8 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, October 21, 1998 Hasay (continued from page 1) he said of the first couple of years. “I'm now at a position in seniority that I can bring more people in. I know who to talk to, when to talk to them and when to not talk to them more than a freshman rep- resentative coming in,” he ex- plained. “I enjoy serving the people. It makes you feel good when you accomplish something,” said Hasay when asked what keeps him coming back every two years. In the last few months he has been campaigning grassroots style, meeting and greeting and eating. He has been to church suppers, volunteer fire company fundraisers and other events. Hasay said he is proud of many accomplishments he has made during his tenure. In particular, in 1980 he was involved with giv- ing citizens the right to defend themselves in their own home from intruders. Also, he has been involved in encouraging PennDOT to move more quickly on many small bridge projects and making sure the ru- ral highway system is improved and maintained. Hasay is proud that he helped to keep the state health centers public, maintaining free and low- cost medical care for many of the working poor. “I was the first one to establish the wildlife license plate for Penn- sylvania. We were trying to figure out how to raise money for the PA Wildlife Resources Conservation Fund. ‘I came up with putting an owl on the plates and we sold 220,000,” explained Hasay, who said his critics did not believe the plates would sell 500. When asked if he would run again if he won this time, Hasay gave an easy smile and simply said, “We'll see what happens. Never say never.” He lives in Shickshinny with his wife and daughter. Candidates’ positions on jobs, health care, open land Editor's Note: The Dallas Post asked each candidate to respond to three questions of our choosing. Their responses follow. What could you do to im- prove employment i inthe 117th District? CONYNGHAM: “Tomeit's very simple. Talk to potential employ- ers and ask them what it would take to bring them here. Ask them what the obstacles are,” he said. Conyngham said because the district surrounds an old devel- oped area, it makes sense to take a more regional approach to em- ployment, rather than only focus- ing on the district. “I cannot just ask what I can do for the district, but what I.can do for the district and region. It makes sense to bring jobs to a place where industry is already built. Since the district surrounds the Valley, where all the jobs are, we should concentrate on that area and not disrupt the rural areas. My intention is to work closely with other state represen- tatives from the region to bring better jobs to the region that would benefit everybody,” he said. HASAY: “I've been working with Industrial Resource Centers, which aid various industries in loan and grant expansion money so they can stay in northeastern Pennsylvania,” he said. Recently, Hasay said he worked with “the governor’saction team which helped Harris Semiconduc- tor stayin Mountaintop. “We got them a loan (with a 4.2 percent interest rate) so they would not have to move to Florida. Also, the local governments gave tax defer- ments.” said Hasay. “I plan to continue working with different agencies, increasing the Industrial Resource Center ap- propriations each year.” Hasay said the PA Industrial Developmental Authority (PIDA) “has been successful in getting more funds available for indus-- COOK'S PHARMACY ( ) ® Computerized Prescription Service ® Russell Stover Candies Greeting Cards ® PA Lottery Tickets ® Newspapers * Magazines 159 N. MemorialHwy., Shavertown, PA (675-1191) tries that want to locate in Penn- sylvania.” Hasay recently served as chair- man of a House Commerce Com- mittee that invited CEO's of local business agencies to talk with them about how to improve the workings of PIDA to encourage them to increase productivity and increase jobs. He found the hear- ings to be successful. What could be done to im- prove access to health care in the district? CONYNGHAM: “Traditionally insurance companies paid for .medical care. Then they moved toward managed care programs which removed some power of the patients and doctors. I think there needs to be a patient’s bill of rights letting them know the rules. There needs to be some way to find out limitations of the health care pro- gram. We need to prevent abuse of the system,” he said. HASAY: “There are state health centers in each county that pro- vide free immunizations (and other health care),” said Hasay, who fought to keep the centers from being privatized three years ago. “I'd like to help expand the ser-. vices of the health centers,” he said. Hasay said he has been an active supporter of Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). With CHIP the state provides health careata “reasonable price” for families that make $35;000 or less and have children. How do you stand on farm preservation and similar pro- grams to preserve open land? CONYNGHAM: “I've been in- volved with land conservation ef- forts for six years in an apolitical way. 