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By ANTHONY COLAROSSI; Times Leader Staff Writer
Monday, October 10, 1994 Page: 3A
WILKES-BARRE — If there is one thing state Rep. Phyllis Mundy does not
like, it’s campaigning, especially when the verbal attacks start landing.
“I love everything about my job except campaigns,” said Mundy, 46,
D-Kingston, during a meeting with The Times Leader Editorial Board last week.
“I hate campaigns.”
That’s because the two-term incumbent is engaged in a serious word volley
with her aggressive Republican opponent, Norm Gavlick, 36, also of Kingston.
Mundy said Gavlick has misrepresented her voting record and misquoted her
statements repeatedly in public and on the editorial pages of The Times
Leader.
“I do not believe in campaign tactics like that. I think that’s
despicable,” Mundy said. “Disagree with me, if you will, but I will not
attempt to misrepresent, misquote or lie about my opponent.”
In particular, Mundy took issue with a Gavlick letter to the editor printed
on Oct. 2. He wrote: “Why does Phyllis say she is pro-jobs but is rated the
lowest possible — zero — by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and
Industry?”
Bruce Dallas, a Chamber spokesman, said that the organization does not
conduct “ratings” of legislators. He produced a Chamber report, however,
listing state legislators’ voting records on five workers’ compensation bills
over a two-year period, from 1991 to 1993.
The report isolated legislators who “consistently voted against business”
on the five bills, and, as one of those legislators, Mundy received a “zero
percent” designation.
A compromise workers’ compensation bill eventually passed in July 1993,
however. The Chamber supported the amended legislation, and Mundy voted for
it, Dallas said.
“The fact is: it’s a zero-for-five voting record,” Gavlick said. “We
haven’t been slinging the mud. We haven’t done anything despicable and
deceptive. We’re trying to bring the issues out.”
Mundy also defended herself against attacks from Gavlick on her gun
legislation votes. Gavlick’s letter implied that Mundy is anti-sportsman.
Mundy produced two letters of support from sportsmen’s organizations and
cited her recent vote to override a gubernatorial veto of legislation that
barred the banning of certain assault weapons in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
“I’m willing to ban assault weapons on the statewide level,” she said. “I’m
not willing to do it municipality by municipality.”
Gavlick said Mundy has flip-flopped on the assault weapons issue because it
is politically prudent. “It’s politics four weeks before an election,” he
said.
Mundy said she hopes the remainder of the campaign will stick to issues
that she considers important.
She cited her support of new statewide public education regulations, which
set basic minimum standards for high school graduation, require standardized
testing and incorporate community input in curriculum development, as
positives for local school districts.
“Hopefully getting the community involved in education will help,” she
said.
As for jobs and economic development, Mundy said improving the area’s
infrastructure is key. Improvements to highways and the airport, maintenance
of the county’s rail system and development of the Luzerne County Convention
Center will all help attract businesses and jobs to the area, she said.
“Infrastructure, amenities and quality of life. We should be able to market
this area successfully,” Mundy said. “We’re in a bidding war.”
Mundy would support voter initiative and referendum on issues such as the
convention center, but only if voter participation were high enough to reflect
the sentiments of the entire community. She would not say what voter turnout
level she could accept.
Mundy also touted pending housing legislation she is sponsoring, which
would help low- to middle-income first-time home buyers secure down payments.
Mundy an