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By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
Bill O'Boyle on Facebook   |   @TLBillOboyle on Twitter

WEST PITTSTON – Bill Goldsworthy said he plans to run for the Republican nomination in the 120th Legislative District of the state House – the seat held by 10-term Democrat Phyllis Mundy.

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Goldsworthy

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Mundy

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“I will enter the race,” Goldsworthy said Thursday. “I’ve always considered running for state representative, but after the travesty of this past year, well, it just put me over the edge.”

Goldsworthy, 55, said he was appalled at the 101-day delay in passing a state budget. He said too many people dependent upon state services were hurt by the budget impasse.

“A lot of local senior citizens and children’s groups were affected,” Goldsworthy said. “Many people served by these agencies were harmed.”

Goldsworthy graduated from Wyoming Area High School in 1972 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Wilkes College in 1976.

“I just feel the time has come for me to run for this office,” he said.

Goldsworthy served as a West Pittston councilman for 12 years before becoming the town’s mayor 13 years ago. He and his wife, Jannet, have four children. Goldsworthy is vice president of major accounts for Golden Business Machines in Kingston and also sells real estate for Rothstein Realty, Kingston.

Mundy, 61, of Kingston, said she welcomes the challenge and looks forward to waging an issues-oriented campaign.

“First of all, we are elected, not coroneted,” Mundy said. “I feel like I’ve done a good job for the last 19 years, and I look forward to discussing the issues facing the state and the district.”

Mundy said a true campaign gives the candidates the opportunity to talk about what the needs of the constituents are and how to resolve them.

Mundy said she staved off a challenge from Republican Shirley Moyer in 2000, noting that she won that race by one of her largest margins in her career.

“I will run on my record and my dedicated service to my constituents,” she said. “I’ve always been very issue-oriented; I will continue to fight for the best interests of my district. I think if you ask any average citizen, they will tell you they are pleased with my record.”

Terry Casey, chairman of the Luzerne County Republican Committee, said he was “delighted” to hear of Goldsworthy’s entry into the race.

“Bill has been a very strong mayor and is a fiscal conservative,” Casey said. “He has always been a good steward of public money. We need to send someone like him to Harrisburg who will further that fiscal conservative agenda.”

The district includes Courtdale, Exeter, Forty Fort, Kingston, Luzerne, Pringle, Swoyersville, West Pittston, West Wyoming and Wyoming boroughs and Exeter, Jackson and Kingston townships.

Bill O’Boyle, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7218.