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Democrat Robert McDonald hopes to take back 120th District seat

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Libertarian Betsy Summers makes another try for 121st seat

<p>State Rep. Aaron Kaufer won his seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 120th district as a Republican in 2014, becoming one of the youngest members of that legislative body.</p><p>Kaufer said, as a freshman, he has had a positive impact on the lives of state residents and especially on the lives of the constituents he represents.</p><p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t just represent the Republicans of my district; I represent all the citizens,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I want them to know that.&#8221;</p><p>Known for his commitment to bipartisan cooperation, Kaufer wears an orange tie almost daily to symbolize his willingness to work with both sides of the aisle.</p><p>He supports the elimination of property taxes.</p><p>Although, he said, members of both the House and the Senate have strongly supported doing away with property taxes, that did not become a reality during this year&#8217;s legislative session.</p><p>It is an issue he is committed to continue working on if he is re-elected.</p><p>Kaufer also strongly supports a 100 percent homestead exemption that would allow homeowners living in their primary residence not to have to pay property tax.</p><p>The exemption was approved this year by both the House and the Senate, but needs to be approved again next year if it is to be presented to voters next November.</p><p>&#8220;In this way, big businesses, landlords and other entities using property for income would need to continue to pay property tax,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But if you&#8217;ve struggled to buy your first home or if you&#8217;re an older person trying to make ends meet, you would not.&#8221;</p><p>Education, Kaufer said, should be funded by taxes based on discretionary income, not on one&#8217;s primary residence.</p><p>In the meantime, Kaufer lauded a bill signed into law this year which changed the basic education funding formula, bringing more funds into his home district.</p><p>&#8220;We were using numbers from the early 1990s in directing educational funding,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Now we are using current information.&#8221;</p><p>As a member of the Gaming Oversight Committee, Kaufer said, continues to have concerns about online gaming.</p><p>&#8220;I believe that online gambling should rely on an actual transfer of funds and not be tied to a credit card,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Having previously worked at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Kaufer remembers people requesting cash advances from their credit card.</p><p>&#8220;They would ask for $5,000, then $4,000 and so on,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Finally, they would be asking for $10 just so they could play one more game.&#8221;</p><p>Kaufer is also committed to improving mental health and drug/alcohol services throughout the state.</p><p>As co-founder and co-chairman of the PA HOPE (Heroin, Opioid, Prevention and Education) Caucus, he attended numerous hearings across the state, gathering testimony from medical professionals, law enforcement officials, health care and treatment center personnel and friends and family of those suffering from addiction.</p><p>He has introduced bills into several different committees that would, if passed, destigmatize addiction to opioids and facilitate detoxification and treatment.</p><p>Kaufer has also worked for welfare reform, facilitating the passage of legislation last year that closed a gap in the state&#8217;s welfare law that allowed individuals to receive public assistance from multiple states.</p><p>&#8220;Every dollar we can save from fraud, waste and abuse is a dollar that can go to someone who truly needs it,&#8221; Kaufer said.</p><p>He has worked to draw funding to behavioral health service organizations which support children in their own homes and communities.</p><p>Kaufer has worked with local municipalities to obtain grants for projects as diverse as infrastructure repair and improvements to municipal parks.</p><p>&#8220;I think I have a reputation of working effectively with local governments,&#8221; he said.</p><p><span class="NormalTextRun SCX25746805">To learn more about key Election Day races and issues, visit the <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/tag/Election2016" target="_blank">Times Leader election page</a></span></p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">PA State Rep. Aaron Kaufer, left, speaks with constituents during &#8216;Coffee with Kaufer&#8217; in West Wyoming. Tony Goraczka, West Wyoming, listens in to the right. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Coffee-with-Kaufer-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>PA State Rep. Aaron Kaufer, left, speaks with constituents during &#8216;Coffee with Kaufer&#8217; in West Wyoming. Tony Goraczka, West Wyoming, listens in to the right. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_TTL061216LCTAFrancesSlocum_nw_1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">State Rep. Aaron Kaufer, left, chats with Luzerne County Councilman Rick Williams and state Reps. Eddie Day Pashinski and Gerald Mullery in the back of an LCTA bus shortly after boarding in Edwardsville for the inaugural bus run to Frances Slocum State Park in Kingston Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_TTL061216LCTAFrancesSlocum_nw_1.jpg</photo1><caption1>State Rep. Aaron Kaufer, left, chats with Luzerne County Councilman Rick Williams and state Reps. Eddie Day Pashinski and Gerald Mullery in the back of an LCTA bus shortly after boarding in Edwardsville for the inaugural bus run to Frances Slocum State Park in Kingston Township. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis file photo | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Kaufer.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Kaufer </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Kaufer.jpg</photo2><caption2>Kaufer </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis file photo | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>AARON KAUFER</strong></p><p><strong>Political party:</strong> Republican</p><p><strong>Incumbent:</strong> Yes</p><p><strong>Age:</strong> 28</p><p><strong>Hometown:</strong> Kingston</p><p><strong>Family:</strong> Parents, Neil and Larinda Kaufer</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Aaron Kaufer seeks second term representing 120th District