LEWISBURG -- Jobs, energy, taxes and health care were just some of the issues discussed Wednesday by five candidates for state office in two League of Women Voters-sponsored programs in Lewisburg Area High School.
About 50 people attended.
State Rep. Russell H. Fairchild, R-85, of Lewisburg, faced off against Democratic challenger Stephen J. Connolley, of White Deer Township, Union County, in the first debate.
The second debate, for candidates for the seat being vacated by state Sen. Roger Madigan, R-23 of Towanda, featured Louis "Trey" Casimir, a Democrat from Lewisburg; Republican Gene Yaw, of Loyalsock Township, Lycoming County; and Independent Michael A. Dincher, of Williamsport.
In the first debate, Fairchild and Connolly were asked by moderator Susan Warner Mills how they would help people deal with the downturn in the economy.
Fairchild said, "We are facing tough times. We all need to buckle down, but we'll get through this. The first thing we have to do is restore confidence in our financial institutions."
Connolley said people have to look locally for solutions. As one of the leaders in the drive to create a central Susquehanna Valley community college, he said that where people are out of work, "we have to educate them, retrain them if necessary to meet the workforce demands in the region."
Both candidates were strongly against the tolling of Interstate 80 and supportive of the Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway project. Connolley suggested tolling the proposed thruway bridge over the Susquehanna River as a way of generating revenue.
Fairchild and Connolley agreed that some kind of property tax reform is needed.
Connolley said he wants to eliminate property taxes. Fairchild didn't offer a plan to deal with the issue, but said, "Tax reform has been a moving target for years. It has to be dealt with."
In the second debate, Yaw was consistent in his call for creating an atmosphere where businesses can survive and thrive in the region. "Lower corporate net income taxes and repeat Act 44. That's how we can attract new businesses to central Pennsylvania," he said.
Casimir said: "We need to concentrate on local businesses who want to stay here as a way of growing the economy. We've seen what happens when you bring in large businesses that pick up and leave when times get tough."
All of the candidates agreed the region would benefit from the natural gas reserves found in the Marcellus Shale field.
The biggest point of contention between the three candidates was on the question of health care. Casimir said it was inevitable that "we'd move to a government-administered health care system, and that's not a bad thing."
Yaw said he was against any government-run health program. He advocated a Massachusetts-like plan that would make health care private, but mandatory. "Some people, of course, would be subsidized," he said.
Dincher said hospital costs have to be controlled. "The answer is not government health care."
News
Candidates for state office square off
- News
-
-
Firefighter union may char pacts
LEWISBURG — Paid members of the William Cameron Engine Company have voted to unionize under the International Association of Fire Fighters, a move believed to stem from internal tension between paid and volunteer members of the department, according to various sources.
-
M-W rule on drug testing is area’s boldest
MIDDLEBURG — Midd-West is the only school district in the Central Susquehanna Valley that requires students interested in participating in extra-curricular activities to agree to submit to random drug testing.
-
New shelter exec gets busy
When Cathy Teisher stepped down as executive director of Haven Ministries, in March, Pamela Steffen stepped up.
-
Tax boost could bring $120G pad
The Lewisburg Area School District will seek a 3.2 percent real estate tax increase for the 2012-13 school year, the maximum allowed under the index, under a proposed budget now available for public comment.
-
Fire has burned beneath Centralia for 50 years
CENTRALIA — Fifty years ago on Sunday, a fire at the town dump ignited an exposed coal seam, setting off a chain of events that eventually led to the demolition of nearly every building in Centralia — a whole community of 1,400 simply gone.
-
'To Do': Montandon Community Days
MONTANDON - Montandon Community Days will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 26 along Railroad Street.
-
California’s Coronado named nation’s best beach
CORONADO, Calif. (AP) — Like a Hollywood star, Coronado’s 1.5 mile-long beach literally sparkles, thanks to the mineral mica glinting in its sand.
That’s one of the reasons why Coronado — flanked by the iconic hotel featured in Marilyn Monroe’s 1958 film “Some Like It Hot” — has been named the No. 1 beach in the United States in the 2012 survey by “Dr. Beach” professor Stephen P. Leatherman of Florida International University. -
Typical CEO made $9.6M last year, AP study finds
Profits at big U.S. companies broke records last year, and so did pay for CEOs.
-
Barnstorming cattle badger citizens for beer
BOXFORD, Mass. (AP) — Police say a roving group of cows crashed a small gathering in a Massachusetts town and bullied the guests for their beer.
-
'A Day in Towne' tradition draws crowds to Boalsburg
May 25--For the 148th year, Boalsburg will be the gathering place for regional families to remember all ranks of Armed Forces veterans.
-
Fired Pa. president gets more time to clear office
CALIFORNIA, Pa. (AP) — A judge has canceled a hearing to determine whether California University of Pennsylvania president Angelo Armenti can remove his personal property from his former office, because state officials have given him more time to do so.
- Weird crime of the week: Peddler in pickup scams bargain-hunting meat seeker
- More News Headlines
-
Firefighter union may char pacts
