Re-elect Rick Saccone
So far, Rick Saccone is in no danger of acquiring the nickname “Landslide.”
He barely defeated sitting Rep. David Levdansky in the race for the 39th Legislative District seat in 2010, and a rematch again went into overtime in 2012. But, this time, the Republican has a new opponent, a reconfigured district and the power of incumbency on his side, so the 56-year-old political science professor might well have a little bit more of a margin for error this time.
And Saccone deserves re-election. Yes, his attempts to promote religiosity through a misbegotten “Year of the Bible” resolution, or a measure asking “In God We Trust” be placed in every public school in the commonwealth, can be exasperating to even his conservative supporters, but Saccone has done a sound job representing his constituents in Harrisburg. He understands the need for openness in government, for pension reform and for the privatization of the state’s liquor and wine stores. Given the long-running battles surrounding Act 13, Pennsylvania’s controversial law regulating oil and gas drilling, it is reassuring Saccone supports the notion of municipalities having some say-so on when and where drilling takes place.
Saccone is a man of the right, no question about it, and defends his positions forcefully. His Democratic opponent, Lisa Stout-Bashioum cannot match him on that front. A member of the Bentworth School District board and the daughter of former state Sen. Barry Stout, she seemed unable to articulate clear stands on several issues when she met with this newspaper’s editorial board.
In Washington County, the 39th Legislative District includes Nottingham, Somerset and Union townships and Finleyville Borough.