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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212;As Democratic State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski seeks his seventh 2-year term, this might be his most difficult challenge.</p><p>Pashinski, 73 of Wilkes-Barre, is running against former radio talk show host and college professor Sue Henry, 53 of Hanover Township, in the race for the 121st Legislative District seat.</p><p>The candidates were asked to identify the key issues facing the district and Pennsylvania:</p><p><strong>Henry:</strong> &#8220;The three issues I am focused on joining with other like-minded lawmakers to work on the elimination of school property taxes. I would like to see a comprehensive, thoughtful plan to do something about the overwhelming problem of addiction in our area, which leads to incarceration and broken families. I would work with municipal leaders to improve the quality of life in our region, which will retain young people and improve conditions for those who live here and are concerned about the degradation of neighborhoods.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Pashinski: </strong>&#8220;First, the state needs to appropriately fund public education and provide every child in Pennsylvania the opportunity for a quality education. With the proper state funding, immediate property tax relief will result on the local level. Directly connected to the cost of operation of our schools, municipalities and businesses is the unaffordable cost of health care. Since the mid-90s, the cost of health care has doubled, tripled and is now five-times costlier than it was 25 years ago. No one&#8217;s salary has multiplied five times during that time frame. We must continue to work for more living wage jobs by providing financial and technical support to our established businesses, as well as continue to offer incentives to our local colleges, community colleges and tech schools to continue to reestablish new curriculum designed to provide the necessary training for new skilled, high paying jobs. We must continue to address our county, state and national drug crisis. We must continue to work with the medical community to provide the safeguards and guidelines for opioid prescriptions and to continue to monitor pharmaceuticals that are processed by our pharmacies.&#8221;</p><p><strong>What is your stance on the elimination of property taxes?</strong></p><p><strong>Henry:</strong> &#8220; I support House Bill 76/Senate Bill 76 and the work of the Pennsylvania Taxpayer Cyber Coalition, a grass-roots group that has worked fervently for more than a decade on the issue.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Pashinski:</strong> Property tax reduction is possible. Elimination requires shifting $14 billion to other taxes causing a tremendous imbalance and severe consequences to our economy. I am on record voting for House Bill 504, which would&#8217;ve considerably reduced property taxes for all Luzerne County homeowners up to $950. I also cosponsored Gov. Wolf&#8217;s plan to give each property owner up to $1,000 off their taxes and eliminate the tax for nearly one-third of Pennsylvania seniors, but the majority party blocked those bills. I will continue fighting for property tax relief and would gladly vote for an elimination plan that works, but House Bill 76 simply doesn&#8217;t work.&#8221;</p><p><strong>What is your plan to bring good-paying, family sustainable jobs to the region?</strong></p><p><strong>Henry:</strong> &#8220;I believe we need to look at the onerous corporate tax, which discourages companies from coming here.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Pashinski:</strong> &#8220;I&#8217;ve long supported programs and grants that bring money back to our district to help the economy grow. This includes millions of dollars in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funding to help businesses grow as well as Local Share Account funding from our gaming operations designed to help municipalities improve the quality of life for their citizens.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Why should voters select you to represent them?</strong></p><p><strong>Henry:</strong> &#8220;I have spent much of my working life in the media, researching public policy. I was a talk show host for WILK, where I spent nearly 16 years listening to the concerns of residents, who are frustrated and feel Harrisburg doesn&#8217;t respond to their concerns in many ways. I will.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Pashinski:</strong> &#8220;I have stated time and time again, that it&#8217;s truly a privilege and an honor to serve the people of the 121st Legislative District and the people of Pennsylvania. I am humbled by the trust you have placed in me and I hold that trust as a sacred bond with all my constituents. I don&#8217;t see race, color, creed or political party, I see only Americans, and it&#8217;s my job to address everyone&#8217;s needs. That&#8217;s why I&#8217;ll continue to fight for everyone.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Henry </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/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/2018/11/web1_Rep.-Eddie-Day-Pashisnki-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Pashinski </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_Rep.-Eddie-Day-Pashisnki-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Pashinski </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>121st District</strong></p><p>Name: Sue Henry</p><p>Age: 53</p><p>Town of Residence: Hanover Township</p><p>Political Party: Republican</p><p>Office Seeking: House of Representatives, 121st Legislative District</p><p>Current Job: Adjunct Faculty member, King&#8217;s College</p><p>Education: BA in Mass Communications; BA in English</p><p>Family: Three children</p><p>&#8226;</p><p>Name: Eddie Day Pashinski</p><p>Age: 73</p><p>Town of Residence: Wilkes-Barre</p><p>Political Party: Democrat</p><p>Office Seeking: State Representative of the 121st Legislative District</p><p>Current Job: State Representative of the 121st Legislative District</p><p>Education: Wilkes University, Bachelors in Music Education with a Masters equivalent</p><p>Family: Widower, 4 children, 7 grandchildren.</p><p>&#8226;</p><p><strong>The District</strong></p><p>The district includes Ashley Borough, Fairview Township, Hanover Township, Laurel Run Borough, Wilkes-Barre City, Wilkes-Barre Township.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Pashinski facing strong challenge from Henry in 121st District