Oct 31, 2014 4 min read

Some countries and one U.S. state, Nevada, offer voters an option when they go to the polls that allows them to express their dismay with all the competing candidates. Rather than casting a ballot for the least appalling of two or more demoralizing choices, they can select “None of the Above.”

Unfortunately, that is the choice we must make when it comes to the 46th Legislative District. Voters must decide between embattled Democratic incumbent Jesse White and Republican newcomer Jason Ortitay, and they deserve better.

The deficiencies of the two candidates, interestingly enough, are diametrically opposed: White is a eight-year veteran of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives who fully grasps the intricacies of policy and is able to articulate his views persuasively. But he has been undone by an excessively combative temperament that has alienated many of his constituents, no small number of his colleagues and, frankly, the editorial board of this newspaper; Ortitay, on the other hand, is engaging and gregarious but has no experience when it comes to elected office and is a neophyte when it comes to state issues and public policy. If, somehow, you could shave away each of their most glaring flaws, you would have a pretty decent candidate.

But, that, unfortunately, is not the case.

This election is, inescapably, a referendum on White, whom we have supported in the past. However, we have grown weary of White’s disposition. He doesn’t run from a fight, that you can say about him, but we wish he didn’t run toward so many of them with such undisguised relish.

You will recall that, last year, White got into a considerable amount of hot water after it was revealed that he had set up fake names on social media sites as a way to attack his opponents. At first, he denied that he was hiding behind these aliases, but then eventually confessed. Engaging in such juvenile behavior, and refusing at first to come clean about it, badly damaged his credibility. It was further evidence that, in White’s case, pugnacity can slide into vindictiveness.

This is a shame, because White has performed a valuable watchdog role when it comes to the region’s burgeoning natural gas industry. White has been a valuable counterweight to what often seems to be the “drill, baby, drill” mindset of some other state lawmakers from this area. White also seems sincere in his commitment to work in the best interest of those he represents.

Ortitay, a 30-year-old South Fayette Township resident, has found success by creating a cheesecake business after spending some time in the banking world. He would likely be energetic and approachable if elected, but we believe he lacks the seasoning to thrive in the rough-and-tumble of Harrisburg. One gets the impression that he has not fully thought through some of his proposals, such as a plan that would let homeowners aged 65 or older defer property tax payments until they die, and then let the accumulated amount they owe be paid by their estate. But what if nothing is left in the estate when the homeowner leaves the mortal coil? And if anything is, would the amount owed to schools over a period of decades be gauged to inflation? This idea is, simply put, half-baked.

The saving grace of this election is that the seat in the 46th Legislative District will be up for grabs again a mere 24 months from now. By then, we hope, the winner on Tuesday will prove himself worthy of the office and gain this newspaper’s backing.

In Washington County, the 46th Legislative District includes the boroughs of McDonald, Midway and Burgettstown and Canton, Cecil, Mt. Pleasant, Robinson and Smith townships.