BUTLER TWP - Although they presented voters with a clear choice of varied political philosophies, candidates for the 21st District state Senate race agreed as much as they disagreed in a candidate's forum Friday.

Incumbent Sen. Mary Jo White, a Republican, is seeking her third four-year term in the Nov. 2 election.

She is being challenged by Democratic candidate Kevan Yenerall, a Clarion University political science professor, and by Libertarian candidate Michael Robertson, who is a supervisor in Licking Township, Clarion County, and an organic produce farmer.

The forum was at Butler County Community College's Succop Theater.

The 21st District includes parts of Butler, Erie and Warren counties, and all of Clarion, Forest and Venango counties.

In Butler County, the district covers Butler; Allegheny, Brady, Butler, Center, Cherry, Clay, Franklin, Marion, Mercer, Muddy Creek and Slippery Rock townships; and Harrisville, Portersville, Prospect, Slippery Rock, West Liberty and West Sunbury boroughs.

Robertson said as a Libertarian and a township supervisor he has learned issues that are important include liberty, rights, responsibilities and limited government.

"What we need," he said, is "flexibility at the local level where the individual has the most input."

Yenerall said homes, jobs, education, health care, a clean environment and tax reform are important.

"I want to make government work for working people," he said.

White pointed to her seven years of experience as a state senator, plus her work as an attorney, public defender and executive with the Quaker State oil company.

The business climate has improved during her years as a senator, she said. "I think we have changed a lot of things."

Asked how to keep jobs in the area, Yenerall said it "starts with education."

If elected, he said he would work to "map out a strategy" to get businesses to locate in Western Pennsylvania.

White said certain corporate taxes should be phased out to make Pennsylvania more attractive to businesses. For example, she said the federal government allows new businesses to carry losses over several years. The state should also allow that.

Robertson said government doesn't create jobs, but it "can have an impact on the economic environment. It's got to be business friendly."

The candidates were asked what could be done to prevent a shortage of health care workers in the state.

White suggested forgiving student loans for medical students "providing they go into an under-served area of Pennsylvania. She also said she has sponsored legislation to eliminate mandatory overtime for nurses.

Yenerall agreed mandatory overtime for nurses should be stopped.

Robertson said it isn't fair that hospitals get "three times" the reimbursement from the government that doctors get in private practice. He said the state should "reduce the government regulatory burden."

Regarding property tax reform, Robertson said, "What we're really talking about is funding for public schools."

He said education should be open to

"

free market forces."

Yenerall said it is a constitutional and moral responsibility to fund education. He said if he had been a state senator, he would have supported Gov. Ed Rendell's proposal to reduce real estate taxes with revenue from legalized gambling. He said he would also consider replacing real estate taxes, at least in part, with a progressive income tax.

White said she would not eliminate real estate taxes completely, "but reduce our reliance on it." She said she favored a sales tax, which she thinks is fairer.

"Rich people spend more than poor people," she said.

The three candidates were asked about other funding for education, including vouchers.

"I oppose using public dollars for vouchers," Yenerall said. Giving taxpayers vouchers to pay for private education "siphons dollars from public schools," which educate 80 percent of students, he said.

"I agree with Senator White," he said. "You cannot completely eliminate property taxes. We need to reduce the overall burden of property tax because it's become too great."

However, he does not support using sales tax as an alternative method of funding education. He would prefer an income tax.

White also is opposed to school vouchers. Rural districts, she said, don't have many school choices. She said she is "not sold on cyber schools," but does support charter schools.

Robertson said home schooling is a valid option.

Asked what could be done about drug and alcohol problems, Yenerall said anti-drug abuse programs should be funded.

White said non-violent drug offenders should be removed from the criminal justice system and given the option of treatment.

Robertson said he disagreed with Yenerall, and thinks churches, community leaders and others should lead programs to prevent drug abuse.

Yenerall added he also agrees that civic leaders and churches, as well as government, should head the effort. He said he applauds White's belief in alternative sentencing and that drug addicts should be given treatment.

Friday's forum was sponsored by the Butler County Chamber of Commerce.

Stephen Catt, BC3's government relations director, was the moderator. The questions for the candidates were submitted by the American Association of University Women and the audience.

FORUM TO BE AIRED

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The candidate's forum sponsored at Butler County Community College on Friday will be televised on Armstrong cable television Channel 10 at 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and at 6 p.m. Oct. 31.

Participating in the first of two debates were candidates for the state House of Representatives 11th District, Brian Ellis, Republican, and Fred Vero, Democrat. Mike Rock, the Constitution Party candidate, did not participate.

In the 21st District state Senate race, incumbent Sen. Mary Jo White and her opponents, Kevan Yenerall, the Democratic candidate, and Michael Robertson, the Libertarian candidate, participated.