Election 2022 voters guide: Here’s who’s running to represent Centre County in the PA House
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2022 primary election voters guide
The Pennsylvania primary election is May 17. Voters must be registered to vote by 5 p.m. May 2 and apply for an absentee or mail-in ballot by 5 p.m. May 10. You must be registered as either a Republican or Democrat to vote in the primary election. This voters guide was compiled by the League of Women Voters of Centre County with assistance from the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania.
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How to vote, find your polling place and more ahead of the May 17 primary election
Election 2022 voters guide: Meet the candidates for PA governor and lieutenant governor
Election 2022 voters guide: Who you’ll see on the ballot for U.S. Senate and House races
Election 2022 voters guide: Here’s who’s running to represent Centre County in the PA House
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Here’s a look at where the PA governor candidates stand on the state’s mail voting law
Pennsylvania state House
Description of office: The General Assembly is the legislative branch of government in Pennsylvania. It is composed of two houses: the Senate is the upper house, and the House of Representatives is the lower house. A majority vote in both houses is necessary to pass a law. The PA House of Representatives consists of 203 members representing one district each, with an equal number of constituents. Representatives must be at least 21 years old, have been a citizen and a resident of the state four years and a resident of their respective districts one year before their election, and shall reside in their respective districts during their terms of service. The House develops budget packages, makes taxation decisions, allocates spending and passes laws (including redistricting in collaboration with the Senate). The House also has the exclusive authority to impeach public officials. Representatives also serve on various policy committees that may propose legislation.
Term: 2 years
Salary: $95,432
District 77
Vote for ONE.
H. Scott Conklin
Party: Dem
Occupation: State representative
Education: Philipsburg-Osceola Area High School, Clearfield County Career and Technical School
Qualifications: Scott has devoted his life to public service and bettering our communities. Prior to entering public service, he ran a small business and remained a loyal member of his union. He was elected a Commissioner and serve as Chair, prior to being elected into his current role as State Representative.
Facebook: http://facebook.com/conklinforpa
Twitter: http://twitter.com/conklinforpa
Q: What issue(s) would you prioritize, and how would you work with others in government to get legislation passed and signed into law?
A: As the Co-Chair of State Government Committee, I strongly advocate for voter rights and accessibility to our democratic process, especially when we’ve seen these basic rights under attack in recent years. I have also introduced legislation to prohibit domestic abusers from holding elected office, because I am of the firm belief that anyone attempting to use any position of power to harm another person has no place in public service. I also intend to work further with my union brothers and sisters as well as environmentalist allies to seek common ground on pursuing green energy, union jobs throughout Pennsylvania.
Q: What changes, if any, would you support making to Pennsylvania’s voting laws?
A: Ensuring accessibility to the ballot box for all eligible voters is critical, and I understand the realities and obstacles to put things into place. Throughout my service as a county commissioner and chairing the election board, implementing policies like automatic and same day voter registration are a given. Beyond this, it’s critical that we work directly with County Commissioners across the political spectrum, throughout Pennsylvania, to ensure that the policies we put in place align with what county election offices are able to implement. This kind of honest and thorough governmental collaboration is what we really need and in the very least what the people deserve.
Q: Article 1, Section 27 of the PA constitution guarantees the rights to clean air, pure water, and the preservation of the environment. What actions would you take to protect these rights?
A: I have been a consistent ally and fighter on behalf of environmental sustainability throughout the years. My voting record alone indicates this, but I intend to work directly with environmental organizations in the near future to double down on these efforts both in my district and in the legislature.
Q: There are several pieces of gun legislation being considered on comprehensive background checks, red flag laws, and firearm safety training. What is your position on these measures?
A: As a gun owner myself, my top priority is gun safety. I believe in the Second Amendment and our right to own firearms, but also acknowledge how the times that have changed since then. Responsible gun owners, like myself, have nothing to fear from common sense laws focused on gun safety, which we can all agree on.
Steve Yetsko
Party: Rep
Did not respond
District 82
Vote for ONE.
Paul Takac
Party: Dem
Occupation: Senior Account Executive
Education: B.A., State University of New York at Buffalo - 1987; M.A., Southern Methodist University - 1991; M.S., Maryland University of Integrative Health - 2018
Qualifications: College Township Council member; current Chair of the Spring Creek Watershed Commission and the Centre Region Council of Governments Public Safety Committee; participant in volunteer and community organizations; longtime resident of Centre County with family
Campaign Website: www.paultakac.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PaulTakacPA
Twitter: www.twitter.com/paultakac_pa
Q: What issue(s) would you prioritize, and how would you work with others in government to get legislation passed and signed into law?
