Candidates for state representative in the 52nd District rank tax relief as one of the primary issues they will address, if elected.
William Earnesty, a Dunbar Township Republican, and Deberah Kula, a North Union Township Democrat, face off Tuesday for a two-year term in the state House of Representatives. Five-term incumbent Jim Shaner, a Democrat, is retiring for health reasons.
Earnesty, an Air Force veteran, ran unsuccessfully for the office in 2004. Kula, who served 14 years as a district judge, is making her first run at state office.
Earnesty said tax cuts are needed to spur economic growth, which in turn will create jobs. He said corporate taxes must be restructured to create a level playing field for all businesses, regardless of size.
Those same tax cuts, he said, must coincide with the elimination of government handouts to businesses.
"My problem is that politicians pick and choose which companies they give the million-dollar checks to," Earnesty said. "If you cut taxes straight across the board, you won't need the million-dollar checks. Most companies are in it for a profit, and they'll put the tax savings back into their companies so they can grow and hire more people."
Earnesty wants to put an end to property taxes.
"You can't just cut them," Earnesty said. "You have to eliminate them totally and pass an amendment so you can never have them again."
Property-tax revenues could be replaced with a sales tax, Earnesty said. Additional revenues could be generated by amending the slots law to allow nonprofit groups such as firefighters and veterans organizations to operate slot machines. The nonprofits would retain a portion of the gambling proceeds, but some of the money would have to be turned over to the state for educational funding and to local government and school districts.
Earnesty advocates government and campaign-finance reforms. He has pledged not to accept various perks available to state legislators, including health care benefits, pay raises, a pension or use of a government vehicle.
"I'm not saying I wouldn't need health care," Earnesty said. "I would pay toward it."
He said he wouldn't serve more than 10 years in office because "if you can't get the job done in 10 years, you become part of the problem, instead of the solution."
Kula cited property tax relief, community development, economic growth, open records and lobbyist disclosure as the most pressing issues facing the 52nd District.
She said she would work with other government officials to develop solutions.
"My plan to address these issues is to hopefully meet with the federal, state and municipal leaders of the 52nd District and all work together to develop a strategic plan to bring about a resolution to these pressing issues," Kula said.
Kula said any plan for economic development will have to address weaknesses while capitalizing on the area's assets. Property taxes, she said, must be reformed or eliminated entirely. Affordable, quality health care "with less red tape" must be made available to everyone.
The 52nd District in Fayette County is comprised of Dunbar, Franklin, Jefferson, Lower Tyrone and portions of Menallen, North Union, Perry and Upper Tyrone townships, along with the boroughs of Dawson, Dunbar, Everson, Newell, Perryopolis and Vanderbilt, and the city of Connellsville. In Westmoreland County, the district includes East Huntingdon Township and portions of Bessemer, Mt. Pleasant Township, and the boroughs of Mt. Pleasant and Scottdale.
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