Oct 25, 2014 6 min read

Two characteristics define the 9th Congressional District.

First, it is one of the most gerrymandered districts, stretching from Waynesburg in Greene County to Waynesboro in Franklin County, a distance of about 180 miles, and taking in all or part of nine other counties in between.

Second, according to the Cook Partisan Voting Index, in 2010 the 9th was the most Republican district in Pennsylvania, but redistricting slightly increased the number Democrats with the addition of majority-Democratic Fayette County.

Yet, according to Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call, the race is rated “Safe Republican,” and that should bode well for incumbent conservative Republican Bill Shuster, who has represented the district since 2001, succeeding his father, Rep. Bud Shuster.

He will face off against Alanna Hartzok, a “progressive” Democrat described by Franklin County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Sheri Morgan as someone who “wants to protect the environment and American families.”

These two candidates will come together Nov. 4 after a spring primary in which Shuster defeated two challengers, Travis G. Schooley of Quincy Township, Franklin County, and Arthur L. Halvorson of Harrison Township, Bedford County, while Hartzok was unopposed.

Each candidate recognizes the challenges of representing a district with a population of more than 700,000.

Shuster said he knows firsthand the issues impacting the people he represents across the 9th Congressional District. “We have some of the hardest-working people in the country living here, and I am honored to have the privilege of representing them,” he said in an email response.

“I’m working each day to reduce the tax burden on our small businesses, protect our farmers and coal miners from wasteful regulations and allow for growth in the private sector.”

Hartzok said if elected she promises to travel through the district three times each year and hold open forums. “You cannot represent people unless you are out there hearing what they have to say and listening,” she said. “Open forums are the most useful, helpful dynamic events I’ve done.”

Shuster and Hartzok also recognize the district is rich in coal mining and natural gas. Shuster is concerned with protecting these domestic energy resources from the president’s “war on coal” and the Environmental Protection Agency’s “unnecessary” regulations.

Hartzok said companies are going to go where they can get the most profits. “A lot more workers are needed to mine coal than to extract gas. Once the system is in place for gas, the workers are gone,” she said.

Shuster said thousands of people in Washington and Greene counties rely on the good-paying jobs the coal and natural gas industries provide. “I believe that these industries will continue to play an important role in our nation’s path to energy independence and both will provide a significant benefit to Southwestern Pennsylvania’s economy for years to come,” he said.

“Let’s honor the guys who worked so hard in the coal mines, those who worked so hard and got sick so we could have energy supplies,” Hartzok said.

With respect to the American response to the threat posed by ISIS, Shuster said the United States must continue standing against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. “This group of murderers’ and thugs’ trail of destruction and slaughter of innocent men, women and children must come to an end. The president’s call for airstrikes, which was long overdue, will play a major role but they will not destroy this threat alone,” he said.

Hartzok, meanwhile advocates no ground troops. “If someone in Seattle bombs Pittsburgh, we would not go bomb Seattle. We would find the responsible party and bring them to justice. Laws need to be enforced,” she said. “More people need to be allowed at the table to talk about how to solve the problem, hear from the people and listen to them. For every bomb we drop we create 1,000 new terrorists.”

Shuster said the U.S. government must also work with thoroughly vetted rebel groups, which can take the fight to the enemy while providing valuable intelligence to make U.S. airstrikes more effective.

“I will continue to work with our military leaders to put pressure on President Obama to implement a plan that will permanently eliminate these radicals, while working with my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee to closely monitor the situation as it continues to unfold,” he said.

An an incumbent, Shuster was asked about Congressional gridlock.

He said the House passed numerous jobs bills with bipartisan support range from approving construction of the Keystone Pipeline to reducing taxes on small businesses.

“These bills, along with many others that would help grow our economy, have been blocked by Harry Reid in the Senate. Earlier this year, however, I was able to pass my legislation, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act, by large margins in both chambers. This bill modernizes our waterways infrastructure and allows Southwestern Pennsylvania energy resources to get to the market faster.”

A major focus of Hartzok’s campaign is inequality in wealth. “We are at a very critical point. If we don’t find a way, I fear there will be increasing social breakdown,” she said. “We need to build an economy that is both free and fair, one that maximizes the return to individuals for their labor and entrepreneurial activity, while also addressing the need for an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few.”

She also said 40 percent of students have subsidized school lunches. “We need to create an economy that matches democracy.”

When asked what he thought were significant problems facing both Washington and Greene counties, Shuster replied millions of Americans are facing the same issues the people in Greene and Washington counties are experiencing.

“Obamacare is forcing health care costs to rise, the war on coal is killing jobs and out-of-control spending is going to hurt our future generations,” he said. “In order to help address these issues, I’ve introduced legislation like the No IRS Implementation of Obamacare Act to stop IRS enforcement of Obamacare and the Domestic Energy Production Protection Act to require congressional approval of any EPA rules impacting energy production in the United States.”

Hartzok said a growing heroin problem is a big issue, as well. “It needs to be viewed as a mental health issue. Why are people hurting their bodies and choosing to live unhealthy lifestyles?” she said. “We need to be listening. There is just too much suffering.”