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Candidate debate

April 18, 2008

Democrats in 118th state cases

State Rep. Mike Carroll, challenger P.J. Best, face off in debate at Pittston Area.

SHERRY LONG slong@timesleader.com

YATESVILLE – P.J. Best and his rival, state Rep. Mike Carroll, outlined their positions on key issues during a debate Thursday night at Pittston Area High School.

Vying to be the Democratic nominee in the 118th District, both candidates tackled property-tax relief, crime, health care, regionalization, tolling and privatization of the state’s highways as they took turns answering questions from the audience and forum hosts, the League of Women Voters of Wilkes-Barre Area.

There is no Republican running for that party’s nomination.

Best, 23, believes state legislators should provide adequate property-tax relief while spending the tax money already being generated to fix the state’s roads and bridges.

Carroll is in favor of tolling Interstate 80 to raise money to fix the state’s aging highway infrastructure.

Carroll, of Avoca, said revenues collected from state casinos will provide real property-tax relief to property and farm owners later this year.

Carroll, 45, noted not all of the state’s planned casinos are operating yet, and the property-tax rebate amounts will increase annually as casino patronage increases.

“Each year it will grow as more money will be lost (by gamblers),” he said.

Best, of Pittston, called property taxes the most pressing issue affecting Pennsylvanians. He said that as long as school districts keep raising their millage rates because of insufficient state funding, property owners will not see tax relief.

“The casino money is not relief. It is no more than a Band-Aid,” Best said.

Carroll and Best were asked how regionalization of services would affect the district and if it could lead to a reduction of taxes.

Regionalization of police services, fire departments and possibly consolidation of towns is something that will need to be addressed in the future, Carroll said.

“Bigger is not always better. Local government serves a purpose. In the end, local officials do what’s responsible for their residents,” he said.

Municipal independence is very important, but affluent communities should do what they can to assist their distressed municipal neighbors, Best said.

The two men, both Pittston Area graduates, will face off in the primary on Tuesday. The 118th District includes portions of Luzerne and Monroe counties.

Sherry Long, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7159.

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