A: My priorities would be fair funding for public education, creating clean energy jobs, and ensuring that working families and small businesses in our communities have what they need to thrive. In my business career, I always begin by trying to establish some common ground. It is always easier and more successful to start there and build outward than to start in opposition and work back toward an agreement. Likewise, my fellow Council members and I routinely work through many complicated issues facing our community — and from many different perspectives — and are incredibly successful at reaching consensus. I would bring that same process and good faith to Harrisburg.
Q: What changes, if any, would you support making to Pennsylvania’s voting laws?
A: The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy. It is imperative that we make it easier — not harder — for every eligible citizen to vote. I believe that in addition to maintaining all of the benefits of Act 77 (no-excuse absentee voting, vote-by-mail, and extended registration deadlines) we should explore additional measures such as automatic and/or same-day voter registration, early in-person voting (including weekend and extended hours), concerted efforts to eliminate barriers for our student, elderly, and marginalized voters, and pre-canvassing to ensure that all votes can be counted and reported as soon as possible after Election Day.
Q: Article 1, Section 27 of the PA constitution guarantees the rights to clean air, pure water, and the preservation of the environment. What actions would you take to protect these rights?
A: As the Chair of the Spring Creek Watershed Commission and an avid trout fisherman, I know how valuable and unique our game lands and waterways are. Pennsylvania has been a leader in energy production for the last 120 years, and if we want to be a leader for the next 120 years, we must continue to shift into a renewable energy economy, participate in programs to reduce our carbon emissions, modernize the grid, expand ecotourism business, fully fund programming and staff within the Department of Environmental Protection, and invest in workforce development for good-paying, clean-energy jobs to eliminate the need for fracking and other fossil-fuel based industries.
Q: There are several pieces of gun legislation being considered on comprehensive background checks, red flag laws, and firearm safety training. What is your position on these measures?
A: As the son and grandson of policemen, I learned from a young age how to respect the Second Amendment while maintaining responsibility with weapon use. I would take a commonsense approach by closing the background check loophole, registering weapons sold in online and private sales, and restricting Permitless Carry and Reciprocation Laws. I would actively work to bring ERPO laws to the floor, which will both protect people from domestic abuse with a weapon and also decrease the rate of gun-inflicted deaths by suicide. I would also work with local gun shops, police departments, and community outreach groups to ensure that every gun owner has a gun lock for each weapon they possess, and advocate for the safe storage of weapons and ammunition.
Justin V. Behrens
Party: Rep
Did not respond
District 171
Vote for ONE.
Robert Zeigler
Party: Dem
Occupation: Assistant Manager
Education: B.A. in Political Science, MBA/MPA (Business and Public Administration), DM (Doctorate in Management, ABD)
Qualifications: I have over 20 years of management and trainer experience in addition to my education. I have been in local government for over three years, where we: have gotten up to 1 Gigabit speed broadband, solar for our municipality, offer our employees a living wage and paid parental leave, and cut taxes.
Campaign Website: www.zeiglerforpa.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ZeiglerForPA
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ZeiglerForPA
Instagram: www.instagram.com/zeiglerforpa/
Q: What issue(s) would you prioritize, and how would you work with others in government to get legislation passed and signed into law?
A: I think the two main issues are campaign, election, and legislative reform along with economic justice. Passing gift ban legislation that would limit gifts to lawmakers is an obvious first step. Legislators should be working for their constituents, not corporate interests, and I would push for this common sense measure immediately. Raising the minimum wage is a key issue in my district. We have people in my area choosing between heating their home or having enough food to eat. I am an advocate of getting our minimum wage to $15 an hour. If you don’t support a living wage, you’re supporting a dying wage. Bipartisan town halls for community input and support are key to help get such legislation up for a vote.
Q: What changes, if any, would you support making to Pennsylvania’s voting laws?
A: I am an advocate for ranked choice voting and would work to allow third party candidates to petition for the same amount of signatures as the major party candidates. To take it a step further, I would push for legislation to permit independents to vote in the primary of their choice (Democratic or Republican) so they have a voice for their ideal candidate. These ideas coincide with Article 1, Section 5 of the PA Constitution. Good governance means expanding voting rights, not restricting them. I am also a supporter of same-day registration, automatic voter registration (with an option to “opt out”), and keeping no-excuse mail-in voting as an option. I also believe ballot boxes are great as long as the locations are secure and monitored.
