Unity Township Supervisor Mike O'Barto announced Tuesday he will run for the state House seat held by 32-year veteran Jess Stairs.
O'Barto, 49, a Democrat, said he's looking to move from municipal government to make a change in state government.
Stairs, 65, a Republican from Mt. Pleasant Township, has represented the 59th District since 1976.
"It's time for new leadership. We need someone who is not part of the old system," O'Barto said. "If elected, I will not be a rubber stamp for the Democratic Party. I will always view myself as an independent Democrat."
O'Barto has served as township supervisor for the last 15 years. He briefly ran for county commissioner this year before withdrawing from the race several weeks before the spring primary.
O'Barto said his platform is to institute property tax reform and improve state funding for municipal road repairs.
The 59th District consists of eastern and southern sections of Westmoreland County as well as a small portion of Fayette County.
Stairs in the last year has come under fire for his role as a board member for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, which has been criticized for its lavish spending, including expenses for junkets for board members and their families paid for by the agency.
Stairs has not formally announced whether he will seek a 17th term in office. He did not respond to an interview request yesterday.
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