Szpara right pick for Dems in 46th District
Former state Rep. Jesse White is back.
After being defeated by Republican Jason Ortitay for the 46th District legislative seat in November 2014, White attempted to win election shortly thereafter as a magisterial district judge but came up short, and is now hoping to get the Democratic Party’s nod in Tuesday’s primary election for a rematch with Ortitay in November.
The pugilistic White was the architect of his own undoing. He adopted fake online identities to counter his critics, and initially lied about it when he was caught. As we explained in 2014, when endorsing neither Ortitay nor White, this badly damaged his credibility. We pointed out “it was further evidence that, in White’s case, pugnacity can slide into vindictiveness.”
Fortunately, Democratic voters in the 46th District have the chance to wipe the slate clean and start fresh with Joe Szpara, a 61-year-old resident of Collier Township, Allegheny County, who is making his second bid to become a state representative after making his first attempt in 1992. A transportation coordinator at an independent living facility and the former owner of a transmission and engine-replacement business, Szpara said if he is sent to Harrisburg, he will fight for more education funding, but would be willing to negotiate with adversaries and work to avoid long budget standoffs like the one the commonwealth just endured. He also said he would make infrastructure a priority, and anyone who attempted to navigate traffic during morning or evening rush hours around Southpointe, or around Szpara’s home territory in Bridgeville or Collier Township, will understand the urgency of investing in this area.
Szpara is not an experienced legislative hand, but he does bring a refreshing sense of honesty and straightforwardness to the contest. We think he is the best choice for Democratic voters in the 46th District, which includes parts of Allegheny County, as well as Burgettstown, McDonald and Midway boroughs, and Canton, Cecil, Mt. Pleasant, Robinson and Smith townships in Washington County.