Q: Article 1, Section 27 of the PA constitution guarantees the rights to clean air, pure water, and the preservation of the environment. What actions would you take to protect these rights?
A: Our state resources are to benefit our citizens. Protecting these rights involves holding corporations accountable for their actions or their inaction in the face of climate change. The GOP led legislature has neglected this part of the PA Constitution and failed to protect Pennsylvanians. We need to tax gas extraction, have a cap and trade tax on the industries polluting our air, and make corporations pay to cap their abandoned mine and well sites. It works in other states, so it will work here. We need to transition to green energy and provide job training to union workers for that transition. I would support legislation to make these actions occur because we went to green energy in Millheim Borough. It can be done at the state level.
Q: There are several pieces of gun legislation being considered on comprehensive background checks, red flag laws, and firearm safety training. What is your position on these measures?
A: As someone who has lived in rural PA for most of his life and used to hunt, I appreciate responsible gun ownership. I support people first, amending rights for people who know how to properly use a firearm so they can defend themselves and their property. I do not think that a recent domestic abuser or someone with a recent history of violence should have easy access to a firearm. Our background check system is solid but can be improved. Investing in improving and increasing the system we have can help reduce wait times for law abiding citizens. Generally, law abiding citizens, regardless of party, common sense gun laws, we just need to ensure that we make things efficient and not costly for responsible gun owners.
Kerry A. Benninghoff
Party: Rep
Education: State College Area High School, Penn State University, Certified Coroners Training Program
Qualifications: Prior work experience in healthcare industry and construction. Served as Assistant Centre County Coroner, then elected Centre County Coroner before being elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Currently serve as House Majority Leader.
Campaign Website: Benninghoff171.com
Q: What issue(s) would you prioritize, and how would you work with others in government to get legislation passed and signed into law?
A: During my time in the House of Representatives, I have developed a history of success in delivering for the people of Centre and Mifflin counties by fighting to keep state spending low, opposing broad-based tax increases, investing in students, voting to advance pro-life legislation, fighting for Second Amendment rights, empowering families, and ensuring constituents receive the state services they need and deserve. My tenure in the General Assembly has been marked by a record of significant legislative achievement and continued trust among my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to lead on sound principles that put the people of Pennsylvania and our local community first.
Q: What changes, if any, would you support making to Pennsylvania’s voting laws?
A: People cannot have faith in their government officials if they do not have faith in the system that elects them. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania faces a dual challenge of having a severely outdated election law that has been grossly misinterpreted by the courts. I have consistently supported, and will continue to do so, election law changes that engender confidence in our elections by providing for badly needed modernization and security. Enhancing our current voter identification requirements is a necessary change that is supported by a large bipartisan majority of Pennsylvanians. Modernizing the Election Day process and updating voting records is critical to the necessity of having reliable election results on Election Day.
Q: Article 1, Section 27 of the PA constitution guarantees the rights to clean air, pure water, and the preservation of the environment. What actions would you take to protect these rights?
A: Pennsylvania is home to some of the most beautiful natural habitats in the world. Outdoor recreation and environmental preservation are at the core of our Commonwealth’s history. We need an all-of-the-above energy strategy that prioritizes and recognizes the vast home-grown natural gas energy resources we have available to us that are critical to our national energy independence and growing our state’s economy while also utilizing the latest technology to expand alternative every resources. Without onerous government mandates, PA has made great strides in lowering our greenhouse gas emissions. We do not need bigger government, additional regulation, and small business restrictions to continue what we are already successfully doing.
Q: There are several pieces of gun legislation being considered on comprehensive background checks, red flag laws, and firearm safety training. What is your position on these measures?
A: Pennsylvania already has one of the most stringent gun background check laws in the country. In order to keep Pennsylvanians safe, we do not need additional restrictions on gun ownership, but we do need people to follow and enforce the laws already on the books. I am fully supportive of our Second Amendment federal constitutional rights and our Article 1, sec. 21 Pennsylvania Constitutional right to guarantee our ability to keep and bear arms is never questioned.
This story was originally published May 1, 2022 at 6:00 AM.