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WBS Penguins name Nick Hart as new broadcaster

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RailRiders make good use of their off day, throttle Rochester

<p><em><strong>Editor&#8217;s note:</strong> On Politics is a new Tuesday column in which we will analyze key local, state and national political developments of the past week.</em></p><p>While many eyes will be on the gubernatorial and U.S. Senate contests this fall, Luzerne County very likely has a new hot ticket to watch in November.</p><p><a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/707129/radio-veteran-henry-to-challenge-pashinski-for-state-rep" target="_blank">As we reported on Friday</a>, former long-running WILK Radio host Sue Henry announced she plans to run as a Republican for state representative against Democratic incumbent Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski.</p><p>The opportunity arose because Gregory Wolovich Jr., the Republican nominee in the 121st Legislative District, said he will vacate the slot because he believes Henry would be a better fit.</p><p>The county Republican Party must formally name Wolovich&#8217;s replacement, but Henry said party leaders have indicated the nomination is hers.</p><p>Henry&#8217;s apparent coronation as the GOP candidate could turn what many expected to be another non-contest in the district into an interesting battle, to say the least.</p><p>Democrat Pashinski, 72, is seeking his seventh two-year term in the legislature. He is a respected and well-liked incumbent with deep roots in the community.</p><p>But in place of 25-year-old Wolovich, Pashinski now is expected to face Henry, 53, who brings to the race one of the most recognized names in Wyoming Valley media circles. Henry&#8217;s listeners may not always have agreed with her, but there certainly were a lot of them, and many were deeply loyal.</p><p>In an interview with the Times Leader, Henry said property tax reform and the opioid crisis are among the most pressing issues she would look to address.</p><p>With due respect to Henry, the opioid epidemic is one of the defining American issues of our time, and it&#8217;s hard to imagine any one candidate having the answers to that complex social crisis &#8212; though we certainly need lawmakers who understand just how dire the situation is, and a sense of what government can and cannot do to resolve it.</p><p>On the other hand, Henry seems poised to make property tax reform her signature issue, and it&#8217;s one that&#8217;s likely to resonate deeply with voters in the 121st.</p><p>Henry said last week she would back legislation to eliminate or drastically reduce reliance on real estate taxes to fund public education through other means, such as increasing the state&#8217;s personal income and sales taxes.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s time to spread this burden,&#8221; she said, asserting Pashinski has not &#8220;lifted a finger&#8221; to advance taxation change. &#8220;Where has he been for 11 years?&#8221;</p><p>Pashinski has countered that tax reduction should be done responsibly, so that the burden is not shifted too heavily onto other sectors &#8212; notably businesses, which would suffer if sales taxes were raised too much or too quickly.</p><p>While it may not have the gut-wrenching headline appeal of opioids, it is probably not a stretch to say property tax fairness is the among the top concerns for Pennsylvania homeowners &#8212; especially older, blue collar residents. Such voters, many of whom struggle to keep the lights on and the tax collector at bay, are the sort of fed-up silent majority who can swing an election.</p><p>That would be quite a swing, for the 121st, however.</p><p>The district, which includes Ashley, Fairview Township, Laurel Run, Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes-Barre Township and part of Hanover Township, has long been a Democratic stronghold.</p><p>Pashinski handily defeated Libertarian challenger Betsy Summers in 2016 and 2014, and ran unopposed in 2012. He has not faced a Republican opponent since James O&#8217;Meara in 2010, whom Pashinski defeated with a resounding 71.6 percent of the vote.</p><p>Could Henry be the Republican to finally break through in the 121st?</p><p>Aside from her name recognition, commitment to property tax reform and obvious ease behind the microphone, Henry might be stepping onto the political stage at a time when another important factor could work in her favor: Rising Republican registration numbers in Luzerne County.</p><p>Democrats still outnumber Republicans countywide, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/702067/dems-still-ahead-but-luzerne-county-republicans-steadlily-gaining-numbers" target="_blank">as we reported last month</a>, but we are nevertheless seeing a steady rise in GOP voters while Dem numbers gradually decline.</p><p>In a Democratic county that went red for Donald Trump in 2016 &#8212; putting us under the microscope of journalists and political scientists from around the world &#8212; it&#8217;s not inconceivable that a Republican could make significant headway in this district.</p><p>Don&#8217;t count Eddie out, not by a long shot. Incumbency is still a powerful defense &#8212; and as noted, Pashinski&#8217;s name carries a great deal of weight and respect. But for perhaps the first time, he faces a challenger of real substance with a powerful voice.</p><p>As another radio host used to say: You better listen.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Henry </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_Sue-Henry.cmyk-1-.jpg</photo0><caption0>Henry </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_Pashinski.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Pashinski </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_Pashinski.jpg</photo1><caption1>Pashinski </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/web1_web-politics.jpg">
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Roger DuPuis</p><p>rdupuis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

On Politics: Henry-Pashinski contest one to watch