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Wilkes-Barre businesses offer free haircuts and pizza for homeless

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Luzerne County capital projects in the works

WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Democratic state Rep. Gerald Mullery will have to stave off a challenge from Republican Justin Behrens to win his fifth term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 119th Legislative District.The candidates were asked for comment on several issues:Key issuesMullery: &#8220;The people want us to fight to attract and retain family sustaining jobs, provide a quality public education for their children, provide safe neighborhoods, lower taxes and environmental protections. I think I have done of each of these.&#8220;In the 119th, we have reclaimed mine-scarred land in Hanover Twp. and Nanticoke that has been developed and attracted employers such as Chewy.com, ADIDAS, and Patagonia to name a few &#8212; literally, thousands of jobs.&#8220;On the education front, we have helped restore $1 billion in funding cuts from the Corbett administration, $663 million increase in basic education, $90 million in special education, $115 million in early childhood education, and $30 million in career and technical education.&#8220;I&#8217;ve always worked to make certain our local and state law enforcement officers have the tools and resources they need to keep our neighborhoods safe.&#8220;I have fought for lower taxes on multiple fronts. I am a proud prime sponsor of House Bill 76 which seeks to eliminate school property taxes. I understand the properly funding our schools allows our local school board&#8217;s to become less reliant on property taxes.&#8221;Behrens: &#8220;I will work to eliminate property taxes. As a social worker, I have the common sense to take on the opioid epidemic head on. We need to properly fund our priorities, including our schools and public safety.&#8220;The people of the 119th deserve to have someone that will represent them and care about government reform to make government work for them again.&#8221;What is your stance on the elimination of property taxes?Mullery: &#8220;As noted above, I am a prime sponsor of House Bill 76. This is the most important issue facing residents in the 119th Legislative District. This is an issue I hear about on a daily basis. House Bill 76 is one of the few bills my constituents know by number and have an excellent understanding of.&#8221;Behrens: &#8220;I am for the elimination of property taxes to keep people in their homes. I support HB/SB 76 the elimination of property tax. I will work continually to bring this bill to the house floor and not sit back. It is one thing to co-sponsor that bill, but another thing to work tirelessly to get this bill a reality.&#8221;What is your plan to bring good-paying, family-sustainable jobs to the region?Mullery: &#8220;Reclamation and development of our former mine scarred lands, investment in our crumbling infrastructure, and partnership with local government and Gov. Wolf&#8217;s office has attracted the attention of Fortune 500 companies willing to relocate or expand in NEPA. However, this is not enough.&#8220;Behrens:&#8220;Streamlining regulations and reducing business taxes to make us competitive with surrounding states and create a private sector jobs will help bring those good-paying jobs to our region. Education is something that will help stop the bleeding of our youth and constituents leaving the state to find better jobs. Ensuring that people get the best education and promote the trade jobs and training to the public. We have great resources to including the unions and community colleges to build on for education for these jobs.&#8221;Why should voters select you to represent them?Mullery: &#8220;I stand on my record. I believe every vote I have cast, every project I have supported or fought against, and every day I have worked has been done with the best interests of those I represent at the forefront. In eight years, I&#8217;ve missed one full day on the job. I have a voting record in excess of 99.8 percent. I work tirelessly for the people of the 119th District: morning or night, in the office, in the community or in Harrisburg, weekday, weekend and holidays.&#8221;Behrens: &#8220;I will always put people before partisan politics, and will work to find solutions that ensure government works for people, not the politicians. I have always lived by the principle of public service over self-service as a social worker and veteran. I will work tirelessly for common sense policies that aid our families and seniors. There has to be compromise, but I understand that people can&#8217;t just keep paying higher taxes for failed project or politician&#8217;s pet projects. Families are forced to cut out wasteful spending when times are tight, and so should the politicians.&#8221;<style>
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<div class="neCaption">Mullery </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_Gerald-Mullery.jpg</photo0><caption0>Mullery </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Bill O&#8217;Boyleboboyle@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta>119th DistrictName: Gerald J. MulleryAge: 48Town of Residence: Newport TownshipPolitical Party: DemocratOffice Seeking: State RepresentativeCurrent Job: State RepresentativeEducation: Greater Nanticoke Area High School; King&#8217;s College; Duquesne University School of LawFamily: Wife, Michele; children, Leah (18), Lauren (16), Liam (12), &amp; Louden (10)&#8226;Name: Justin BehrensAge: 40Town of Residence: Wright TownshipPolitical Party: RepublicanOffice Seeking: State Representative 119thCurrent Job: Social Worker/Program Director for Northeast Counseling ServicesEducation: Bachelor in Social Work from Misercordia; Master in Social Work from Temple University.Family: Wife, Liza Behrens; children, Keegan Behrens 13, Adin Behrens 10.&#8226;The DistrictIncludes: Dennison Township, Foster Township, Freeland, Hanover Township (Ward 06), Hazle Township (Districts 02, 03, 04, 05), Jeddo, Larksville, Nanticoke, Newport Township, Nuangola, Plymouth, Plymouth Township, Rice Township, Slocum Township, Sugar Notch, Warrior Run, West Hazleton, White Haven, Wright Township.</factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</shirttailMeta></div>

Mullery, Behrens vie for 119th Legislative seat