Questions posed to candidates by the League of Women Voters.
1.The voter ID law for Pennsylvania has been postponed for this election. What do you as a candidate feel is valid or invalid about this law?
2. a (for state offices). Please point out your greatest point of disagreement with your political party on the state level and elaborate on why you take issue.
2. b (for federal offices). Please point out your greatest point of disagreement with your political party on the federal level and elaborate on why you take issue.
DEMOCRAT
H. Scott Conklin
Philipsburg
Website: www.scottconklin.com
Date of birth: Oct. 7, 1958
Education: Trade school degree in carpentry; licensed air-conditioning technician
Occupation: State representative and small-business owner with my wife.
Qualifications: State representative since 2007; county commissioner from 2000-06
Answer 1. The voter ID law is a solution looking for a problem. We do not have wide-spread fraud because of our dedicated election workers. Any system is only as good as the workers at the polls. In Centre County, we have wonderful staff and volunteers making sure our elections are accurate and fair. I strongly believe this is the case statewide as well. I did not support the law because it was not needed, cost more than $11 million to implement and really was a slap in the face to those workers who have dedicated their lives to our voting process. However, it is the law. We need to make sure voters are ready for the next election when it is fully implemented.
Answer 2. I will always be an independent voice for our wonderful district. I stand ready to work with my colleagues in bringing good paying jobs to our area, making sure our children receive the best education and protecting the environment. We live in a remarkable place. Our workforce is dedicated, strong and educated. We enjoy the lowest unemployment number in the state and I will continue to spread the good news about our district to promote investments here. I believe we need to continue to move forward, maintain what is good, improve where we can and come out even stronger. I look forward to working with members of both parties to achieve those objectives.
REPUBLICAN
Ron Reese
Port Matilda
Date of birth: Jan. 16, 1958
Website: RonReese.com
Education: 1975, Bald Eagle Area High School; 1975-1977, attended Penn State
Occupation: Operate a dairy farm in Worth Township
Qualifications: Township supervisor, six years; president, Centre County — Association of Township Officials, one year; president, Centre County Farm Bureau, two years; member, Centre/Clinton County Farm Service Agency Committee, 10 years; chairman, Worth Township Planning Commission, six years.
Answer 1. Free and fair elections are essential for good government. Eliminating fraud, even if it is a small amount with something as ubiquitous as ID is a step in the right direction. If obtaining ID was difficult or costly the validity of the law would be questionable. Under this law that is clearly not the case. It makes one wonder about the motivations of those who oppose it.
Answer 2. The Republican Party of Pennsylvania has a tradition of attempting to influence primary elections by endorsing candidates. Endorsed candidates enjoy the advantage of party structure and publicity. This ultimately undermines the will of grass-roots members of the party. Ironically as in the case of Tom Smith, this strategy fails and party leadership must rebuild unity that was damaged by boardroom decisions.