Democrats vie for nomination in 46th race
A former state representative is facing a challenger in his effort to secure the Democratic nomination in Tuesday’s primary and set up a rematch with incumbent Republican Rep. Jason Ortitay in the race for the 46th District legislative seat.
Ortitay is unopposed in the primary as Democrats Joe Szpara and Jesse White, the former legislator unseated by Ortitay, reach out to voters.
Szpara, 61, of Collier Township, Allegheny County, is currently a transportation coordinator at an independent living facility. He ran for state representative while he was a resident of Baldwin in 1992. White, 37, of Cecil, lost his seat in the 46th to Ortitay in 2014 after serving four terms. He is currently an attorney in private practice. Szpara and White answered several questions submitted through email. Their responses follow.
Why do you deserve to represent the people of the 46th District?
Szpara: “The 46th District has seen tremendous change in the last decade, and my professional experience as a retired truck driver, federal law enforcement officer and successful small business owner has prepared me to take on any and all of the challenges that this district is facing. Serving my constituents with integrity will always be my top priority. I have a fresh perspective, and as a former contract negotiator, I’ve been trained to use the proper methods to get opposing parties to the table to come to an agreement.”
White: “I have a solid record of standing up for the people of the 46th District, whether it be by exposing corruption in (former Gov.) Tom Corbett’s administration, or finding ways to make water and sewerage projects less expensive, or helping local small businesses with funding opportunities and resources to grow, or writing legislation to reform our broken property tax reassessment system and then reaching across the aisle to make sure it was signed into law, or pushing the oil and gas industry to hire more local workers, or helping tens of thousands of people with hands-on constituent services.”
The budget impasse was a drain on Pennsylvania. What could have been done to resolve the situation sooner? How can you work together with others in an increasingly partisan and gridlocked political environment?
Szpara: “Personally, I am concerned about the political landscape within the district. I believe that legislators should not be paid if they cannot pass a budget in a timely fashion. Also, the Legislature has to make the constituents in their districts a priority and get back to basics and professionalism. As a former business owner, I had to deal with deadlines on a daily basis and I prioritized each job based on customer needs. Our Legislature has to prioritize issues that benefit their constituents’ needs, not political agendas.”
White: “The insiders in Harrisburg don’t like me because I refuse to play the political game. And if the people in charge of the self-serving mess in the state Capitol don’t want me around, then I’m absolutely who you should want representing you. I am nobody’s puppet or ‘yes’ man. We need representatives willing to stand up and speak truth to power on behalf of the people, which means exposing the back room deals and making legislators accountable. It’s not always about Democrat vs. Republican; many times it’s about the political elitists vs. regular people, and I’m looking out for the people.”
What are priorities for the 46th District?
Szpara: “The gas industry has created thousands of jobs in our area, but we need reasonable regulation to keep our streams and waterways safe and free of chemicals. Significant investments in our aging infrastructure will attract new business, and our state and local governments should work together to create incentives for job creation. When possible, municipalities must have autonomy to determine what’s best for their community. Seniors should be eligible for more benefits from the state, and we need to restore funding to our public education system.”
White: “The 46th District lacks a true advocate who not only understands the unique issues facing the district, but also the willingness to speak up when necessary. We must stop increasing local property taxes to fund public education, and we can do that if we’re able to have an honest debate about the issue. Additionally, Marcellus Shale drilling has fundamentally changed the landscape of the district, and I am uniquely qualified to stand up for the rights of local landowners, leaseholders, workers and families impacted by the drilling boom. We also need to keep improving our infrastructure to encourage job creation.”