The 118th Legislative District will see a rematch this November as Democratic incumbent Mike Carroll squares off against challenger Terrence O'Connor.
Mr. Carroll, of Avoca, is seeking his fourth two-year term for the seat that represents, in Luzerne County, the city of Pittston, boroughs of Avoca, Bear Creek Village, Dupont, Duryea, Hughestown and Laflin, Bucks and Jenkins townships, and parts of Bear Creek Twp. It also represents in Monroe County the townships of Eldred, Polk, Tobyhanna and Tunkhannock and parts of Chestnuthill Twp.
The state representative salary is $82,026.11.
Mr. O'Connor, a Republican from Chestnuthill Twp., ran against Mr. Carroll in 2010, but was unsuccessful in his bid.
Mr. Carroll said he wants to stimulate the economy by investing in Pennsylvania's deficient roads and bridges.
"Enhance the infrastructure we rely on everyday," Mr. Carroll said, and use Pennsylvania workers to do it.
The other reason to make infrastructure improvements a priority lies with the "traveling public." Being detoured around a closed bridge costs time and money, he said.
"We need a safe and efficient network," Mr. Carroll said. "Emergency bridge closures on I-81 are neither."
Mr. O'Connor agreed infrastructure improvements are important, adding Pennsylvania cannot "be a third world country."
As for the economy, he said it can be set straight through simple fiscal responsibility and strict adherence to the system established by the Constitution.
"I believe that it is fair to say our system of checks and balances established in the constitution have broken down at the federal level and has resulted in a federal government that is completely out of control."
Mr. O'Connor supports the most recent state budget that made cuts to education and social services.
"I think it is reasonable," Mr. O'Connor said. "We have to be real. We have to work within the financial restraints of the economy. The fact that it is balanced and we are still paying over $5 billion in education, I support it."
Mr. Carroll said state spending cuts, especially those to education, are "glaring" examples of budgetary deficiencies.
"The commonwealth has an obligation to fund our public schools," Mr. Carroll said.
He said that a properly implemented severance tax on Marcellus Shale drilling would help close the gap on pension spending and basic education funding. He opposed a drilling impact fee passed into law earlier this year, citing that it was insufficient and took power away from local zoning officials.
Mr. Carroll said, if done properly, he does support drilling and believes it can be a benefit to the area. Proper safety regulations are important to prevent incidences like the fall out from the anthracite coal mining days, he said.
"I would not want any repeat of that history with this industry," Mr. Carroll said. "We need to properly plan for it."
Mr. O'Connor said he is "all for" natural gas drilling, as it is the "ticket to prosperity."
Mr. O'Connor does not support any additional taxation on natural gas drilling, adding that a "prosperous" natural gas industry is necessary for economic growth.
He said he heats his home with coal because he cannot afford to heat it with oil.
"We need to get away from oil," Mr. O'Connor said. "We are sitting on an ocean of natural gas here in Pennsylvania. Mandate the availability of natural gas as motor fuel."
As for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Mr. O'Connor is staunchly opposed and is willing to fight it at every turn, while his opponent believes it is important to opt into the health care act so the state can "set the grounds" and determine what is best.
Contact the writer: jkohut@timesshamrock.com, @jkohutTT on TwitterMike Carroll
Party: Democrat
Age: 49
Resides: Avoca
Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Scranton
Occupation: State representative
Top issue: Infrastructure funding
Terrence O'Connor
Party: Republican
Age: 49
Resides: Chestnuthill Twp.
Education: Bachelor of Arts, University of Scranton; law degree, St. John's Law School
Occupation: Commercial lawyer, private practice
Top issue: States' rights under the 10th Amendment