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WILKES-BARRE — The 121st Legislative District is between Democrat incumbent Eddie Day Pashinski and Republican Eryn Harvey.

The candidates were asked to answer questions on key issues.

Jobs/Economy

Question: What would you do to bring better, family-sustaining jobs to the region? Be specific on what industries you would target and why they would be a good fit for NEPA.

Pashinski: I am working to make sure everyone has a chance for a great education, a great job and a successful future.

We can achieve this by bringing new industries and expanding existing businesses here in our region by supporting and funding our tax incentive programs like the PA JOBS CREATION TAX CREDIT PROGRAM, along with THE BUSINESS IN OUR SITES program to provide the necessary money to continue to attract businesses of all sizes.

In addition, we need to continue to recapture our scarred mine lands and expand our industrial parks, as well as providing quality housing to our residents.

In addition, we must support our manufacturing industry which has also continued to grow due to the good work of our location business organization like the Wyoming Valley Chamber. Because of our excellent geographic location and access to our routes 81, 80 and the PA Turnpike we can access nearly 30 million people within a 2 to 3 hour time frame which becomes another vital aspect in attracting new businesses to our region.

An example of a new business which chose to relocate in one of our industrial sites is called Upward Farms. A 250,000 sq ft. facility which will produce organic vegetables and striped bass. This facility is the largest organic producing facility on the East Coast, which will provide over 140 family sustaining jobs to our region.

My colleagues and I recently advocated for and successfully was granted $1,000,000 from our Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program for this new Upward Farms project. I will continue to initiate this practice going forward.

Harvey: Geographically speaking NEPA is in a perfect position for growth.

We must ensure workers have the necessary skills, that is why I support our local universities as well as vocational, technical and trade schools.

I do not think we should limit ourselves to one specific industry, however I think we can capitalize on the recent news of the multi-billion-dollar Nacero plant coming to Newport Township and businesses and industries needed to support the plant.

Right-To-Life

Question: What is your position on abortion? — and please give details on what you would support of elected. Do you believe abortion should be criminalized? And should it be classified as “murder?”

Harvey: Abortion is a difficult decision for a woman to make with her doctor.

While personally I consider myself pro-life, I believe I fall where most Pennsylvanians do, abortions should be safe and rare.

I don’t believe abortion should be criminalized or classified as murder.

Pashinski: Throughout the course of our nation’s history, we’ve expanded people’s rights. But the Dobbs decision took a right away from women.

A woman’s right to privacy and health care is critical to their survival and the survival of their family. Women deserve the right to decide whether or not they can, want, or should have a child. I have always supported women’s right to make this decision and will continue to do so.

I am pro-life with the three exceptions of, rape, incest or life of the mother. Rape and incest are violent acts and no woman should be forced to carry that seed to birth. The life of the mother should always be determined by the woman, her family and her doctor and no federal, state or local governments should interfere with this very personal, private health decision.

Gridlock

Question: Would you be willing to talk across the aisle to try to effect meaningful legislation that benefits Pennsylvanians, or would you strictly vote party line?

Pashinski: I’m always looking for opportunities to work across the aisle. That’s how we deliver results on the kitchen table issues impacting Pennsylvania families.

Most recently, by working with my Republican colleagues, I have passed several bills such as the “Grandfamilies” bill that supports grandparents raising grandchildren, and the Home Grown for Heroes Farm Bill, a veteran jobs bill that provides opportunities in the agriculture industry for our veterans.

I will continue to work across the aisle for the betterment of my constituents.

Harvey: I am willing to work together regardless of political party to get things accomplished for our community.

I worked for Sen. John Yudichak for nearly four years, his willingness to work together is an inspiration and is exactly the type of legislator I aspire to be.

Mail-in voting/drop boxes

Question: Are you for or against mail-in voting and drop-boxes?

Harvey: As the former Deputy Director of Elections, I have firsthand experience overseeing our elections.

I believe that the mail in ballot process can be streamlined and improved upon to give voters more confidence in the process.

It is my understanding that drop boxes were not part of the original legislation and every county deals with them differently.

I believe that any changes to our election law should come from the legislature and governor so that they are uniform across all of Pennsylvania.

Pashinski: We should make it as easy as possible to vote and I fully support Mail-in ballots and secure drop boxes. Mail-in voting is easy, accessible, and secure.

It gives voters a chance to look over the ballot, do research and make an informed decision.

I sponsored a bill to provide for the safe counting of ballots with pre-canvassing so that mail-in ballots are counted sooner, and results are available more quickly on election night.

Property taxes

Question: What can be done to reduce property taxes?

Pashinski: Property taxes are too high. Until my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are willing to come together for a fair and honest solution, this will only continue.

The state has been under-funding our public schools and creating large deficits for schools, which then forces local school districts to fill in the gaps through higher property taxes. The state share should be at a 50% level, but it is only between 35-40%.

In addition to inadequate state funding the unfair funding formula for charter and cyber charter schools has been severely abused by some. For example, virtual learning provided by the home public school costs between $3,000 – $5,000 per student — but many charter systems charge between $10,000 and $12,000.

This is one example of the inconsistencies with a law that needs to be changed and updated. In order to address some aspects of the inadequate state funding.

Advocating for appropriate public school funding has produced a program called “Level Up Funding” which distributes additional money to the 100 most underfunded school districts, thereby reducing the need for increasing local school property taxes.

I will continue my efforts to advocate for and to address these issues until a fair solution is enacted.

Harvey: One of my top priorities will be addressing the property tax crisis in Pennsylvania.

I have knocked on over 12,000 doors this campaign and met seniors on fixed incomes living in fear of losing their homes because of property taxes. This is unacceptable.

We must look at different ways to offset property taxes and work together to finally pass a relief/elimination bill.

Per diems

Question: Do you or would you accept per diem payments?

Harvey: Unlike my opponent I will not accept any per diem payments, in fact I would like to eliminate per diems for state legislators.

Pashinski: When I was first elected, we had a meeting about rules and regulations and all of the services provided.

We were told per diem is the standard form of business practice whenever we are required to attend sessions or meetings in other regions of the state.

Spending time away from our home district may require overnight expenses — there are maximums to these expenditures. The state uses the IRS standard when determining per diem rates and this is what I follow.

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.