Published: April 05, 2008 10:53 pm            

Trio offers advice to state rep replacements

Starting out as a new state legislator is like starting any new job, say the region’s retiring lawmakers.

Their advice to the freshmen who replace them: Keep your eyes open and your mouth closed, and learn from others.

On April 22, the primary election day, a wide field of candidates for three state House seats will be whittled down to the finalists on both the Republican and Democratic sides.

A total of 22 candidates are on the respective ballots in the 69th, 71st and 72nd districts, which together represent much of the Cambria-Somerset region.

State Rep. Ed Wojnaroski, a Democrat from Johnstown, has represented the 71st district since 1997.

But he recalls his first days as a freshman legislator and says every new lawmaker faces a steep learning curve.

Influence, he said, is earned only with experience.

“It absolutely takes a while – I don’t care how well educated you are, how articulate you are,” Wojnaroski said.

“It takes time. Seniority is the rule down here.”

Sixteen-year legislative veteran Tom Yewcic, a Democrat from the 72nd district, agrees.

“In that first year, they have to learn their way around and gain seniority,” Yewcic said.

Twelve years ago, Somerset County’s Bob Bastian went to Harrisburg intent on bringing about change. But he says he quickly learned the frustrations and pitfalls of bucking the system.

As he prepares to retire, the Somerset Republican says his successor in the 69th district must forge relationships on both sides of the political aisle.

“Did I really have a clear picture of what Harrisburg was going to be like? No, not really,” he said. “You can’t go to Harrisburg with a ball bat in hand. You’ve got to go with compromise in mind.”

That will be especially important as the Legislature tackles the tough issues of balancing the budget, Yewcic said.

“The most important vote we make is on the budget,” he said. “And with costs going up, it will be much more difficult to balance the state budget, which we must do by law.

“These new legislators will be in office at a time when it’s difficult to balance a budget and decide what’s important to fund – everything from welfare to education,” Yewcic said. “If I were to stay in office, I would look at what works and what doesn’t, and then get rid of what doesn’t work and reduce the cost of government.”

Wojnaroski also warned that new local lawmakers may face some big issues next year in Harrisburg, including transportation funding, turnpike privatization and a proposed ban on smoking in workplaces.

Given that this is an election year, Wojnaroski said those controversial issues may not see much action in 2008.

“If we put this on a back burner, these will be the issues affecting the freshman class,” he said.

But the departure of three veteran lawmakers doesn’t necessarily translate into losing clout for the region.

None is among the party leadership or committee chairs.

“We never got to the point where we had real clout,” Bastian said.

Wojnaroski said the area will lose some influence in Harrisburg, given that Cambria and Somerset counties will be represented by three new legislators.

“It’s going to take a long time for them to get the seniority and the clout to bring (money and projects) back to the district,” he said.

Yewcic sees it this way: “It won’t really weaken this area. Everyone in Harrisburg has only one vote. As elected representatives, our replacements will have to fight for their district. But the main issue will still be the economy, and we three leaving won’t change that.”

The veterans give this advice to their replacements:

“I took it upon myself to surround myself with people who I watched, who had the knowledge and the wisdom,” Wojnaroski said.

“Learn your way around, gain seniority, and have the wherewithal to fight,” Yewcic said.

“You have to become a quick study,” Bastian said. “There’s a lot of relationships to be made.”

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.