LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — Someone new will fill the state house seat in the 120th State House District for the first time in a decade, and if you've driven through parts of Luzerne County's Back Mountain or the Wyoming Valley's west side, you've seen the signs of competition.
Three candidates are vying for the Republican nomination, all of them leaning on their past experience in politics or business to win over voters.
Brenda Pugh is the chairperson of the Luzerne County Fair and owns her own business, which provides safety technology to schools and other facilities.
"I'm very proud of the fact that we've never had a change order. So once a customer accepts a job from me and signs on the dotted line, I do not change my price. Even if my manufacturer changes my price to me, that price to my customer never changes; I wonder how many times the state of Pennsylvania can actually say that. So, I'm ready to get down there and find out, make sure their consultants and vendors are held toes to the fire and we're not overpaying," said Brenda Pugh (R), 120th District candidate.
Candidate Lee Ann McDermott owns a real estate appraisal business with her husband and recently started her second term on Luzerne County Council.
"I do push to get things done and keep things moving. I do believe there are procedural similarities between what I'm doing now on Luzerne County Council and what I would be doing as a state representative. Definitely doing the budget and legislating, that's what we do on county council, so that experience will help in the state house," said Lee Ann McDermott (R), 120th District candidate.
Candidate Pat Musto is also a business owner and draws on his experience serving on the Dallas School Board for three terms during a period of time when the board did not raise property taxes.
"At that period of time, too, built a brand new school, a 23 million dollar school, without raising taxes. So, what it meant to me there is that it could be done. That's what I want to take to the state, that's what I want to take to Harrisburg, the fact that we can do it if you have the will and consensus to do it. And I feel we can manage that," said Pat Musto (R), 120th District candidate.
All three candidates said they would support a longtime republican effort to eliminate state property taxes.
The 120th District makes up parts of the west side of Wyoming Valley and the Back Mountain.
Voters can cast their ballots starting at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday.