Nov 4, 2018 5 min read

Despite all the sound and fury surrounding the midterm elections nationally, it’s easy to forget voters will also be choosing state lawmakers in this Tuesday’s elections, and the decisions they make in Harrisburg will also matter to us – how much funding education receives, whether roads will be fixed, how much money will be coming out of our pockets in taxes.

In Washington and Greene counties, a state Senate seat is up for grabs, along with seven seats in the state House of Representatives. The work they do, for the most part, is not glamorous, but necessary to keep Pennsylvania functioning on a daily basis.

In the 46th Senate District, Republican Camera Bartolotta is seeking another four-year term and is facing a spirited challenge from Democrat James Craig, a 29-year-old North Strabane attorney. Bartolotta deserves credit for sponsoring Tierne’s Law, a measure named for 2016 Washington County domestic violence victim Tierne Ewing that allows more district judges to use risk-assessment tools when determining bail in cases of domestic violence. But we were struck by the vision and energy Craig has brought to the campaign. He has argued his hardscrabble upbringing in South Franklin Township, which included parents and a brother who were addicted to opioids, gives him a unique insight into the needs and concerns of the 46th Senate District, which includes all of Washington and Greene counties and part of Beaver County. He makes a compelling case. For that reason, we are endorsing James Craig for state Senate.

Meanwhile, in the 15th Legislative District, which includes part of Beaver County and such Washington County communities as Claysville, West Finley Township and West Middleton, Republican Josh Kail and Democrat Terri Mitko are vying for a seat being vacated by Republican Jim Christiana, who was first elected 10 years ago. Neither candidate is a heavyweight on policy, but we give the edge to Kail, who has been a solicitor for various communities and shows potential to grow in the job.

It’s much the same in the 40th Legislative District, where Republican Natalie Milhalek and Democrat Sharon Guidi are competing to replace departing Republican John Maher, who held the seat for two decades and rarely faced opposition. Like Kail, Milhalek will have a learning curve if she makes it to Harrisburg, but the U.S. Navy veteran comes to the race with an impressive background that includes work in the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office. We endorse Milhalek in the 40th Legislative District, which includes Peters Township, Upper St. Clair and parts of Bethel Park.

After his unsuccessful bid for U.S. Congress, state Rep. Rick Saccone is leaving his seat in the 39th Legislative District, which includes Finleyville, and Somerset, Nottingham and Union townships in Washington County, and parts of Allegheny County. Republican businessman Mike Puskaric is competing against Democrat Rob Rhoderick, a chiropractor by trade. In this contest, Rhoderick has an edge thanks for his having served on the Elizabeth Township Board of Commissioners, and having been an Elizabeth Township school director. This familiarity with local government will stand him in good stead should he make it to Harrisburg. We endorse Rob Rhoderick in the 39th Legislative District.

Republican Jason Ortitay has represented the 46th Legislative District since unseating troubled Democratic incumbent Jesse White in 2014, and has grown in the job. He now has an impressive grasp of policy and is in touch with the needs of his district, which includes Bridgeville and South Fayette Township in Allegheny County, as well as Burgettstown and Cecil, Canton and Smith townships in Washington County. While Democrat Byron Timmins has run an energetic grassroots campaign, we see no reason Ortitay should be denied a another term. Therefore, he gets our endorsement.

In May, Republican state Rep. Tim O’Neal was elected to the 48th Legislative District seat in a special election following the departure of Democrat Brandon Neuman, who was elected a Washington County judge. O’Neal defeated Democrat Clark Mitchell in May, and the two will be facing each other again on Tuesday. Both are better candidates than they were in the spring, but we were particularly impressed with O’Neal’s growth and his understanding of the issues facing the state and his district, which includes Canonsburg, Washington, and Chartiers, North Strabane and South Strabane townships. He should be given a full, two-year term.

In 2016, Republican Bud Cook won the 49th Legislative District seat that had been held for more than 30 years by Democrat Pete Daley. This time, Cook has a formidable challenger in the form of Democrat Steve Toprani, a former Washington County district attorney. Toprani also represents several local governments as an attorney, is a former member of the Ringgold School Board and serves on the board of the Redevelopment Authority of Washington County. The depth and breadth of Toprani’s experience makes him the superior candidate, earning our endorsement. The 49th Legislative District includes parts of Fayette County and several Washington County communities in the Mon Valley, including Charleroi, Donora, Monongahela, West Brownsville and West Pike Run Township.

Voters in the 50th Legislative District are seeing a rematch this year of incumbent Democratic state Rep. Pam Snyder and Republican Betsy Rohanna McClure. In the six years she has represented the district, Snyder has been a tireless champion of bringing high-speed broadband to rural parts of the district, and combating the opioid epidemic. Her experience, which also includes a nine-year tenure as a Greene County commissioner, makes her a better candidate than Rohanna McClure, who demonstrates little knowledge or understanding of state issues. Voters in the 50th Legislative District, which includes all of Greene County and parts of Fayette and Washington counties, should allow Snyder to serve another two years in Harrisburg.