Two freshmen legislators swear to represent region well
State Rep. Justin Walsh was sworn in Tuesday. On hand for the ceremony were his wife, Jennifer, and their children, Nick, Payton and Lily.
Bud Cook was sworn in Tuesday to represent the 49th District.
It’s freshman rush week for the region’s newly minted legislators.
Republicans Bud Cook and Justin Walsh became members of the Pennsylvania House Tuesday during the biennial swearing-in ceremony in Harrisburg. These first-time lawmakers were as excited as college freshmen, entering a new world.
“It’s obviously a very hectic day, but a very exciting one,” Walsh said Tuesday morning, ahead of the noon event. The new 58th District representative was accompanied by his wife, three children and 30 to 40 relatives and supporters, many of whom commuted by chartered bus.
Cook, the new 49th District legislator, said, “Taking the oath of office was the thrilling culmination of several years of hard work by hundreds of grass-roots supporters, many of whom were here to witness this special occasion. The celebration is over, and the mission of serving and keeping my word to the people of the 49th District starts now.”
Two months after their Election Day triumphs, these Mon Valley lawmakers were pleased to be embarking on new careers – despite one Godzilla of a challenge ahead. The state budget monster is rearing its ugly head again.
Yet the new legislators are poised to take it on.
Cook, 60, is an e-marketing coach who is following an enormous presence in Harrisburg. He succeeded Pete Daley, a Democrat from California who retired from the House after 34 years – dating to the Reagan administration.
A West Pike Run Township resident, Cook defeated Democrat Alan Benyak in the Nov. 8 election.
Walsh, a Rostraver Township attorney, toppled Democratic nominee Mary Popovich in the 58th, a seat left open when incumbent Ted Harhai, a Democrat from Monessen, declined to pursue an 11th consecutive term. Walsh’s district encompasses a number of Westmoreland County municipalities, including Monessen, North Belle Vernon and Rostraver.
These two freshmen will be joining their colleagues in the House and their counterparts in the Senate in what promises to be a feisty battle over the commonwealth’s budget for fiscal 2017-18.
“We see a lot of predictions on the budget,” Walsh said. “There could be back and forth with Gov. Wolf being a Democrat and with Republicans having a large majority in the House (120-83) and Senate (31-19).
“This could be a long budget process, a long summer, but I hope not. I look forward to this.”
The ongoing opioid epidemic and jobs remain flashpoints in their districts.
Cook said in a news release three weeks ago, “Pennsylvania health officials have already labeled the heroin opioid epidemic as the worst health crisis of the last 100 years. With four out of every five new heroin users starting out by misusing prescription painkillers, we all need to recognize this problem has no socioeconomic boundaries.”
Walsh was born and raised in Donora, a struggling community across the Monongahela River from struggling Monessen, in the middle of the struggling Valley. Enhancing the financial climate there, he said, motivated him to seek this legislative office.
“I’d like to get the economy turned around, help bring jobs into the district, help smaller businesses expand,” he said. “I have a big family – five brothers, 11 nieces and nephews. I looked at them and didn’t see much opportunity in the area. That is primarily what inspired me to run.”
The Cook and Walsh victories were significant along party lines, as they reduced the number of Washington County Democrats in the General Assembly to two: Reps. Brandon Neuman (North Strabane) and Pam Snyder (Jefferson). Snyder, the incumbent, defeated Betsy Rohanna McClure in the 50th District in November. Neuman ran unopposed.
Walsh’s district office, which will open later this week, will be at 1739 Rostraver Road, Belle Vernon. The phone number there has not been verified yet. His Capitol Office is at B-12 Main Capitol, Harrisburg 17120, which can be reached at 717-783-3825.
Cook’s district office is in Bentleyville, at Big Jim Plaza LLC, 55 Gosai Drive, Suite 112. (The phone number is not available.) His Capitol Office is at B-16 Main Capitol, P.O. Box 202049. The number is 717-783-8655.