White seeks nomination to seat he formerly held
Former state representative Jesse White of Cecil is seeking the Democratic nomination in a bid to win back his old seat in the 46th Legislative District.
White, 37, who held the seat for four terms, was defeated two years ago by Republican state Rep. Jason Ortitay after a contentious race littered with allegations that White assumed the identities of political foes and constituents on social media and online forums.
White later sued KDKA and members of the Facebook group “Concerned Citizens of the 46th District,” alleging defamation from coverage and discussion of the incidents.
“I have no problem speaking truth to power, nor do I have a problem speaking truth to stupidity, and one thing I learned during my eight years in Harrisburg is that the two often go hand in hand,” White said in a news release.
He said he plans to hold Ortitay accountable for “his failure to pass a state budget,” and as a father of two sons, he said he wants to prioritize education in the Legislature. White has in the past gone after drilling companies and the state Department of Environmental Protection regarding hydraulic fracturing and related drilling activity. He also said property tax reform is an issue he will campaign on.
White said the 2014 campaign was “virtually devoid of any issue-based debate,” and he said he will insist on holding debates in “each of the 13 municipalities so voters can see beyond negative mailers and television ads funded by PACs and nonprofit organizations from outside the area.” The ad campaign against him took a toll in the last race, White said, adding that “if that’s the way (Republican opponents) want to play, it’s their choice. Their goal was to bankrupt me the first time around, and they managed to succeed.”
The 46th District is composed of Burgettstown, Canton, Cecil, McDonald, Midway, Mt. Pleasant, Robinson and Smith in Washington County; and Bridgeville, Collier, Heidelberg, Oakdale and South Fayette in Allegheny County.