News

February 7

Yudichak will enter Senate race

Rick Arnold, Republican from Mountain Top, will be a candidate for Yudichak’s House seat.

BILL O ’ BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com

NANTICOKE – State Rep. John Yudichak is expected to announce Monday that he will enter the race for the 14th Senatorial District seat now held by Ray Musto.

And as soon as Yudichak makes that announcement, Rick Arnold, a Republican from Mountain Top, will announce that he will run for Yudichak’s House seat.

Yudichak will reveal his decision on Monday at noon in Nanticoke at the construction site of the new Luzerne County Community College Culinary Arts Institute. The site is located at the intersection of Main Street and Market Street. Parking will be accessible in the rear of the site on Nanticoke Avenue.

Yudichak, D-Nanticoke, represents the 119th Legislative District. He was first elected to that seat in 1998.

Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton has expressed interest in running for the seat currently held by Musto, D-Pittston Township. Musto has decided not to seek re-election and will leave office at the end of November. The Senate race will be on the May 18 primary ballots and the November general election.

Luzerne County minority Commissioner Steve Urban is also considering running for the seat on the Republican ticket.

Arnold, 47, is a homebuilder who said politics has always interested him.

“Absolutely,” Arnold said when asked if he will seek to be the next state representative from the 119th Legislative District. “Assuming (Yudichak) gets in the Senate race, I will then seek to replace him in the House.”

The news of Arnold’s candidacy leaked out at Friday night’s Lincoln Day dinner when Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta announced the Mountain Top builder would run for Yudichak’s seat.

“Actually it was the perfect place to make the announcement,” Arnold said. “Former Gov. Tom Ridge was there and Pat Solano – who has done so much for the Republican Party – was there too.”

Arnold said he has worked with Yudichak over the years on several issues affecting the construction industry. He said Yudichak has been an outstanding state representative.

“I wouldn’t want to challenge (Yudichak),” Arnold said. “If he announces for the Senate on Monday, then you can say I am officially in the House race.”

Arnold owns R.T. Arnold Building Contractors and said he constructs custom homes. He calls himself a blue collar worker – “a framer turned homebuilder with a splash of politics.”

Arnold said he will be in Harrisburg Monday to meet with state GOP leaders to discuss his candidacy.

He has served as past president of the Luzerne County Builders Association and he currently sits on its board of directors and on the state board as well. He is a member of the board of directors of the Wilkes-Barre YMCA and the Luzerne County Farmland Preservation Board.

Arnold and his wife, Rita, are parents of three boys, one deceased.

“I feel like I could make a difference,” Arnold said. “I will roll up my sleeves and work for the people of the district.”

Arnold said party affiliation should not be the determining factor when voters go to the polls.

“While party politics are important, I feel voters should choose the person – Republican or Democrat – who they feel will do the best job,” Arnold said. “Some people suggested I switch parties, but I would never do that because I believe in the Republican values. I will fight for jobs, lower taxes, and protection of our natural resources. I will always have the best interests of the district at heart.”

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

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