Two square off in primary for 58th District
The Democratic field narrowed to two candidates seeking the party’s nomination in next week’s primary to appear on the November ballot in the race for the state House’s 58th District seat being vacated by the retirement of incumbent Ted Harhai.
Democratic voters in that district will be choosing between Charles “Chuck” Mrlack, a Monessen plumbing and heating contractor, and West Newton Mayor Mary Popovich. Attorney Justin Walsh of Rostraver Township is unopposed on the Republic ticket.
There were four Democrats in the race until Robert McDonald of Hempfield Township and Jim Manderino of Monessen withdrew from the campaign recently.
Mrlack said he is campaigning on the need to bring “blue-collar common sense” to Harrisburg.
“It would be more realistic,” said Mrlack, who claims to have knocked on 4,500 doors while campaigning in the district that stretches from Monessen to Jeannette in Westmoreland County.
Popovich said her biggest concerns are creating a sustainable funding stream for public education and providing local governments with the tools to remove blight.
“I’m a lifelong resident of the area, and I understand the small-town dynamics,” Popovich said.
Mrlack said he supports suspending the pay of lawmakers during budget impasses, and he’s also concerned with blight, something that has become a big issue in his hometown.
“We also need to start focusing on education,” he said.
Popovich said, if elected, she will fight for the “working class and the disadvantaged.”
“I support a living wage and it should be attached to the inflation rate,” she said.