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Two congressional seats, state level posts up for grabs
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WILKES-BARRE — The two Congressional races highlight the 2020 local election card.
Of course, the presidential election will get the most attention, with voter turnout — in-person, mail-in or absentee — expected to be extremely high.
Six seats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are up in this election — two candidates are unopposed — along with three statewide offices.
In the 8th Congressional District, incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, 59 of Moosic, is opposed by Republican Jim Bognet, 45 of Hazleton.
In the 9th Congressional District, incumbent Dan Meuser, 56 of Dallas, is opposed by Dr. Gary Wegman, 63 of Limekiln.
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8th Congressional District
Matt Cartwright, Democrat (incumbent)
Age: 59
Residence: Moosic Borough
Work history: Trial Attorney for 25 years; U.S. Representative for 7 years
Education: B.A., Hamilton College (1983); J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School (1986)
Family: Wife, Marion Munley Cartwright; children, Jack and Matthew Cartwright
Key issues:
COVID-19: Cartwright is pushing for a sustained public health and economic response to COVID-19. He is calling for a robust national testing and tracing program to get the virus under control and people back to work safely, and strong economic relief to support workers, families and businesses who are struggling.
Economic recovery: Cartwright is advocating to rebuild our economy in a way that all Northeastern Pennsylvanians – not just the wealthy – get to enjoy the benefits. That includes major investments in infrastructure and education, and bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. from China, especially the PPE and drugs needed to beat the pandemic.
Health care: Cartwright will continue working to lower prescription drug costs and protect and expand access to affordable health care, and opposing GOP attempts to dismantle the law that protects people with pre-existing conditions. He is also committed to strengthening Medicare and Social Security for Northeastern Pennsylvania’s seniors.
Jim Bognet, Republican challenger
Age: 45
Residence: Hazle Township
Work history: Chief Deputy Special Advisor for Jobs and Economic Growth for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, 2003-2006; founder and owner, JRB Consulting, 2013 to present:; 2018, CEO, Martha McSally for Senate; Trump Administration, Export-Import Bank, 2019 to January 2020.
Education: BA Penn State University; JD/MBA University of California Los Angeles
Family: Born and raised in Hazleton, Italian-Irish family.
Key issues:
Jobs/Economy: Bring jobs back to Northeastern Pennsylvania, protect Social Security and Medicare, stop illegal immigration and protect Pennsylvania’s energy jobs. Focused on policies to bring back good manufacturing and energy jobs to Northeastern Pennsylvania and to make China pay for the jobs they have stolen, the lies they have told about COVID, and the lives we have lost due to their cover-up and dishonesty about COVID.
Support police: Supports police and keeping public safe. Opposes defunding the police, and supports better funding and training for law enforcement.
Other: Pro-Second Amendment, pro-life, and believes in conservative NEPA values. Promote energy exploration in Pennsylvania, keep the jobs created by fracking and promote Pennsylvania natural gas as a clean energy alternative for the country. Favors a major Infrastructure bill to invest in roads, bridges, telecommunications, and other key infrastructure in Pennsylvania and across the nation.
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9th Congressional District
Dan Meuser, Republican (incumbent)
Age: 56
Residence: Dallas Borough
Education: New York Maritime University; Cornell University
Family: Wife, Shelley; three children
Job Creation: Under the leadership of President Trump and Congressional Republicans, policies were enacted to reduce taxes and over-regulation. Those policies allowed the private sector to create jobs and build the greatest economy Pennsylvania has seen in over 100 years. The COVID-19 pandemic intentionally slowed that growth, but we are already seeing the economy climbing back to build an even better economy than before.
Security: Committed to supporting the brave law enforcement officers and work with them to institute any necessary policing reforms. Must put a stop to the violent riots plaguing many of America’s largest cities. Additionally, must continue to fully support a strong national defense and enhanced border security.
Rebuilding and Revitalizing America: Improving America’s infrastructure is a bipartisan issue and it is critical to every aspect of our country, including public safety and commerce. Has introduced legislation — the America Infrastructure Bank — which would help to advance the creation of public-private partnerships.
Gary Wegman, Democrat challenger
Age: 63
Work History: Gary has worked as an independent dental practitioner and small business farmer for his entire adult life.
Residence: Limekiln
Education: Lafayette College, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
Family: Wife, Anne; daughters, Cecile and Margot; son, Berenger.
Key issues:
COVID-19: During the COVID-19 pandemic, as hidden costs for vital services overwhelm even those who thought they had good coverage, prices for medications and healthcare premiums have risen astronomically. Need to reform the US Healthcare System to make it less expensive, more efficient and more accessible, with better quality of care and better outcomes.
