

 

Your blog editor and Mayor McNulty at his 70th birthday party.  (Top photo)

With Wil Toole at a Knights of Columbus event in the summer of '17. Bottom photo) 

When we lost Jim McNulty and Wil Toole in 2016 and 2019 respectively, I lost two political sounding boards who would argue and question my stands on various positions I took personally and on this blog site. Jim never got to see the end of the ’16 campaign with Trump winning and Wil had no use for Donald Trump and would shake his head over the craziness that was coming out of the administration.

Oh, my heavens if they had seen this campaign.   First off, both Jim and Wil would love the fact that another Irish Catholic American was on the top of the ticket. To boot, he was from Scranton. Both would be terribly disappointed that some in The Lu and The Lac were making the ridiculous argument that he left when he was 10! Aren’t the characters of people formed from birth? By the age of 10 if you don’t have a sense of right, wrong or fairness then you pretty much have none.

Now both Jim and Wil, along with me and every other person on God’s green earth would exaggerate a tad. But not openly lie. Then tell you they were going to lie, lie to you and then say afterwards, “That’s just not true”.

As Mayor of Scranton (McNulty) and Administrator of Pittston (Toole) knew government. They could differentiate between competence and utmost stupidity in the carrying out of policy. When someone says they’ll get the best people and then fire them, both men who made government work in their own ways would be slightly amused and greatly appalled.

They both knew that government is the vehicle to serve people who pay for it with their taxes. At the very least you promise them competence.

But what would really dismay both of them would be the way people vote against their own interests. A billionaire on paper like Trump has no concern for the middle class. Yet the people who have government pensions, retirement plans and exist on government programs embrace the man and party that has done everything to take those things away them.

Finally, what Jim and Wil would be most annoyed at is the un-Christian way this nation has become regarding it’s poor, disposed and attacked. If one is poor, they are immediately on welfare and don’t deserve it. If a black man is shot multiple times, the default position of the right is to pull up a police record of the deceased as if that justifies getting gunned down.

Both devout Catholics, they’d be angry that those who talk a good game about loving God would go out of their way to  mercilessly make life more miserable for those in need of fairness, justice and concern.

I think of both on Election Days, especially this one. Both public servants who knew that meeting the needs of the people was Christianity and religious belief in action. Doing the work and not just saying the words.  I also think of my father who famously said, “When someone tells you how much they love God, put your hand on your wallet.”