'I was part of the original group that started the Back Moun- tain Regional Land Trust. Due to our success I was appointed to the PA Land Trust Alliance. Because of that interest I came to realize that Luzerne and Wyo- ming counties were involved in these programs,” said Conyngham, who feels the Luzerne County Commissioners squandered an opportunity to participate in the PA Farmland Preservation Program. The commissioners enrolled in the program, but will not be eli- gible until 2000 because they did not push it and therefore missed this year’s deadline. The program is set up so coun- ties purchase the development rights from farmers. Lackawanna County earns $350,000 each year from the program. “They (the county commission- ers) said they would do all of the necessary preparation to get en- listed in 1998 in April and they didn’t. I'm not happy about it,” said Conyngham. “This is money being collected throughout the state from cigarette tax. If coun- keeping farms operating. ties enroll in the program they are eligible to make applications for some of this money. There is a group of people quite ready to do the legwork for them (Luzerne County Commissioners). The farm vote is apparently not important to them.” HASAY: “I've gotten endorsed by the PA Farmers Association because I've worked with them in trying to support farming and I was involved in passing a law which gives farmers immunity from civil suits in the area of farming (i.e. suits regarding odor from live- stock or noise from tractors). “I think every farmer should make his own decision as to what to dowith his own land. I think we need to move in the farmland preservation (direction).” Hasay said he supported the Homestead Act and believes it helps farmers because property taxes could be reduced, not just on the home, but other buildings, EE The candidates in brief William H. Conyngham, Democrat AGE: 50 HOME: Lehman Township OCCUPATION: Co-owner of Hillside Farms Dairy Store BACKGROUND: BA from New York University, two years communications graduate program. Married with four children. PROFESSIONAL CLUBS/SERVICE ORGS.: BMT Regional Land Trust, PA Land Trust Alliance, chairman of Lehman Township Zoning Board, president of Georgetown Settlement Foundation, and secretery of Osterhout F ree Library George C. Hasay. Republican AGE: 50 HOME: Shickshinny OCCUPATION: State prepresentative of 117th District BACKGROUND: Graduate of Wilkes-Barre Business College. Married with one child. PROFESSIONAL CLUBS/SERVICE ORGS.: 26 years as state representative of 117th District, honorary lifetime member of Shickshinny Volunteer Fire Company and honorary lifetime member of American Legion Post 495. we The Richmond 87,900 as shown Excluding lot and site cost y WHERE CAN | GET THE MOST HOUSE FOR MY MONEY? . © 1998 Fine bine RS Hom, | Inc. 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Kendall Oil, new <endall oil fiter, chassis lube {whee appl cable). and free under- car inspector. Please cal fer an appointment: Additional charges ‘0° ol flfers on some vehic es Oil changes not appl cable at our W 26th street | vala through 10/31/98 3952 = VALUABLE COUPON == ml mm em om om Includes replacement disc pads with this coupon Please call for an appoint- ment. — ee. m— cas Ses 3953 / 41 Muffler/Brake & Service VALUABLE COUPON = ema Conyngham (continued from page 1) tion day. If I win I know there will - again be a choice on election day. The system wants to provide choices.” School property tax and the quality of public school education are among Conyngham’s promi- nent concerns. “School property taxes are high and getting higher. + The state and school districts were ina 50/50 relationship. Now they have abouta 63/37 relationship,” said Conyngham. Conyngham supports a revi- sion of the allocation of taxes that come from local property taxes versus the earned income tax. He does not see the Homestead Act, which won on the ballot last year, as a realistic approach to tax re- form. “(With the Homestead Act) school districts are given the right to come up with a new formula which allows them to lean more on earned income rather than nuisance taxes. Perhaps that would reduce school property tax,” he explained, but the process is cumbersome. In order for a school board to enact a new formula, it must put it up for public referendum and Conyngham does not think school boards will want to give that power ‘to the electorate because he be- lieves it binds their hands. “People will vote with their pocket books. If it is property tax reform we should see that it will be broadly utilized. My guess is it won't be. I don’t think it's a solution,” said Conyngham. As far as the quality of educa- tion, he believes that “people in leadership positions should take leadership. Provision of the qual- ity of public school education is a principal responsibility.” Conyngham said ifhe is elected he will hit the ground running. “I want to do an outstanding job because I know I'll be up for re- election. It's been a long time since Hasay knew he'd have an opponent and I think his job per- formance shows it. He's been there 26 years and I don't think he’s going to show us anything new,” he said. Reception for Conyngham Oct. 27 A reception to honor Will Conyngham, candidate for state represen- tative, will be held on Tues., Oct. 27 at Damiens, Harveys Lake. The reception will be held from 7 - 9 p.m. Tickets are available by calling Ray Boyle at 639-1435. ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW Over 50 vendors! 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