Infrastructure: This is vital to commerce and industry, having a devastating effect on entire regions as young people migrate to find jobs and opportunities. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the coal-region and rural Pennsylvania, where promises of growth-producing infrastructure projects have gone unfulfilled.
Food security: Agricultural practices of large corporate farms threaten the country’s ability to feed its people. Monopolization of food production, distribution, and supply chains is worrying. In the 9th District, where agriculture is the largest industry, the dairy producer has suffered losses due to COVID-19 restaurant restrictions, opportunistic advertising (of soy “milk,” almond “milk”), and the misguided removal of whole milk from public schools.
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State Legislature
116th Legislative District
Todd Eachus, Democrat
Age: 57
Residence: Butler Township
Education: Pitzer College of the Claremont Colleges, B.A.
Family: Wife, Ellen; sons, Anthony, Benjamin, and Nathan.
Eachus previously served as Majority Leader in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Key issues: Raising the Quality of Education; Addressing the Opioid Epidemic; Advocating for Sweeping Transparency
Tarah Toohil, Republican (incumbent)
Age: 40
Residence: Butler Township
Education: Hazleton Area H.S., Dual Bachelor Political Science & Sociology with Concentration Law & Legal; PSU Dickinson Law School, J.D.
Family: Resides with her husband, Scot Burkhardt, and their children in Drums.
Key issues: Health & Safety; Economy; Education.
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117th Legislative District
Karen Boback, Republican (incumbent)
Unopposed
Age: 69
Town of residence: Harveys Lake Borough
Education: BA/MS Misericordia University; MS Marywood University; PhD University of Pennsylvania
Family:Husband of 46 years, Buz Boback; two children, Karen and Bernard; two grandchildren.
Key issues: Major focus is on anything Coronavirus-related; elimination of school property tax has been, and will remain, a top priority.
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118th Legislative District
Mike Carroll, Democrat (incumbent)
Age: 57
Residence: Avoca
Education: Pittston Area High School; BA University of Scranton
Family: Wife, Kelly; children, Matt, Mackenzie and Ali
Key issues:
Economic development and job creation; Providing adequate state funding to all public schools; Helping businesses, employees and families recover from COVID 19.
Andrew Holter,Republican
Age: 32
Residence: Laflin Borough
Education: PhD candidate in Organizational Psychology; Master’s in Public Administration; B.S./A.A.S.
Family: Wife, Elyse, who is 16 weeks pregnant with first child.
Key issues: Address the COVID-19 crisis; Good paying jobs; Eliminate school property taxes; Government reforms.
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119th Legislative District
Gerald Mullery, Democrat (incumbent)
Age: 50
Residence: Newport Township
Education: Greater Nanticoke Area High School; King’s College; Duquesne University School of Law
Family: Wife, Michele; daughters Leah (20) & Lauren (18); sons Liam (14) & Louden (13)
Key issues: The attraction and retention of family sustaining jobs; Elimination or reduction of property taxes; Protection of the quality of life (access to affordable healthcare, safe neighborhoods, and quality public schools).
John Chura, Republican
Age: 54
Residence: West Hazleton
Education: Bishop Hafey High School
Family: Wife, Diane; 2 children, Nick and Alexandria; 4 grandchildren
Key issues: To control the spread of COVID-19; Eliminate school property taxes; Cut wasteful government spending in Harrisburg.
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120th Legislative District
Joanna Bryn Smith, Democrat
Age: 34
Residence: Wyoming Borough
Education: Bishop O’Reilly High School; Saint Joseph’s University; City University of New York School of Law
Family: Raised by two public school teachers. Mother’s family immigrated from Poland; her father’s family immigrated from Wales.
Key issues: Education, employment and taxes, and access to affordable healthcare.
Aaron Kaufer, Republican (incumbent)
Age: 32
Residence: Kingston
Education: Lafayette College B.A. Government and Law; International Affairs Widener University Commonwealth Law J.D.
Family: Wife, Annie; dog, Murphy
Key issues: COVID-19 recovery; More working across the aisle regardless of political affiliation.
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121st Legislative District
Eddie Day Pashinski, Democrat (incumbent)
Unopposed
Age: 75
Residence: Wilkes-Barre
Education: Penn State University
Family: 4 children
Key issues: Health care; Education; Realigning taxes.
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State Races
Attorney General
Josh Shapiro, Democrat (incumbent)
Heather Heidelbaugh, Republican
Auditor General
Nina Ahmad, Democrat
Timothy DeFoor, Republican
Treasurer
Joe Torsella, Democrat (incumbent)
Stacy Garrity, Republican
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.