2 Dems enter race in 58th House seat up for grabs following Harhai’s retirement
The grandson of a former state House speaker and the mayor of West Newton are seeking the Democratic nomination to replace state Rep. Ted Harhai, who is retiring in December.
Jim Manderino, 29, of Monessen, and West Newton Mayor Mary Popovich, 62, announced their campaigns to represent the 58th House District next year.
“I plan to use my leadership experience to build relationships with other legislators in Harrisburg and work through some of the gridlock that is plaguing our great state,” said Manderino, whose aunt Kathy Manderino is secretary of the state Department of Labor and Industry.
Popovich said she “believes in open records and accountability of the officials (who) work for you, so the people of our district do not have to endure the hardships when a budget is not passed by the deadline.”
Manderino is project manager at City Mission in Washington, and he has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. He is a grandson of James Manderino of Monessen, who served in the House for 23 years and died in 1989, shortly after being elected House speaker.
Manderino also is a member of the Navy Reserve, having served in Afghanistan in 2013.
Popovich has a master’s degree from California University of Pennsylvania, and she teaches there part time in the school’s global online division.
She began her career as a coal miner, one of the few women who sought work at the time in nontraditional settings. A mine accident in 1998 changed the course of her life, she said. Popovich is serving her second term as West Newton’s first female mayor.
Manderino promises to “fight for the people” in Harrisburg.
“We need fair and just laws to foster economic growth and the success of our community; both parties can work together under this principal,” he said.
Popovich, meanwhile, said she wants to help local governments deal with blight. She also wants to focus on the drug problem and creating jobs.