Dec 6, 2014 5 min read

As two longtime Democratic state officials packed their bags and moved out of their district offices last month, their Republican replacements are finding it to be an “eye-opening experience” learning the nuances of government while also balancing the job with their small businesses.

Camera Bartolotta and Jason Ortitay spent time at an orientation in Harrisburg for freshman lawmakers right after their electoral victories Nov. 4 and are in the process of hiring staff and opening their district offices.

The two Republican newcomers will be a change from Tim Solobay, who spent a decade as a state representative before serving as a one-term senator, and Jesse White, who represented the 46th state House district since 2007.

One might think their departures could cost Southwestern Pennsylvania some political clout in Harrisburg, but Washington & Jefferson College political science professor Joseph DiSarro believes the newly elected politicians’ allegiance with the Republicans who control the state House and Senate will be a “positive factor” for Washington and Greene counties.

“I think that if you look at the makeup of the Legislature, it’s a positive change for the area. We’re increasing the political clout by having two new members who are now in the majority party,” DiSarro said. “They’re both new, and seniority is nearly everything, so you lose a little bit … but both (Solobay and White) were in the minority.”

Even though newly elected officials aren’t formally sworn into office until Jan. 6, they’re now in charge of constituent services and already voted on their party’s leadership. Both declined enrolling in the state’s pension program, although Ortitay is accepting health-care benefits.

Bartolotta, who owns Duke of Oil quick lube in Monongahela, spent time last week in Washington, D.C., at the Tax and Fiscal Policy Academy’s seminar that brought in elected leaders from across the country for meetings with conservative think tanks. She plans to open an office on Main Street in Monongahela and keep Solobay’s former satellite office in Waynesburg.

Bartolotta, who will sit on the state Senate Energy Committee, will have her main district headquarters on Technology Drive in Southpointe, near where several energy companies are located.

“Marcellus Shale is so vital to our district, more so than any other district,” she said. “I want to be right there to keep my eyes and ears open.”

She also plans to fight any severance tax on Marcellus Shale extraction put forward by Gov.-elect Tom Wolf because of her concerns it could end the impact fee that benefits many local communities.

“It’s gone so far to improve these communities, and it’s money we would never see with a severance tax,” Bartolotta said. “I will fight tooth and nail to keep that impact fee.”

November was a balancing act for Ortitay between getting acquainted with state government and voting for House leadership, and operating his business, Jason’s Cheesecake Co., before the holidays.

“It’s been an eye-opening experience because Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times of the year for my business, and I’ve come to the realization that I can’t do both full-time,” Ortitay said. “So, I’m already working to transfer some of my duties to my employees and will begin to remove myself from that. I’ll still handle some of the baking and administrative duties, but I’ll be handing the reins off to someone else now.”

Ortitay’s main district office will be at 275 Millers Run Road in South Fayette. It will open Dec. 15 for morning hours, and his legislative staff will be available full time in January. He hopes to open a satellite office in Hickory or Burgettstown sometime next year “to make sure people over there are covered.” He also wants to meet with local businesses soon and plan constituent-outreach events within the district.

He said he was surprised by how quickly he was “thrown into the fire” to vote for Republican leadership and how many candidates called him trying to win his vote. Ortitay’s also been told he should expect a bruising debate over Wolf’s budget proposal and that it’s unlikely to pass by the June 30 deadline.

Meanwhile, the past five weeks have been much different for the two defeated Democrats.

Solobay wrote a melancholy goodbye message to his Facebook followers on Nov. 18 expressing gratitude for their support and disappointment in the campaign.

“I have developed alligator skin over the years, but this brutal and unspeakable campaign by my opponent and her millionaire friends was much more impacting to staff and family,” Solobay wrote. “I hope that this type of activity ceases in the future but unfortunately I don’t see that happening. The little guy and regular person has been kicked to the curb by money and these 1%er’s.”

White wrote various Facebook posts over the past month about cleaning out his district offices, while also blaming the media and his critics for his defeat.

DiSarro has been surprised by both of their reactions to the election.

“Neither candidate has viewed the results as the will of the people,” DiSarro said. “To continue the campaign after the voters have spoken is a mistake, and it’s bad form.”