Published: October 13, 2008 11:44 pm            

72nd District: House hopefuls Burns, Voccio mix it up

The two candidates fighting each other to succeed retiring state Rep. Tom Yewcic presented differing views Monday on how to cut Harrisburg’s spending and bring more jobs to Cambria and Somerset counties.

While Democrat Frank Burns and Republican Chris Voccio agreed on the need for reform and economy in the state Legislature, Voccio advocates an overall spending cut while Burns advocates analyzing each program and department.

They agreed on opposition to a tax increase and privatizing the turnpike, and both support efforts to reduce the size of the Legislature.

In between, they also found time

to trade a few barbs, drawing applause from their supporters among approximately 80 voters who came to the Richland High School auditorium to hear the hour-long debate sponsored by The Tribune-Democrat and WJAC-TV.

In one exchange, Voccio said that he is not endorsed by any unions, but claimed that Burns “will be controlled by them.”

Burns made a quick comeback, saying he is proud of his endorsements, “but I’m an independent thinker, and no one will control me.”

In his closing statement, Voccio described Burns as “a longtime career politician” and promised to be an independent voice if elected.

“I have integrity, judgment, and maturity.”

Again, Burns came back with a sharp retort: “I’m a local guy. I grew up here and went to school here. I know the people. I’m not rubbing elbows with the millionaires of this district.”

Burns, an East Taylor Township supervisor and Democratic Party state official, was bolstered by several elected Democratic officials who attended the debate.

Voccio, a self-described fiscal conservative and former publisher of The Tribune-Democrat, was accompanied by leading county Republicans who applauded his statements on the need for spending cuts.

Their disagreements kept coming back to the way government at the state level is run.

In a discussion about future natural gas wells in the Marcellus Shale areas of the state, Burns said that if the Department of Environmental Protection needed more workers to process permits, he would support transferring staff from other departments.

Voccio, characterizing the DEP secretary as “an environmental extremist,” said that government needs fewer, not more, bureaucrats.

In answering questions about potential consolidations of municipalities and school systems, Voccio said he was opposed to the state intervening.

Burns said that he favors the formation of coalitions and intermunicipal cooperation rather than consolidations.

Both candidates agreed on the need for Pennsylvania to become more “business friendly” so that more jobs can be created.

“Politicians can’t create jobs, but (they) can only create a climate for jobs,” Voccio said.

Burns repeatedly slammed the state’s 9.9 percent corporate income tax, saying it discourages companies from locating here.

“We need to get young people’s input on creating jobs, and we need to market our area,” he said.

Both stressed their leadership qualities.

“You don’t get to be publisher of The Tribune-Democrat without demonstrating leadership,” said Voccio.

Burns said that his experience in helping to run his family’s restaurant business has helped him.

“I’ve also taken on roles of responsibility in the community, and I’ve dedicated my life to public service,” he said.

The 72nd district spans Cambria and Somerset counties. In Cambria, it runs from Ebensburg in the north, south to Middle Taylor and Lower Yoder townships.

In Somerset County, it covers Windber and Conemaugh Township as well as Shade-Central City School District and half of the North Star School District.

        

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