When voters in five northeastern Butler County townships head to the polls, they will have three candidates to choose from to represent them in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Republican incumbent R. Lee James is seeking his third 2-year term. Along with resolving the state’s pension problems, James says he’s focused on helping unemployed workers. Last week, the state House approved an unemployment compensation reform bill introduced by James that would increase the time workers and employers have to appeal unemployment compensation decisions.
“My goal is to help unemployed workers and their families,” James said in a statement. “We want to improve our state’s unemployment compensation system and make it fairer.”
Current law allows 15 days for an appeal. James’ bill would allow 30 days.
The lawmaker cites a big reason for the bill came from the Joy Global Inc. plant closure in Franklin.
“After the company announced its plans to close the plant, I spoke with some of the union representatives and asked what the state could do to help,” James said in a statement. “During our discussion, the concept of extending the appeal timeline came up, so I looked into it and went to work drafting a bill.”
John Kluck earned the Democratic nomination in the 64th district. He is a lifelong resident of Venango County and a teacher in the Oil City School District. His campaign is focusing on education funding, creating family-sustaining jobs and doing what he can to address the opioid problem.
The third candidate is Michael Bagdes-Canning. He’s running as a Green Party candidate. Bagdes-Canning calls himself a ‘voice for working people’ and is running his campaign on the platforms of tax reform, climate issues- including anti-fracking, and disrupting the status quo.
The 64th Legislative District includes Allegheny, Concord, Parker, Venango and Washington townships, as well as the boroughs of Bruin, Cherry Valley and Eau Claire in Butler County. It also includes all of Venango County.
The General Election is on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
For more information on each candidate, visit:
http://www.kluckforstaterep.com/
The post Countdown To General Election 2016: 3 Candidates Vie For 64th House Seat appeared first on Inside Butler County – Butler, PA.
