Nov 2, 2016 4 min read

It reflects how much the political complexion of Southwestern Pennsylvania has changed that the majority of its state representatives outside Pittsburgh are Republicans. To put this sea change in perspective, Walter Mondale carried Washington, Greene and Fayette counties in the 1984 election even as he was being routed by Ronald Reagan in almost every other part of Pennsylvania and across the country.

In this cycle, four incumbent Republicans are asking voters to send them to Harrisburg for another two years. We believe all four deserve the support of the voters they represent.

Not since 1998 has John Maher faced an opponent in the 40th Legislative District, which includes Peters Township in Washington County. This time around, however, he is defending his seat from Andrew Zahalsky, an Upper St. Clair Democrat and oncologist who said he is offering “a cure for the common politician.” Zahalsky is bright, well-informed and thoughtful. However, Maher is an exceptionally adept lawmaker who deserves re-election.

Not as much of a showboat as some of his colleagues, Maher has worked diligently in the state Capitol and recognizes some of the commonwealth’s most vexing problems, such as property tax and pension reform, defy simple solutions. Maher also takes pride in personally replying to email messages and letters he receives from constituents about specific concerns, and should be commended for long championing open records and transparency. He was one of just two Republicans to recently vote against a measure concealing the identity of police officers involved in shootings. It was refreshing to see Maher buck his party on this issue.

In the heated fight to win the seat in the 46th Legislative District two years ago, we did not endorse eventual winner Jason Ortitay. We believed then he simply did not have sufficient grounding in the issues to represent his constituents authoritatively. Not this time, however – Ortitay has grown markedly over the last 24 months and, like his state Senate counterpart Guy Reschenthaler, supports regulating and collecting revenue from the growing world of online gaming, believes the antiquated system of state liquor stores is long overdue for privatization and the state pension system should be reformed. Ortitay’s opponent in the 46th District, which includes communities in the northern part of Washington County and the southern part of Allegheny County, is Democrat Joe Szpara, a resident of Collier Township. Szpara has an impressive background that includes such varied jobs as an emergency medical technician and transportation coordinator, but Ortitay’s blossoming as a lawmaker makes him the superior choice.

Residents in the western part of Washington County, including Claysville and Buffalo, East Finley, West Finley and Hopewell townships, have gotten to know Jim Christiana over the last couple of years thanks to the 15th Legislative District having been reconfigured. A native of Beaver County and a graduate of Washington & Jefferson College, Christiana is an advocate of term limits and said this will be his final race for the seat should he be re-elected. First winning office at age 25, perhaps Christiana’s greatest accomplishment has been the creation of PennWATCH, an online database that allows residents to track how the state is spending our tax dollars. Christiana’s Democratic opponent, Michael Rossi, has done his homework since winning his party’s nomination in the spring, and would be a credible voice in Harrisburg for his constituents. But we see no valid reason for 15th District voters to switch horses.

In the 39th Legislative District, which includes Finleyville and Nottingham, Somerset and Union townships in Washington County, Rick Saccone won his first two terms in nail-biters with the tiniest of margins separating him and Democratic opponent David Levdansky. His district has been reconfigued to be more GOP-friendly, and this time he is facing opposition from Democrat Peter Kobylinski, a 34-year-old personal injury attorney. We disagree with Saccone on several issues, but we do not deny his sincerity, competence or his dedication. His constituents should affirm that by returning him to Harrisburg.