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Varied, widespread populace looking to replace retiring longtime rep., Tom Tigue.
Carroll
Tatu
AVOCA – When it comes to analyzing legislative districts, the 118th is a doozey.
Running 65 miles from end to end, the district spans two counties and contains myriad communities that represent opposing sides of the political spectrum.
The Monroe County side has more Republicans than Democrats and also a larger population, but the Luzerne County half has more registered voters.
The 118th includes five Monroe County townships as well as Pittston, Avoca, Dupont, Duryea, Hughestown and Laflin boroughs in Luzerne County. State Rep. Tom Tigue, who announced his retirement this year after serving the 118th district for the last 25 years, has said that when he travels to the Pocono side, many there have never heard of Hughestown, where he lives.
Enter Maureen Tatu and Mike Carroll, two newcomers vying to represent this diverse and far-flung district.
Tatu, a 53-year-old Republican supervisor for Chestnuthill Township and an advanced practice nurse, hails from the Monroe side of the district.
Her opponent, the 44-year-old Carroll, lives in Avoca and works as chief of staff for state Rep. John Yudichak.
Aside from what many consider to be the obvious need to reform property taxes, the two candidates have very disparate opinions on what needs to be done in the 118th district.
Tatu, with 30 years experience in the medical profession, has made much of the need for tort reform to control health care costs.
Asked for his response, Carroll dismissive of the notion; he thinks Tatu has “trumped up” the issue, which he thinks has already been addressed by previous reform legislation.
When it comes to the one issue they agree on — the need for property tax reform — they disagree on how best to accomplish that. Tatu has talked about reducing the tax burden on landowners by raising the sales tax and “letting visitors and tourists help pay for our schools.”
Carroll disagrees. “If we raise the sales tax now, it’ll never go down, and I’m not sure it’s necessary,” he has said. Carroll wants to bolster the Property Tax Rebate Program and use tax revenue from gaming to reduce property taxes.
Speaking of gambling, the candidates don’t exactly agree on that, either. Tatu finds it distasteful and risky; she has indicated it would depreciate property value and create social problems that would in turn eat up any revenue it generated.
Carroll, if enthusiastic about gaming in the Commonwealth, wants to wait and see what kind of revenue is generated from places such as Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.